Monterey Car Week 2023: Gordon Murray T.50s Niki Lauda, T.33 Spider Mark Global Debut

Two impressive supercars from Gordon Murray's firm, Gordon Murray Automotive, have made their debut in the U.S. at the ongoing Monterey Car Week. The T.33 Spider and the T.50s Niki Lauda, a track-only variant of the T.50 flagship supercar, were revealed along with the T.50's first production model. The company had already announced that attendees of the Car Show will be treated with the global premieres of not one but two new products – the brand's open-top road-going coupe and a track-only special. Gordon Murray's magnificent T.50 and T.33 completely stunned us back when they were initially unveiled. Today, as part of The Quail, a Special Motorsports Gathering, the T.50s Niki Lauda edition, and the T.33 Spider have both made their public premieres at the show.

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Gordon Murray T.50s Niki Lauda

The T.50s raises the bar for the already incredible T.50 and pays homage to F1 hero Niki Lauda, Itis powered by a 3.9-litre Cosworth V12 engine, producing 751bhp of maximum power – about 99bhp increase from the 652bhp of the T.50 standard variant. With a massive fan pulling the T.50s to the ground, it can be considered an entirely new kind of ‘fan car.’ The GMA T.50s, which costs over AUD $6 million and is constructed on a bespoke foundation from the ordinary T.50, can produce up to 1200kgs of downforce when travelling at high speeds, thanks to a radical rear-mounted fan, an aero kit, and a large delta wing. Dario Franchitti, a driver for Murray who has won the Indy 500 three times and four IndyCar championships, will operate the original Brabham BT44B F1 vehicle at the occasion. The T.50 is the original fan car that Gordon Murray created in the 1970s.

The first-generation T.50 was also on display in Monterey. This is a significant accomplishment for the crew because the supercars are now being produced and will soon be dispatched to their owners. This will demonstrate GMA's ability to provide personalised customisation, with an assurance that no two vehicles will be identical.

Commenting on the occasion, Professor Gordon Murray said, ‘We have so much to celebrate at this year’s Monterey Car Week, alongside showing the first production T.50 supercar, our open-top T.33 Spider makes its U.S. debut – a car that will deliver a truly involving driving experience unlike anything else. Meanwhile, our T.50s also makes its U.S. debut in the form of the very first XP1 prototype. Limited to just 25 examples, this car is designed to provide an on-track experience like no other.’

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Gordon Murray T.33 Spider

The Spider, which was created in tandem with the T.33 Coupe, has the same 608bhp Cosworth V12 engine as the T.33 Coupe, but it also has a distinctive two-piece retractable roof, which can be stored in the nose. It is heavier than the coupe by only 18kgs, owing to this creative design's weight-saving measures and lack of a complicated folding mechanism. According to GMA, because the T.33 was created with an open-top Spider in mind, it already surpasses most of the requirements for body shell rigidity.

The T.33 Spider's fantastic engine note is what really sets it apart, and buyers will be able to appreciate it more with the roof folded down. The rear window can be electrically lowered to for more engine noise to further improve the experience. The peak power for the 3.9-litre V12 engine remains unchanged and is produced at 10,250rpm. About 90 per cent of the engine's torque, i.e. 451Nm, is accessible between 4,500 and 10,500rpm.

GMA does not provide a 6-speed automatic in the Spider, unlike the coupe; instead, only a 6-speed manual is available. The decision, according to the manufacturer, was made because the manual transmission remains the most popular choice for the T.33 coupe. The car also has carbon ceramic brakes, sophisticated active aerodynamics, and cutting-edge infotainment capabilities with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The rear bodywork has been totally redesigned to save weight and enhance heat management.