Gordon Murray set to create a radical family car
Over the past three decades, Gordon Murray has produced some of the most innovative and radical designs ever created in Formula One and on the road. From the Brabham BT46B "fan car" to the BT55 with a BMW four-cylinder laid flat on it's side, each car showed he was never afraid to try something completely different. When Murray set his sights on road going machines he designed the Rocket for the Light Car Company and the legendary F1 for McLaren. The F1 in particular brought the supercar to a whole new level. Jumping an order of magnitude past the prevailing Ferarris and Lamborghinis, the three-seat F1 was the closest thing to a road going car that actually won the 24 hours of Le Mans in decades.
Now Murray wants to bring his unique vision to mainstream family sedans. His new Gordon Murray Design Limited, which officially launches on July 4, will develop a radical family car using a strong lightweight structure. Murray will apply his novel packaging ideas to create something that is safer and more efficient than the traditional cars we're used to, or so we're told. Though Murrary's ideas don't always work, they are rarely dull. We'll be waiting to see what he comes up with this time.
[Source: CAR]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Frank 5:10PM (6/13/2007)
But will it be fun to drive? That's what I care about, life's to short for boring cars.
Reply
ruggels 5:23PM (6/13/2007)
Finally, he's been talking about this for YEARS.
Reply
ruggels 5:24PM (6/13/2007)
hmmm.. the F1, now working on the T1 and even that slushbox slr... i'd wager it will be fun to drive, I just can't wait to see it - as he's indicated it'll be very unconventional in previous interviews on the subject
Reply
mk 5:35PM (6/13/2007)
This I want to see.
I have read his columns in british mags, and they are always very pointed, and a sign of someone with a mission, not a comittee.
The F1 is my favorite all time car, and if I could have any car, but no house, I would live in one, somehow.
I heard that he had been working with the Caparo, but that he had left McLaren during the SLR run. He is also rumored to be working on a very small, light economy car. He almost continuously writes about the "bloat" and weight gain of main-stream cars, year over year, and how light weight benefits almost all aspects of the car, and heavy weight detracts from them, including safety and efficiency, which are big considerations, even for non-enthusiasts.
A family car that breaks as much new ground, and as many rules as the F1 did, that I really want to see. I may never afford it, but it will certainly be interesting.
Reply
Carl 6:04PM (6/13/2007)
Murray is the modern day Ferdinand Porsche.
Both have designed ground breaking race cars (Porsche with his Auto Union’s, Cisitalia, and Typ 64 and Murray with his Brabham’s and McLaren’s) but at heart they both have had the same ultimate goal: revolutionizing small car transportation. Of course Porsche has done this with the Beetle (60 years ago) and it’ll be nice to see what Murray finally comes up with.
Reply
HotRodzNKustoms 6:45PM (6/13/2007)
At least whatever he comes up with will be interesting. His stuff always is.
Reply
Nick 10:16PM (6/13/2007)
What a total hack he is. Blathering on about weight when it's clear people want more SPACE, MORE MASS and more POWER!!!!!! FEEL THE WRATH OF TRUCKZILLA!!! Canyoneros HO!!!!!!!!!!!!! MUHAHAHAHAH
Sorry... don't know what happened there.... must have been a seizure I'll definitely be interested to see what he comes up as. Is he like Ferry Porsche? Maybe.. probably more like Colin Chapman.
Reply
bfg0 10:03AM (6/14/2007)
More mass, more power, yeeaaarrgggh: see the Bugatti Veyron. Made of depleted uranium, which is why it needs 1000 hp.
Buckus 10:49PM (6/13/2007)
I'll be interested to see what he comes up with. When the average family sedan is closing in on 2 tons and the average SUV is closing in on 3 tons, and so-called "Cross-overs" splitting the difference, there's room for improvement.
Manufacturers have been working with aluminum bodies and chassis for near two decades now, so the technology should be in place, the only question is one of cost-effectiveness. Will consumers pay a 10% premium for a vehicle which weighs 20% less and gets 15% better fuel-economy? I probably would.
It's time for manufacturers to put up a holy-grail fuel economy car and show what can be done. It can be a concept, but it should incorporate some type of energy-recapture, 'a la regeneration, cylinder deactivation, lightweight structure, etc. I'm betting a 4-door family vehicle the size of an Accord/Camry with all the measures applied could register 60-80 mpg.
Reply
stealth 12:22AM (6/14/2007)
Since when was the F1 not a family car?
I mean it does have 3 seats and plenty of power to get up those hills!
Reply
Steve C 7:54AM (6/14/2007)
If this is going to be just another, very limited production car that maybe 1,000 people will ever get to drive, what's the point?
If Murray hooks up with one of the major manufacturers to build a truly revoluationary car for a price that many can afford, he will be remembered in the way Iacocca is remembered for the Mustang and minivan.
Otherwise, who cares?
Reply
snazzum 10:16AM (6/14/2007)
yawn, so Gordon Murray is getting around to designing a better Camry. i'll wait till he gets something off paper to be impressed.
Reply