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]
