Gordon Murray’s T.50s “Niki Lauda” Revealed
By David Castro
Today is F1 legend Niki Lauda’s 72nd birthday and even though we lost him almost two-years ago, he got a perfect birthday gift this morning.
Gordon Murray Automotive released details of their track-day version of the highly anticipated T.50 and appropriately enough it has been dubbed the “T.50s Niki Lauda“.
“In my view it doesn’t get better than that and is driving in its purest form,” Gordon Murray said. “The T.50s Niki Lauda will give a visceral connection between driver, car and track, the like of which has not been experienced to date.”
Gordon Murray is the iconic car designer of Formula One cars for Brabham (1969-1986) and McLaren (1987-1991) . When your resume includes the MP4/4 and the McLaren F1 your work is akin to Antonio Stradiivari. His current project is the T.50s Niki Lauda and it will be the centerpiece of any orchestra.
Production is limited to 25-cars and the exclusivity of a $4.3-million track-focused supercar can be found in the raw numbers of its specifications:
Vehicle Weight: 852kg (1,878 lbs)
Engine: 3.9-liter V12 naturally-aspirated Cosworth engine that produces 725hp with a 12,100 rpm redline. The engine weighs 162kg (357 lbs).
Transmission: Newly-designed Xtrac six-speed paddle-shifted unit.
Downforce: 1,500kg
Power-To-Weight-Ratio: 835PS/tonne, which is greater than a naturally aspirated LMP1 car.
Top Speed: 200-210 mph
What Murray and his team have developed in the T.50 is the next generation of his McLaren F1. At the time the McLaren was the gold standard of performance cars, its top speed record of 240.1 mph lasted from 1993 until 2005 when it was surpassed by the Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 at 253.8 mph.
With their track-version of the T.50, the T.50s Niki Lauda could be the ideal track-day experience for those fortunate enough to obtain one.
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My love for the McLaren F1 is well documented. With Murray’s T.50s Niki Lauda we are able to watch an automotive-design genius at work. There are every few instances in one’s life where you get to see a master ply their craft in a proper format for all to see, and like Stradivari future generations will marvel at Murray’s T.50s Niki Lauda.
“The T.50s Niki Lauda will give a visceral connection between driver, car and track, the like of which has not been experienced to date.” – Gordon Murray