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With much of its mass-market brands long extinct, the British automotive industry nevertheless retains a deep heritage of smaller niche, luxury and sports car manufacturers. Whether British or foreign owned, Britain’s rich tapestry of smaller car makers excel in highly specialised, advanced and traditional vehicles renowned for their technical, artisanal and innovative development and production.
Among the most exciting, latest and final crop of Britain’s combustion engine super cars are recently unveiled models from Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA), Noble Automotive and Lotus covering a broad spectrum within such a small but highly evocative of automotive segments.
GMA T.50s Niki Lauda
Unveiled this day last year on its eponymous late great racing legend’s birthday, the GMA T.50s Niki Lauda is the track-focused version of Gordon Murray’s long-awaited follow-up to his now iconic 1990s McLaren F1 supercar. At 852kg, it is lighter, more powerful and faster than the standard road-going T.50 version. With revised camshafts, cylinder heads, induction, higher compression and stratospheric 12,100rpm rev limit, the Niki Lauda’s faster revving engine produces 725BHP at 11,500rpm, with RAM air induction, and 358lb/ft torque at 9,000rpm. Additionally, it employs a quicker sequential gearbox.
Inspired by Murray’s legendary 1983 Brabham BT52 Formula One car, the T.50s shares the same fan car technology — and central driving position — as the regular T.50, but uses revised aerodynamics and ducting, including huge front splitter, central fin and massive rear wing. Spinning at 7,000rpm for maximum downforce, the Niki Lauda’s active aerodynamic fan system can help generate up to 1,500kg downforce, while top speed is estimated at up to 338km/h, depending on selected gearbox ratios. A classic even before its 2023 arrival, the T.50s is limited to just 25 examples, at GB £3.1 million apiece.
Specifications: GMA T.50s Niki Lauda
- Engine: 3.9-litre, mid-mounted, dry sump V12-cylinders
- Gearbox: 6-speed automated manual, rear-wheel-drive
- Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 725 (735) [540] @11,500rpm
- Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 358 (485) @9,000rpm
- 0-100km/h: N/A
- Top speed: up to 338km/h
- Length: 4,416mm
- Width: 1,917mm
- Height: 1,172mm
- Wheelbase: 2,700mm
- Weight: 852kg
- Suspension: Double wishbone
Price: GB £3,100,000
GMA T.33
Unveiled recently and arriving in 2024, the T.33 is Gordon Murray Automotive’s follow-up to the T.50 hypercar. Pitched a the world’s best two-seater supercar, priced at GB £1.37 million and limited to 100 examples, the T.33 is a high tech analogue supercar that loses the T.50’s ground effect fan system and three abreast seating, but Promises refreshingly uncomplicated and undiluted visceral thrills and driver engagement. Built on a new ultra lightweight carbon and aluminium frame, its design is meanwhile timelessly stylish with sensual curves and stacked headlights harking back to 1960s sensibilities.
Trading the T.50’s active aerodynamics for an advanced passive system, the T.33 is GMA’s last purely petrol powered car. Its reconfigured version of the T.50’s naturally-aspirated Cosworth-developed 3.9-litre V12 engine is dialed back to a still staggering 607BHP at 10,500rpm 333lb/ft torque at 9,000rpm. Sensationally high revving to 11,100rpm, it nevertheless offers excellent mid-range versatility, with 75 per cent of maximum torque available from 2,500rpm and 90 per cent throughout 4,500-10,500rpm. With standard 6-speed manual gearbox and limited-slip differential, the T.33 also features un-intrusive electronic stability controls and an optional automated gearbox.
Specifications: GMA T.33
- Engine: 3.9-litre, mid-mounted, dry sump V12-cylinders
- Gearbox: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel-drive
- Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 607 (615) [452] @10,500rpm
- Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 333 (451) @9,000rpm
- 0-100km/h: N/A
- Top speed: N/A
- Length: 4,398mm
- Width: 1,850mm
- Height: 1,135mm
- Wheelbase: 2,735mm
- Weight: 1,090kg
- Suspension: Double wishbone
Price: GB £1,370,000
Noble M500
Unveiled in near-production guise and expected to arrive sometime later this year, info on the Noble M500 is scarce, but it is set to both succeed and temporarily complement the long-running M600 as a more “junior” supercar. Built on a tubular steel chassis derived from the brutally swift M600’s lightweight frame, the more accessible M500 is similarly sized, but better packaged. Distinctly curvier and more contemporary in design sensibility, the M500 trades the M600’s refreshingly uncomplicated M600’s twin circular rear lights for deeply recessed lights sourced from the Citroen C4 Picasso MPV.
The M500 meanwhile swaps its big brother’s 4.4-litre Volvo/Yamaha-sourced twin-turbo V8 engine for a Ford-sourced 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6. Powering numerous Fords from F150 pick-up to GT supercar, the “EcoBoost” engine is expected to produce around 550BHP in M500 service. Riding on double wishbone front and rear suspension, and driving the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox with gated shifter and limited-slip differential, it is hoped that the M500 will retain the M600’s visceral old school analogue supercar thrills, and remain as free of driving aids, assistance and interference as possible.
Specifications: Noble M500
- Engine: 3.5-litre, mid-mounted, twin-turbo V6-cylinders
- Gearbox: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel-drive
- Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 543 (550) [405]*
- Suspension: Double wishbone
Price: GB £120,000-180,000*
*Estimate
Lotus Emira
A rare new but bittersweet occasion for driving purists when it arrives in spring, the Emira marks the end of Lotus’ true lightweight petrol-powered tradition before the brand embraces electrification. Arriving shortly after Lotus discontinued the Elise, Exige and Evora models, the Emira effectively replaces the aging but sublime Evora.
Retaining its predecessor’s mid-engine layout and Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, the Emira, however, ditches the Evora’s uniquely practical 2+2 seating configuration, but adopts more advanced driver-assistance, safety, and infotainment technologies.
A near supercar sports car with taut skin, sleek lines, athletic stance and voluptuous curves aesthetically inspired by the Lotus Evija EV hypercar, the Emira should deliver similar dynamic prowess and intimately intuitive driving experience as the Evora. With passive aerodynamics producing plenty of downforce, the Emira’s enthusiast appeal also includes traditional hydraulic steering assistance and standard manual gearbox. Producing 395BHP in top V6 spec, the Emira also receives an entry-level 355BHP Mercedes-AMG sourced turbocharged 2-litre 4-cylinder engine, and automatic and double-clutch gearbox options.
Specifications: Lotus Emira
- Engine: 3.5-litre, mid-mounted, supercharged V6-cylinders
- Gearbox: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel-drive
- Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 395 (400) [295]
- Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 406 (300)
- 0-100km/h: 4.5-seconds
- Top speed: 290km/h
- Length: 4,412mm
- Width: 1,895mm
- Height: 1,225mm
- Wheelbase: 2,575mm
- Weight: from 1,405kg
- Suspension: Double wishbone
Price: Starting from under GB £60,000