Gordon Murray’s T.50 is one of the most exciting new cars in a long time. Essentially the successor to the McLaren F1—arguably the greatest car ever—it packs a naturally aspirated V-12 sending power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. But the car’s Ultima-based test mule might be even cooler than the T.50 itself.
The small British automaker published a video today on YouTube of spokesperson Dario Franchitti behind the wheel of “George,” an Ultima—a mid-engine supercar from a different small British automaker that usually sports a Chevy V-8—powered by the T.50’s V-12 manual drivetrain.
Because the Ultima was never designed to fit a V-12, a good deal of modifications had to be made to the body. Out back you’ll find a large portion of the panels removed to accommodate the intake and exhaust setup. Up front, most of the panels have been replaced by radiators to cool the 12,100-rpm motor.
Even cooler than the car’s funky looks are the sounds it makes. This is the first time we’re able to hear this engine rev all the way to its destined 12,100-rpm redline while on the road, and it doesn’t disappoint. Franchitti tells Murray afterward how impressed he was with the engine’s powerband, but says there are still a few things that still need work, such as the throttle response and acoustics.
The T.50 is set to make its public debut at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting happening October 16-17. The team will also be bringing along George for exhibition laps so you can hear that magnificent V-12 up close. If you’re in the area, you won’t want to miss it.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io