Overview

For its first ever vehicle, Gordon Murray Automotive wants to rewrite the super car rulebook. The T.50 will be the purest, lightest, most driver-focused supercar ever built – a spiritual successor to the iconic McLaren F1 and made to the same exacting standards.

Describing its approach as ‘unflinching dedication’, the T.50 uses world-leading standards of advanced engineering across all of its components. GMA recruited us as a trusted technical partner to design, develop and manufacture an all-new exclusive V12 engine to power the T.50.

Challenge

Our brief from GMA was clear – the engine had to be light. It had to have the fastest response time of any engine ever built for the road, replicating the targets set for the illustrious McLaren F1. We were tasked with delivering the highest-revving engine ever made for a production car with unrivalled power-to-weight. The brief also extended to aesthetics and aural experience by developing a characterful V12 which sounds superb and looks good – a clean design with no coverings or belt-driven ancillaries.

Particular focus has been given to producing the purest driving experience, in keeping with the overriding ethos of the T.50. Alongside being able to deliver superlative performance, the engine also had to meet modern emissions targets.

Solution

A key part of the brief was to keep the capacity of the T.50’s V12 as small as possible. With a clear view on the required acceleration and torque, and the goal of a sub-1,000kg total vehicle weight, we proposed the capacity to be just 3.9-litres while still achieving supercar performance.

It will be the highest revving, fastest responding, most power dense, and lightest naturally aspirated V12 road car engine ever. Meticulously designed and engineered, the unit brings together the collective experience of Cosworth and Gordon Murray to be the most engaging, characterful and driver focused V12 engine ever produced.

Not only does the T.50’s V12 promise high-end power, 663 PS at 11,500 rpm, it is also compliant for everyday driving. The maximum torque figure of 467Nm is produced at 9,000rpm, but key to ensuring day-to-day driveability is that 71% of the engine’s torque will be produced from as low as 2,500rpm.

The T.50 engine produces the highest power density of any naturally aspirated road car engine ever made – 166PS-per-litre. This record, coupled with the lightness of the unit, places this engine right at the pinnacle of naturally aspirated powertrain development.

To achieve the lowest weight possible the block in the T.50 is made from a high-strength aluminium alloy, the crankshaft is made from steel and weighs only 13 kilograms, and the connecting rods and valves are made from titanium – as is the clutch housing. This all contributed to engine weight of just 178kg – yet another road-car record.

Engine Spec

No. cylinders: 12
Capacity: 3,994cc
V-angle: 65°
Power: 652 bhp
Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
Bore: 81.5 mm
Stroke: 63.8 mm
Compression ratio: 14:1
Max power: 663 PS @ 11,500 rpm
Power to weight ratio: 672 PS per tonne
Weight to power ratio: 150 kg per 100 PS
Max torque: 467 Nm @ 9,000 rpm
Flexibility: 71% of max torque @ 2,500 rpm
Maximum rpm: 12,100 rpm
Valve train: Gear driven double overhead camshafts
Inclined axis 4 valves per cylinder – variable valve timing on inlet / exhaust
Induction system: RAM induction airbox – 4 throttle bodies – Direct Path Induction Sound
Exhaust system: Inconel and Titanium
Lubrication system: Dry sump
Cooling system: Water-cooled – twin aluminium front radiators
Oil cooling system: Single aluminium rear radiator
Ignition system: 12 individual coils 12-volt
Starter/alternator: 48-volt gear driven integrated starter / generator
Exhaust emission control: 4 catalytic convertors with Lambda sensors and secondary air injection
Engine block: Aluminium alloy
Cylinder heads: Aluminium alloy
Connection rods: Titanium
Valves: Titanium
Total engine weight: 178 kg
Engine mounting: Semi-structural-inclined axis shear mounting (IASM)
Power density: 166 PS-per-litre