Tuesday 13th August 2013

Gordon Murray's city cars to make production

The T25 and T27 will be on sale in 2016; dare we get excited?

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So if the VW XL1 is too expensive (looking likely) and the Renault Twizy too compromised (most probably), does a PH-worthy and usable city car exist? Well it just might do come 2016, as Gordon Murray's T25 and T27 have been sold 'to an unnamed manufacturer'.

Feel the squeal in the electric T27

Now if there's one man to make the most of a small footprint, it's Gordon Murray. Of course many will look to the McLaren F1 first, but don't forget the LCC Rocket remains the lightest production car ever.

Evidence of Murray's weight fetishism and desire for efficiency are clear in the T25 and T27. Both seat three in a 2.4-metre length with an F1-esque 1+2 layout, but the T25 weighs just 575kg thanks to a tubular steel and composite floor chassis. Both models have all-independent suspension too. There's no gold in the engine bay though...

Speaking of engines, the powertrain choice is split across the two models; the T25 uses the 52hp 660cc turbocharged three-cylinder from the Smart ForTwo, whilst the T27 will feature a 35hp electric powertrain with a 100-mile range.

Murray ready with his two-pronged city car project

Now this is all well and very good, having Gordon Murray's expertise distilled into a contemporary small car project. But are metropolitan hipsters going to lust after a T25 or T27? The engineering is admirable, but the styling may not tick all the boxes yet. Still, a launch date three years away gives some time to tweak it.

Murray's innovative iStream construction method, a modular production line with great flexibility and efficiency, is likely to have been part of the T25/7 deal. As more details emerge, we'll be sure to update the story.

[HeMightBeBanned]

Brilliant bit of engineering.

Looks horrible.

Phonecall to Peter Stevens required.

[k-ink]

Whilst I am sure it is technically fine, it does look like a disabled buggy.

[Mermaid]

& "how much" will determine make/break for this concept of car.

[vescaegg]

Even as little as 52bhp in a car so small would be a laugh I reckon

It has only 7bhp less than my Polo!

[McWigglebum4th]

I'm sure the current body will change

But its never going to look like a low sleek sportscar because it isn't

[Ste b]

How is seating 1+2 'F1-esque' ?

[mnkiboy]

I presume that the T25/27 body will be altered by whichever company has bought it. Murray has designed the tech, another company will do the styling / marketing.

[Mr MXT]

Ste b said:

How is seating 1+2 'F1-esque' ?

McLaren F1

[Agoogy]

Ste b said:

How is seating 1+2 'F1-esque' ?

really?!

[anonymous-user]

HeMightBeBanned said:

Phonecall to Peter Stevens required.

THIS ^^^^^ ;-)

[Ste b]

obvious really.

[Ste b]

Invalid-car blue should def get overlooked.

[dc2rr07]

'The T25 and T27 will be on sale in 2016; dare we get excited?'

NO

[Carnnoisseur]

k-ink said:

Whilst I am sure it is technically fine, it does look like a disabled buggy.

My thoughts exactly

[k-ink]

McWigglebum4th said:

But its never going to look like a low sleek sportscar

Not if they insist on half a foot of wasted space above the drivers head!

[trickywoo]

Mermaid said:

& "how much" will determine make/break for this concept of car.

This.

If its over £5k its going to fail.

[smash]

Bottom pic the two cars keep making me think of the film Brazil!

[LuS1fer]

Too ugly to be desirable, however good it might be. That said, it will fit neatly outside a semi detached house so would take up less space but I fear nobody will much give a toss about that.

Its main issue is going to be the increasing proliferation of 107/C1/Aygos, all of which are beloved by young drivers, particularly girls. My niece just bought a 107 and I know she wouldn't be seen dead in this.

As a city car, the above also offer 4 seats and most people have 2 kids or more?

Edited by LuS1fer on Tuesday 13th August 13:26

[MX7]

Ste b said:

How is seating 1+2 'F1-esque' ?

James Hunt.

[sideways sid]

Mermaid said:

& "how much" will determine make/break for this concept of car.

Initial suggestions were that Murray was going to revolutionise the manufacturing process sufficiently that these would save the planet and be on sale for £5k!

I would happily buy one at that price as there are not too many other ways of buying into Gordon Murray's engineering talent for less £1m, but I'm doubtful that it will retail for less than the price of the Smart that supplies the engine.