Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) has unveiled its latest creation, the T.33 Spider, a stunning roadster that boasts a powerful 609 hp Cosworth V12, and no roof to dampen the engine’s roaring sound as it revs up to an impressive 11,100 rpm
When Gordon Murray Automotive started designing the T.33, a two-seater supercar, the development process was led by the Spider version. As a result, the newly unveiled supercar weighs just 40 lbs (18 kg) more than the fixed-top T.33 Coupe.
“When drawing a car I imagine what it’s going to feel like to sit in, and how it will feel to drive,” explained Gordon Murray, the company’s founder. “So from the first sketch I knew that, with its open cockpit and the incredible Cosworth GMA.2 V12 engine right behind you, the T.33 Spider would deliver a truly involving driving experience that’s quite unlike anything else.”
All in, the new T.33 Spider weighs just 2,443 lbs (1,108 kg) thanks to carbon fiber body panels. Together with the chassis, which is unchanged from the T.33 coupe, the convertible offers drivers the same torsional rigidity and stiffness without adding a substantial amount of weight.
Read: Gordon Murray Kicks Off Production Of The Mesmerizing T.50 Hypercar
Despite the parallel design process, every one of the T.33 Spider’s design surface from the A-pillar back has been altered. That starts, of course, with the two roof panels, that can be removed and stored in the four cubic-foot (115-liter) frunk.
Murray also spent time ensuring that the mid-engine supercar didn’t look weird without a roof. A holistic designer, he considered more than the simple aesthetics. The roll hoop, for instance, helps protect occupants in a rollover, and it is more aerodynamic than the twin roll hoops you might find on a speedster model. In combination with the fact that much of the downforce comes from under-floor ground effects, that means that the lack of roof shouldn’t hamper high speed dynamics.
Above the hoop, an air intake feeds the Cosworth V12. As with the coupe, the T.33 Spider is powered by a 3.9-liter, naturally-aspirated engine that can rev all the way up to 11,100 RPM, and makes 609 hp (476 kW/617 PS) and 333 lb-ft (451 Nm) of torque.
Like the coupe, the engine gets yellow cam covers, as opposed to the orange ones used on the T.50. These were inspired by the 1972 Duckhams Ford LM racecar, which Murray designed. Because of the immense demand for manual transmissions on the T.33 coupe, the Spider will be offered exclusively with the 181 lb (82 kg), six-speed unit.
The actual gearshift lever is made out of machined aluminum alloy, as are a number of the other controls. The steering wheel is made of carbon fiber and trimmed with leather, meanwhile. Behind the driver, the rear window can be raised or lowered at the touch of a button, whether the roof is on or off, to allow them to better appreciate the howling V12 engine.
Beneath the window, the rear bulkhead between the seats will now be painted the same color as the exterior. GMA says it chose to do this on the Spider to subtly invite more of the exterior into the cabin.
It adds that the T.33 Spider will have four color themes curated by the design team. These are inspired by the company’s core value: Return to Beauty, Engineering Art, the Murray Atholl tartan, and, finally, Gordon Murray’s love of tropical shirts.
In addition to the 4 cubic-foot-large frunk, there are an additional 6.3 cubic-feet (180-liters) of storage space hidden behind the cabin, in the door frames.
“While it’s still a mid-engine supercar I wouldn’t accept any compromise on usability: this is why the T.33 Spider is unique in the supercar sector in delivering both onboard roof storage and a 295 litre (10.4 cubic foot) luggage capacity,” said Murray.
Just 100 examples of the T.33 Spider will be produced, with prices starting at £1.89 million ($2.36 million USD at current exchange rates), reports Road & Track. The car will be built at GMA’s new headquarters in Highams Park, where the production team expects to be ready to go by the end of the year.