Gordon Murray should need no introduction. Not only has the South African designer penned some of the most influential Formula One cars of an era, but he was also the driving force behind the proto-hypercar: the McLaren F1. Last year fans of supercars sat up and took notice when Murray unveiled the spiritual successor to the F1, called the T.50. Today he debuted the GMA T.33.

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A less focused sibling

The GMA T.33 is the second new model from Gordon Murray Automotive. It is a less extreme version of the T.50. Only 100 units of the super-GT will be produced. Good news for local billionaires is that buyers can choose between left- and right-hand drive.

Learn more about the McLaren F1 by clicking this link.

Low mass base

As with the T.50, the GMAT.33 is based on a carbon-fibre tub. Extensive use of lightweight materials means that the T.33 tips the scales at under 1,1 tons, about the same as the latest MX-5. Unlike Mazda’s ever-green roadster the T,33 is powered by a V12 engine.

Read about the T.50 here and the track-only T.50S Niki Lauda at this link.

The T.33 utilises the same base 3,9-litre V12 that powers the GMA T.50. GMA has asked Cosworth, who builds the bespoke engines, to reconfigure the naturally aspirated unit. It revs to ‘less manic’ 11 100 r/min and produces 453 kW along with 451 N.m. Delivering power to the tar is an Xtrac six-speed manual transmission as standard or an Instantaneous Gearchange System (IGS) paddle shift automatic, before being fed through a mechanical limited slip differential.

Interestingly, GMA makes no performance claims about the GMA T.33. It is the same approach used with the McLaren F1 at its launch and more recently with the T.50. As the cars are so lightweight and pack a significant punch, the performance should be more than adequate. The supercars are design first and foremost with the driving experience in mind.

Professor Gordon Murray CBE elaborates on GMA’s approach: “Like its T.50 and T.50s predecessors, the T.33 is all about the driving experience. We have engineered the T.33 to provide exceptional levels of highly tactile and deeply immersive involvement to elevate the driver to a higher plane behind the wheel. Our judiciously calibrated, non-invasive traction and stability systems are designed not to detract from the driving experience but are there to provide an additional level of confidence when called upon.”

Racecar-like

The GMA T33 is suspended on double wishbones that are controlled by coil springs over aluminium alloy dampers at each corner. The T.33 features a hydraulically assisted rack and pinion steering system, as opposed to electrical assistance, calibrated to impart high levels of feel and feedback.

Six-piston Brembo calipers clamp Carbon Ceramic Material (CCM) brake discs of 370 mm at the front while four-pot items act on 340 mm rotors at the rear. The final link in the chain are forged aluminium alloys – 19-inch front and 20-inch rear – that weigh less than 7 kg each. These are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres (235/35 front; 295/30 rear). 

Professor Gordon Murray CBE: “Gordon Murray Automotive is a brand that is pushing the boundaries of automotive innovation. We are already developing a global reputation that we are unlike every other car manufacturer. We are not chasing trends. We are not chasing headline performance figures. We are not chasing sales. Nor will we ever be. Which is why now, and in the future, GMA vehicles will always abide by our seven core principles. Principles that represent the cornerstone of our brand, our world-leading vehicles and the legacy that we are creating.”