New Gordon Murray T33 is 'more practical' supercar with 607bhp V12
“I’ve had the T33 in my head for about 25 years,” he said, “but until now, we haven’t had the facilities to make it. “All of my designs carry ‘T’ numbers. For instance, the T25 and T27 were city cars, the T34 was our Ox flat-pack truck and the T37 was the TVR [Griffith] project.
Two T33 spin-offs are planned. Murray said they are likely to be a roadster and “some sort of track-specific model” in the vein of theAlthough its proportions are different and it’s built for two occupants, not three, the T33 follows most of the principles used by the T50 . It has a cleverly packaged and spacious cabin, with occupants protected by a carbonfibre safety cell. Many of the carbonfibre panels have a honeycomb core, and there is a light alloy frame to carry the major loads.
The T33’s V12 produces 607bhp at 10,500rpm and gives its maximum torque output of 337lb ft at 9000rpm. It will pull away from 1500rpm in top gear and delivers 75% of its peak torque at 2500rpm. “For a company like ours, it’s a big decision to spend £28m on federal approval,” said Murray, “but we’re very confident about the car’s compliance, and when we achieve it, in effect we will have two cars in one: a European version and one for the rest of the world. That will make it all worthwhile.”The T33 is close in size and shape to the T50, so what’s its special purpose?
You’ve said the T33 is influenced by your favourite 1960s cars. Is there a risk of copying them too closely? “We aren’t bothering to chase trends or headline performance figures with our cars. I really don’t care whether the car’s 0-60mph time is 2.9 or 3.1sec or if it will do 210 or 215mph. Our buyers don’t care either. We’re not chasing sales and we never will. The beauty of simplicity is the key to our cars.