Unleashing the Beast: Gordon Murray's T.33 Mule Roars to Life
As automotive enthusiasts, we live for the moments that make our hearts race and our palms sweat. Among such moments, nothing compares to the symphony of a V-12 engine as it screams through the gears, reaching for the heavens with its raucous cry. This is exactly what Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) has given us with the first 'mule' car of their latest masterpiece, the T.33.
The T.33 stands as a slightly less ferocious, yet still incredibly potent, sibling to the illustrious T.50, a car that draws its lineage from the legendary McLaren F1. Underneath its hood lies a marvel of engineering: a Cosworth V-12 engine that belts out 607 horsepower at a sky-scraping 11,100 rpm. The raw power is even more astounding considering the T.33's featherweight class at around 2,400 pounds. GMA has taken the first steps towards the realization of this beast, with a mule car that, although far from its final polish, breathes life and exudes the essence of pure adrenaline.
In a recent display of mechanical symphony, GMA's test driver and three-time Indy 500 champion, Dario Franchitti, took the T.33 mule, dubbed 'James', for a spin. The setting was stark, with the cold air accentuating every growl and howl of the engine as it echoed through the proving grounds. Franchitti, with a delicate yet deliberate touch, coaxed the V-12 through its paces, even getting the car to dance sideways, a testament to the raw power at his disposal.
GMA has tweaked the T.33's V-12 for a greater emphasis on low-end torque compared to its T.50 counterpart. An iconic 'shaker' style intake feeds air to the four throttle bodies, enabling this powerhouse to deliver 607 horsepower at 10,500 rpm and 333 pound-feet of torque at 9,500 rpm. With a stratospheric 14:1 compression ratio, the engine's roar is a clear signal of its supremacy. Curiously, despite offering a choice between a six-speed manual and a sequential gearbox, the overwhelming preference for the manual by buyers led GMA to ditch the sequential option altogether.
The mule car's interior is a spartan affair, stripped back to the essentials, a nod perhaps to the purists who yearn for an unadulterated driving experience. One can find panels and switches borrowed from the T.50, amidst a sea of bare metal and visible Dynamat on the roof, all serving to channel the V-12's euphonious note directly to the driver's seat. Watching Franchitti push the engine to 9,000 RPM, with its unique exhaust note filling the air, is a reminder of the sheer joy that comes from mechanical perfection.
Gordon Murray Automotive continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in automotive engineering with the T.33. As we wait with bated breath for more updates, one thing is clear: the mule car's sonorous debut is but a prelude to the symphony of power and precision that the T.33 promises to be. Move over, automotive world, Gordon Murray's latest creation is here, and it's ready to roar.