Friday 31st March 2023

GMA T.33 Spider previewed ahead of unveiling

Gordon Murray Automotive will reveal the 'world's most engaging V12-powered open supercar' next week

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With the GMA T.50 imminent - watch a very poignant final sign-off drive below - work has very much begun on developing the T.33 - the flagship's 615hp, 11,100rpm baby brother. As if those numbers, alongside the availability of a manual gearbox, weren’t exciting enough, here comes the really good news: there’s going to be a T.33 Spider.

Set to be revealed online next Tuesday, the roofless T.33 was actually the first of the family to be designed by Murray. “From the outset of the T.33 programme, I always intended there to be a Spider – in fact, I sketched the Spider before the coupe to ensure the proportions worked”, he noted in today’s press release. All that’s been issued for the moment is a sketch, but this being a Gordon Murray sketch there’s plenty to be excited by. Just look how low that 3.9-litre V12 sits, nestled right down almost at axle level; the only thing much closer to the ground would appear to be the driver, bum on the deck as it should be in all great sports cars. Driver and engine in such close proximity, as well as the open roof, should provide an epic sensory experience. The car is low and compact, the wheels fill out the arches and there’s not a silly spoiler or scoop in sight - all is looking very good indeed. Not that anything else was expected.

Furthermore, as a car with a carbon monocoque, the T.33 Spider should lose precious little, if anything, to its coupe sibling as a driving experience. In fact, If experience of similarly configured McLarens is anything to go by, the Spider will be even more vivid, with no penalty to pay for a roof going. It’s barely any heavier, for one thing; the sketch says it’ll weigh 1,108kg, which is a scant 18kg more than the T.33 coupe target weight. You can bet Gordon Murray will do everything possible to meet those goals.

Expect a production number to be announced next week alongside a few more key details. For reference, there will be 100 T.33 coupes, so expect a similar number of Spiders, if not a few less. Don’t bank on them hanging around for long, either. More on Tuesday. 

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• Gordon Murray Automotive reveals 615hp T.33
• Gordon Murray: 'Last flag-waver of a great V12'

[bluemason]

A roof air scoop on roadster = epic

[pSyCoSiS]

This is going to be a sublime machine. Got Murray's trademark recipe of high power and low weight. I can only imagine how engaging it would be to drive.

[CarlosSainz100]

It's not a looker in the conventional sense is it? I suppose the beauty comes from the form and function of it.

[andrew]

isn't he the chap who designed the f1 ?

[coldclimate]

I wish they're drop the crappy background music

[V8 FOU]

Just sublime. He is really doing it properly. The sound of that engine is enough to make me want one!!

[fantheman80]

andrew said:

isn't he the chap who designed the f1 ?

No no, this is the chap who invented the Murray mint.

[Condi]

fantheman80 said:

No no, this is the chap who invented the Murray mint.

Andy Murray's second cousin.

[woodnut67]

Condi said:

fantheman80 said:

No no, this is the chap who invented the Murray mint.

Andy Murray's second cousin.

Ruby's brother.

[RichardR]

Gordon "Minty" Murray is definitely living his best life!

I bet he must've thought life couldn't get any better when he was creating the F1, yet here we are!

[Cold]

andrew said:

isn't he the chap who designed the f1 ?

No, that was Peter Stevens.

[ChocolateFrog]

The looks are a bit take it or leave it for me but it's still the most desirable new car on the planet.

That engine and drivetrain built with the knowhow of GM, it will perfect.

[thelostboy]

Fortunately the drivetrain alone makes it worth the money, but I've got to be honest, I think more people would be calling this quite bland, even perhaps ugly, if it wasn't for the Murray connection.

[P. ONeill]

Just noticed the price. I think I’ll pass, though it is very nice.

[Macboy]

Cold said:

andrew said:

isn't he the chap who designed the f1 ?

No, that was Peter Stevens.

And...it really shows to me in the T50 that there isn't a designer involved or at least credited. It's obviously an F1 homage but the detail of design isn't that well resolved in images or in the flesh to my eye. The headlights and the whole rear in particular just aren't that well done. I know he couldn't care less what we all think but it is a shame that the engineering is the star here not the looks. I don't think the T33 is well resolved either - that really does look like a kit-car or one of the dreadful 60's 250 Ferrari mash-ups that seem to be emerging monthly now. The proportions just aren't right.

[GeeTeeBee]

CarlosSainz100 said:

It's not a looker in the conventional sense is it? I suppose the beauty comes from the form and function of it.

Not sure I love the T.33 coupe, but I think it's a least a fairly pretty car and certainly welcome respite from all the overly aggressive designs of late.



The T.50 to my eye, however, looks a bit st.

Edited by GeeTeeBee on Friday 31st March 16:43

[Jockie]

I was wondering when PH will pick up on the press release.

The drawing does not do the T33 Spider justice. Looks stunning, particularly in the silver/grey colour.

Some nice touches to enjoy the open experience even more....

[foxhounduk]

In the video I can't believe it actually says "fan car" in cursive writing at the back...because of that hideous fan.

[julian64]

Macboy said:

And...it really shows to me in the T50 that there isn't a designer involved or at least credited. It's obviously an F1 homage but the detail of design isn't that well resolved in images or in the flesh to my eye. The headlights and the whole rear in particular just aren't that well done. I know he couldn't care less what we all think but it is a shame that the engineering is the star here not the looks. I don't think the T33 is well resolved either - that really does look like a kit-car or one of the dreadful 60's 250 Ferrari mash-ups that seem to be emerging monthly now. The proportions just aren't right.

I actually think its the best looking supercar I can think of. The proportions are perfect to my eyes. If thats had no designer input then designers should concentrate on euroboxes and leave supercars alone.

[kambites]

I like the smoothness and simplicity of the T33's styling - to my eyes it's a classically pretty, almost organic looking, car which doesn't feel the need to follow the modern trend of ridiculously OTT (mostly fake) aerodynamic appendages. A lovely counterpoint to the ugliness of modern mid-engined Ferraris etc. Not sure it's going to work so well as a convertible but the coupe is definitely the most appealing super-sports car of the modern era to my eyes, both aesthetically and in terms of specs. Sadly my opinion counts for little because it's several orders of magnitude out of my price range.

Edited by kambites on Friday 31st March 17:07