automotivebriefs
9:46in productionCh. 1 · The F1’s heir, not its echo/ 9:46 · ceiling 15 min
Sports cars

Gordon Murray Automotive T.50

A fan-powered, 997 kg V12 that rejects electrification—not as nostalgia, but as engineering conviction.

The GMA T.50 is a sports car manufactured by Gordon Murray Automotive. Designed by Gordon Murray, it is the logical successor to the McLaren F1. It went into production in 2022 at GMA’s Surrey facility. It features a 3,994 cc naturally aspirated V12 developed by Cosworth. It achieves a dry weight of 997 kg, with its V12 weighing 178 kg and its chassis 30 kg lighter than the McLaren F1’s. A distinctive feature is the 8.5 kW 40 cm aerodynamic fan integrated into the rear, powered by a 48 volt electrical motor. It incorporates the fan car concept of the Brabham BT46B.

Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 0:44
    The F1’s heir, not its echo

    It is Gordon Murray’s deliberate, self-referential answer to his own McLaren F1—no reinterpretation, no compromise.

  2. 2:22
    Lightness as architecture

    Every major component is optimised for mass reduction: the car weighs 997 kg dry, its V12 is 178 kg, its chassis 30 kg lighter than the F1’s.

  3. 4:26
    Fan car, re-grounded

    The 40 cm rear fan isn’t gimmickry—it’s the Brabham BT46B’s principle re-engineered for road use, powered by a 48 volt motor.

  4. 6:04
    No turbo. No battery. No apology.

    A 3,994 cc naturally aspirated V12 developed by Cosworth powers a car built in 2022—deliberately analog in an age of hybrids.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

4.5/ 5
What works
  • It achieves a dry weight of 997 kg—lighter than almost all cars in its class.
  • Its V12 weighs only 178 kg.
  • Its chassis is 30 kg lighter than the McLaren F1’s.
  • It delivers direct, unfiltered feedback through a central driving position and a naturally aspirated engine.
What does not
  • It does not use forced induction.
  • It does not have hybrid or electric propulsion.
  • It does not prioritise interior space, luggage capacity, or daily usability.
Drive it if
  • It is for drivers who value extreme lightness, mechanical fidelity, and the sensory logic of a naturally aspirated V12.
  • It is not for those who prioritise comfort, connectivity, efficiency, or regulatory compliance across global markets.
Skip it if
  • It is not for those who prioritise comfort, connectivity, efficiency, or regulatory compliance across global markets.
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

The GMA T.50 is a sports car manufactured by Gordon Murray Automotive. Designed by Gordon Murray, it is the logical successor to the McLaren F1. It went into production in 2022 at GMA’s Surrey facility.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

The T.50 uses a rear-mounted 40 cm aerodynamic fan, powered by a 48 volt electrical motor, to manage airflow and downforce. It has a central driving position. Its naturally aspirated V12 sits mid-mounted. The chassis is built for minimal mass, not stiffness compromises.

What it gets right

It achieves a dry weight of 997 kg—lighter than almost all cars in its class. Its V12 weighs only 178 kg. Its chassis is 30 kg lighter than the McLaren F1’s. It delivers direct, unfiltered feedback through a central driving position and a naturally aspirated engine.

What it does not

It does not use forced induction. It does not have hybrid or electric propulsion. It does not prioritise interior space, luggage capacity, or daily usability.

What it changed

It revived the fan car concept in a road-legal sports car, applying the Brabham BT46B’s principle to a modern, lightweight, naturally aspirated platform—not as a racing loophole, but as an integrated aerodynamic system.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for drivers who value extreme lightness, mechanical fidelity, and the sensory logic of a naturally aspirated V12. It is not for those who prioritise comfort, connectivity, efficiency, or regulatory compliance across global markets.

Is it worth your time

Yes—if you care about lightweight engineering discipline and driver-focused mechanical purity over digital augmentation or hybrid powertrains.

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