The Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 is a limited-production supercar designed to preserve the character of traditional performance cars at a time when downsizing and hybridization continue to reshape the segment. Jay Leno recently put the car through its paces after meeting fellow supercar collector and T.50 owner Dan Heard.
The T.50’s McLaren F1 Connection
Leno has driven countless remarkable cars, ranging from the tiny BMW Isetta 300, which helped save the brand from bankruptcy, to newer models such as the Ram 1500 Rumble Bee. His latest showcase brought him to the T.50, a car created by renowned automotive designer Gordon Murray.
To highlight Murray’s contributions to automotive design, Jay Leno’s Garage also displayed a 1995 McLaren F1 and a 2014 McLaren P1. Both cars share DNA with the T.50, while Leno himself owns a McLaren F1.
The McLaren F1 was the British marque’s first production road car, with Murray leading its design. It is considered one of the greatest performance cars of all time and remains the fastest naturally aspirated production car.
McLaren later positioned the P1 as a spiritual successor to the F1. Murray had already left the company and was not involved in the P1’s development, but the car continued the brand’s flagship role while competing against hybrid hypercars such as the Porsche 918 Spyder and Ferrari LaFerrari. Together, the three became known as the “Holy Trinity.”
Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 Performance
Murray founded Gordon Murray Automotive in 2017 and unveiled the T.50 in 2020. Production of the analog-centric supercar began in 2023, powered by a 4.0-liter Cosworth V12 producing up to 654 horsepower and 344 lb-ft of torque.
The T.50 also represents part of the shrinking group of V12-powered performance cars, alongside models such as the Ferrari 12Cilindri and Aston Martin Vanquish.
Among the T.50’s standout specifications are its 12,100-rpm redline and power-to-weight ratio of 672 PS per metric ton, or 663 hp per metric ton. Leno experienced both characteristics firsthand during his drive.
Leno described his McLaren F1 as his “smartest purchase and the best investment” he ever made in his life. After driving the T.50 in its three-seater configuration, he said the experience feels just like the F1, but more polished and refined.
He also felt more confident driving the T.50 at speed than the F1. According to Leno, high-speed runs in the F1 can become intimidating because it generates less downforce and lacks modern driver aids.
Leno praised the T.50’s engine noise as well, noting that it can sound similar at 50 mph and 150 mph.
A Modern Supercar With Old-School Values
Gordon Murray Automotive limited production of the T.50 to 100 road-going examples. Each car starts at £2.36 million, or around $3.1 million at current exchange rates.
The T.50 is essentially a modern-day McLaren F1 that addresses some of the original car’s design and engineering limitations while retaining its three-seat configuration and analog-focused character.
T.50s Niki Lauda Takes It Further
For buyers seeking an even more extreme version, Gordon Murray Automotive also offers the track-only T.50s Niki Lauda.
Production is limited to 25 examples. The track car produces 761 horsepower and up to 1,200 kg, or 2,646 pounds, of downforce while weighing less than 900 kg, or 1,984 pounds.
With the T.50, Gordon Murray Automotive has created a limited-production supercar built around old-school performance values, while Leno’s drive provided a direct comparison with the McLaren F1 that helped inspire its approach.
