Legendary British auto manufacturer Gordon Murray Automotive’s T.33 supercar couldn’t look much better than it did, at least not from the outside looking in. As a result, the marque cut the roof so those lucky enough to sit inside could get a better view of us from their angle.
If the new model’s design rings a bell, it’s because the masterful marque admits to abiding by seven specific principles: keeping the car lightweight, driver-focused, timeless, aerodynamic, practical, and, to no surprise, blisteringly fast — these are (mostly) their words, not ours. The mesmerizing T.33 Spider is powered by a naturally-aspirated, 3.9-liter Cosworth GMA.2 V12, the proprietary engine self-proclaimed as “the world’s lightest and most technically advanced road-going V12.” Unsurprisingly, this didn’t require much upgrading, as it already churns out 607 hp and 332 ft-lb of torque. However, one new element is its manual gearbox, which replaces the standard variant’s automatic transmission. Nevertheless, the most glaring difference here is a pair of removable carbon-fiber roof panels that stow away in the trunk. At the same time, a couple of lockable luggage compartments can be found in the engine compartment, so there’s still ample storage space.
Structurally, GMA’s trademark innovation assists in advancing aerodynamics, as the iStream Superlight tech implements an aluminum frame and more carbon fiber panels that bond the car from end to end. The T.33 Spider shares similarities with its fixed-roof alternative when moving to its interior. A trio of displays provides all the infotainment and temperature adjustment needs from CarPlay to air conditioning, and, of course, an analog tachometer appears on the largest screen. To minimize weight as much as possible, the leather-trimmed steering wheel and race-inspired seats are constructed using, you guessed it, carbon fiber.
Only 100 models of the remarkable T.33 Spider will be produced, each handmade at the headquarters in Windlesham, Surrey. According to Road and Track, who spoke to Professor Murray, the bewilderingly rare variant will be available for roughly £1.89 million (~$2.36 million). Half of them are already reserved, so look at the glass half full.
