MONTEREY, California: Gordon Murray Special Vehicles recently revealed the new ‘S1’ supercar at The Quail during Monterey Car Week, a touring-focused evolution of the S1 LM.
The naturally aspirated, V12-powered, manual supercar is an evolution of the S1 LM platform, which is optimised for mechanical grip, rather than high downforce.
The revised suspension adds comfort and refinement for long distance journeys.
While the S1 shares its family DNA with the S1 LM (the Special One), its character and purpose are distinctly different.
The S1 LM was conceived as the most intense, road-legal, race-inspired celebration of Gordon Murray’s 1995 Le Mans 24 Hours victory.
The S1 evolves the elegant design language of the S1 LM, while reframing the set-up for fast, engaging, long-distance road driving.
“This is a car you could drive along the coast from Los Angeles to Monterey in real comfort, still enjoying every gearshift, every corner, and every note of the V12 when the road opens up. It is exclusive, analogue, and deeply driver focused, but also more elegant, more refined, and more usable over distance,” said group executive chairman Gordon Murray.
The S1 removes the S1 LM’s large, fixed rear wing, long front splitter, and deep side skirts; every exterior body panel is new.
A new active rear aero system is integrated into the bodywork, adapting to the demands of high-speed stability and braking.
At the heart of the S1 is a bespoke 4.2-litre naturally aspirated Cosworth V12 producing up to 690PS.
Derived from the same lineage as the S1 LM engine, the 4.2-litre unit has been developed to deliver exceptional response.
The S1 features a broader torque range, delivering 80% of torque from just 2,500rpm and around 500Nm at 7,000rpm.
The engine is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, featuring a touring sixth gear as standard.
The S1 retains the S1 LM’s width, track, lightweight suspension architecture, and wider tyres, but ride height is increased by 10mm and the damping is retuned for greater compliance.
Ultra-lightweight carbon fibre body panels, lightweight suspension components, and Gordon Murray’s obsession with weight reduction contribute to an overall target weight below that of the T.50, despite the S1’s more luxurious cabin trim, enhanced sound system, and additional acoustic refinement.
Unique main beam auxiliary lights sit low within the air intake at the nose of the car – a nod to the 1992 Monaco show car design by Murray, which featured similar lower lights, an element that never saw production.
Further unique features include distinctive A-pillar-mounted mirrors that integrate a discrete rear-view camera system; and all-new lightweight wheels, inspired by the iconic Monaco 1992 show car.
Inside, the S1 retains the central driving position and low scuttle height that define Gordon Murray’s driver focus.
Premium leather, bespoke fabrics, tailored trim, touring-level seat comfort, enhanced acoustic insulation, revised infotainment screens, and a bespoke lightweight audio system make the three-seat cabin more suited to long-distance use.
The new dihedral doors with integrated drop-down glass replace the Lexan race-inspired ticket window from the S1 LM.
Production of the S1 will be exclusively limited to 64 units worldwide.
