Gordon Murray T50 Live Launch

[IanF]

Had a very good look around T50s (about 8 of the feckers!) and one T33 Spyder - got a pic of an actual spider on its wing .. Rowan Atkinson was walking around and very interested in the T50 - lucky bugger!

[mik]

[nuttinnew]

[speedingfine]

First review out, seems rather nice: https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/gor ... motive/t50

[Rich B]

It sounds like it's incredible, it's a real shame it looks so horribly bland. A bit of design flair wouldn't have taken away any of the cleverness.

I like the sound of that engine in an Ultima!

[Simon]

Meh, give me a Cliosport in the twisties any day of the week

Sounds amazing. Would love to see and hear one.

[Mito Man]

I'd prefer the Radical test mule

[mik]

It sounds like it's incredible, it's a real shame it looks so horribly bland.

That, and that. Although I suspect (hope?) it looks better in the flesh than in my photos.

[mik]

I was just looking at the quoted top speed, and noting that there is an optional "overdrive" 6th. When an engine revs so high, then in order to exploit it - you need to use low gearing. Which then - of course - leads to busy cruising.

Looking at the tech spec webpage it's actually a "more overdriven" option, as the std 6th is already an overdrive (as is 5th actually).

There is also a weird "Input Bevel" quoted for the gearbox. Not sure why it has that (I don't recall seeing anything similar before, but hey - I'm not a transmission expert), but it would appear to lower the gearing in the box (by 1.688:1).

Luckily for you, I already have an excel spreadsheet set up to look at gearing, so pumping in these numbers (which don't make any sense unless you include this "Input Bevel" too) gives the following V-Max for each ratio

Gear Ratio : Mph/100rpm : VMax (mph)
1 : 5.3 : 64.3
2 : 7.2 : 86.9
3 : 9.5 : 115.4
4 : 12.3 : 148.5
5 : 15.5 : 187.5
6 : 20.2 : 244.7 (theoretical)
6 : 25.3 : 306.0 (optional top ratio - theoretical)

Some initial thoughts in relation to the above:

1. It'll sprint to 60 in 1st. That'll help the stats (that they are still not publishing).

2. Cruising at 70mph it'll be pulling just under 3.5krpm on the std ratio. That would drop to just under 2.7krpm if you opt for the longer 6th - which isn't exactly "relaxed", but.....

3. At the 226mph VMax on the std ratios, it'll be pulling 11.2krpm. So they calculated that pretty well. No idea what it will do with the longer optional 6th (at 226mph it would theoretically be running only 8.9krpm, so that's just not going to happen).

4. Changing up at max rpm will cause the engine to drop down to between 9000 and 9500rpm for the next gear (it varies obviously, but they are all pretty close). Max torque is delivered at 9000rpm. If you opt for the longer 6th, then changing from max rpm in 5th will drop you to 7.4 krpm in 6th.

Will try and figure out how to add an image of the full table.

Edit: for "reasons" the easiest (and definitely nastiest) way to add the table is to take a picture of my monitor. sorry sorry sorry.

[V8Granite]

Imagine that long successive pull in 4th from about 30mph to nearly 150

It’ll have all those noise and tactile changes that engines give. I also love the looks, understated and not shouty which is a nice change from the current cars in this sector.

Dave!

[Jimmy Choo]

This is the nerdiest thing I've seen this month. Bravo, @mik!

[mik]

I suspect Gordon will have the longer 6th on his own car, and well - I think I will do the same for mine. I'm cool with a "cruising" 6th gear, when I can instead drop it into 5th, 4th, 3rd, or even 2nd to accelerate from 60mph....

[mik]

There is also a weird "Input Bevel" quoted for the gearbox. Not sure why it has that (I don't recall seeing anything similar before, but hey - I'm not a transmission expert), but it would appear to lower the gearing in the box (by 1.688:1).

Well every day is a school day.

Found the answer on germancarforum.com
"The T.50 has the transmission transverse to the engine, which is rather unusual and the bevel is needed to change the direction of the power to 90 degrees before the transmission, while the diff doesn't have a bevel due to the fact that the semiaxles are parallel to the transmission."

Apparently the F1 was the same (which I never appreciated). Image of F1 powertrain below:
The F1's engine redlined at only 7.5krpm though, so it has a much higher 33mph/1000rpm 6th gear.

[Beany]

Apparently the majority of owners went for the optional overdrive, and IIRC Murray is having a competition to see who can put the most miles on the car, because it's intended to be driven on real roads, not parked up in a speculators air-conditioned garage.

[Mito Man]

Clever way to keep the servicing side of the business in good health

[Rich B]

because it's intended to be driven on real roads, not parked up in a speculators air-conditioned garage.

well quite, who the fuck would want to look at it from outside.

[Beany]

You jest, but if we were told that conservative, functional styling that wasn't flashy was specifically done to discourage that sort of thing, it'd be believable coming from Murray. He's that sort of guy.

It's not like the F1 was particularly 'stylish' or fancy, after all - it was another fairly straightforward, clean design.

[duncs500]

I'll take one for my imaginary lotto garage. I don't really mind that it doesn't look too wild, I must be getting old.

[Sundayjumper]

I know it's functional but I'm not digging the Batmobile-inspired vent on the back.

[mik]

@Sundayjumper - agree - the fan exit is definitely the most jarring styling element for me too.

The front styling isn't a million miles away from the new Noble M500, but the latter has far more to catch the eye.