At a recent launch party for Gordon Murray Design, the firm's namesake let the first details fly about his latest project, which he's apparently been working on for the better part of a decade. Murray describes it as "a new class of vehicle" that through lightweight materials, a straightforward design and a small footprint, will stand the motoring world on its head. If there's anyone able to do it, it's Gordon Murray.
The idea behind the T25 (Murray's 25th clean-sheet vehicle) is to make a vehicle that will use less resources, both during production and on the road, while at the same time be a functional means of transport for first-time buyers and for families in need of second car. Inspiration has come from several different directions, but in the automotive world, comparisons to the Smart ForTwo are the Fiat 500 of yore are inevitable, but Murray is looking far beyond such staid means of schlepping.
He doesn't care what the end product is powered by, as it won't be produced by his company, instead he's allowing manufacturers to purchase the design and rebadge it as they see fit. Ideally, the cost will be under £5,000, it will require less than a quarter of the ownerships costs of an entry-level Golf and it should come in below 1,200 pounds. Naturally, it will be geared towards consumers in Europe and Japan.
Murray's design house is able to work on three projects at any one time; the first being this new micro-MPV, while the other two include a Le Mans racecar and a new sports car, due to launch in 2010. Murray says that this newest supercar will match the McLaren F1 in terms of driver involvement and engineering prowess, but for far less cash.
Expect the new Murray logo – taken from the man's clan crest – to pop up at several automotive shows in the next few years, with what may arguably be the most intriguing vehicles we've seen in recent memory.
[Sources: Car, 4Car]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JT @ Jul 6th 2007 10:25AM
Gordon, another supercar please? :(
thesawzall @ Jul 6th 2007 10:26AM
"it will require less than a quarter of the ownerships costs of an entry-level Golf and it should come in below 1,200 pounds."
How can they predict these without having the powerplant nailed down? I'm all for it and everything, just thinking they've got a hypothetical powerplant in mind that they're not bothering to tell us about for fear of losing the interest of some people.
Keith Wakeham @ Jul 6th 2007 12:18PM
You design for a goal in mind. Realistically most engines are only a few hundred dollars of aluminum and steel. So why does a crate engine cost so much. Manufacturing. What is he doing, designing a car with manufacturing in mind.
Designing a car around low cost manufacturing isn't a widely used idea. I mean sure to some extent they know that a press can only press so much to such angles, etc. Or that if they redesign the piece it uses 4 tack welds instead of 10. But designing to reduce the required processes to build the parts and put the car together is completely different.
Think of the big guys that make their own engines and the fact that most companies don't make any money off the car.
Lets say 1000 machines and 5000 people to assemble a cobalt. Now lets streamline the chassis to reduces pressings and welds, simplifiy the number of parts in the engine, simplify the interior a bit. Soon you could be down to building a car with 500 machines and 2500 people. And considering these people and machines are much more important cost than raw materials then BAM, you cut the price in half. But thats a difficult thing to do.
TheSwener @ Jul 6th 2007 12:54PM
Gordon Murray could have me if he wanted.
Just saying.
TheSwener @ Jul 6th 2007 1:02PM
Also, I'm continually amazed by how few designers and companies are trying to reduce vehicle weight. Most seem to be adding bulk to their cars (some is obviously the result of higher safety expectations, but not all). To maintain reasonable efficiency then, they are forced to implement expensive technologies for their drivetrains.
Just imagine how mileage could be if we were willing to use some of those efficient technologies (CVT and diesel especially), while at the same time trying to reduce weight and rolling resistance. Weight reduction is the ONLY aspect of a car that has the capacity to improve almost every statistic - mileage, power/weight ratio, handling, cost (less material/reinforcement, smaller engine), etc.
I think Gordon Murray is one of the few people who is heading in the right direction. Rather than pushing some hydrogen/corn hybrid ridiculousness, he is trying to get back to basics and keeping it simple. I just hope it gets to the US.
BILL @ Jul 6th 2007 1:08PM
Gordon Murray is one of my favorite car guys. If anyone is capable of coming up with a unique take on low cost transportation it is Gordon Murray.
David S. @ Jul 6th 2007 1:51PM
If Gordon & Co. can figure out how to make it safe, I think they're onto something.
I read Gordon's diatribes every month in Evo, so I kinda knew this was coming.
We see these tremendous horsepower figures coming out of all the major car companies, and it's a minor miracle that they're being delivered with such efficiency and cleanliness, but the thing people forget is that the cars themselves are gaining more weight with each passing generation.
I think the horsepower wars will come to an end at some point, but I don't think that means they'll get any slower. The automaker who figures out how to make their wares lightweight without compromising safety, stiffness or quietness will win.
If you ask me, that scenario is Detroit's chance to put Toyota in the dirt.
Andy @ Jul 6th 2007 4:25PM
I applaud Murray on this venture. It's creative, different, smart, and challenging. In an era where a small car now weighs 2,900 lbs., we need to understand the basic principles of smaller size and less weight.
the dude @ Jul 12th 2007 9:17AM
This is not only gonna be as safe as a small hatch back but its gonna be a lot of fun to drive, I want one!
Graham Snow @ Aug 6th 2007 6:39AM
Hello Gordon. Remember Craiglee in Bulwer Road and Park View School in Durban.How,at
Primary School, you used to lie on the carpet and draw/design racing cars. If I remember rightly, your Christian name was actually Ian? How is Terry?
Congrats on your great success, Graham.