Gordon Murray S1 debuts as a more refined, touring-focused take on the S1 LM

Gordon Murray Special Vehicles has unveiled the new S1 at The Quail during Monterey Car Week, introducing a more elegant and touring-focused counterpart to the extreme S1 LM.

While the S1 shares the same fundamental DNA as the S1 LM, Gordon Murray says the new supercar was developed with a different mission in mind. Rather than chasing maximum aerodynamic downforce, the S1 emphasizes mechanical grip, balance, comfort and driver engagement, creating what the company describes as a more usable interpretation of its “Driving Perfection” philosophy.

“The S1 is exclusive, analogue, and deeply driver-focused, but also more elegant, more refined, and more usable over distance,” said Professor Gordon Murray, CBE, Group Executive Chairman of Gordon Murray Group.

A different take on the S1 LM

The S1 LM was conceived as an uncompromising, road-legal tribute to Gordon Murray’s 1995 Le Mans victory, with aggressive aerodynamics and a track-focused setup. The S1 takes that same basic architecture and transforms it into something better suited to long-distance road driving.

Every exterior body panel is new. The huge fixed rear wing, extended front splitter and deep side skirts of the S1 LM have been removed, leaving behind a cleaner silhouette with more traditional proportions. In their place is an integrated active rear aerodynamic system concealed within the bodywork. The system adjusts to provide stability during high-speed driving and braking without turning the S1 into a downforce-heavy track weapon.

The car retains the S1 LM’s width, track and lightweight suspension architecture, along with its wider tires. However, the ride height has been increased by 10 mm, while the damping has been retuned to provide greater compliance without sacrificing the precise steering, agility and feedback for which Gordon Murray’s cars are known.

A 12,100-RPM naturally aspirated V12

Behind the driver sits one of the S1’s defining features: a bespoke 4.2-liter naturally aspirated Cosworth V12 producing up to 690 PS and revving to an astonishing 12,100 rpm.

The engine shares its lineage with the unit used in the S1 LM but has been developed specifically for the S1’s touring-oriented character. Competition-inspired components include silicon-carbide-coated lightweight pistons, titanium valves, titanium connecting rods and a dry-sump lubrication system.

Gordon Murray Special Vehicles has also broadened the engine’s torque delivery. Around 80 percent of peak torque is available from just 2,500 rpm, with approximately 500 Nm available at 7,000 rpm.

That means the S1 isn’t simply a high-revving exotic that needs to be driven at the limit to deliver its performance. Instead, the V12 is designed to provide strong, immediate response throughout a wider portion of the rev range.

Power is sent through a six-speed manual transmission, complete with a touring-oriented sixth gear. Revised, straighter gearbox cable routing is intended to give the shifter an especially precise, mechanical feel.

Lightweight by design

Despite its more luxurious interior and additional acoustic insulation, the S1 remains relentlessly focused on weight reduction. The car uses ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber body panels and lightweight suspension components, with the overall target weight set below that of the Gordon Murray T.50.

That is an impressive achievement considering the S1’s more comfortable cabin, enhanced sound system and additional refinement. The philosophy is simple: rather than relying on huge aerodynamic devices to generate performance, Gordon Murray has concentrated on keeping the car light, responsive and mechanically balanced.

Inspired by Gordon Murray’s past

Several design details connect the S1 to Gordon Murray’s earlier work.

The car features bespoke front and rear lighting, with its daytime running lights integrated directly into the headlight clusters. Low-mounted auxiliary main-beam lights are positioned inside the front air intake, inspired by a 1992 Monaco show car designed by Murray. That design featured similar lower-mounted lights, although the feature never made it into production.

The S1 also receives distinctive A-pillar-mounted mirrors incorporating a discreet rear-view camera system.

New lightweight wheels draw inspiration from the same 1992 Monaco show car, while the engine compartment turns the Cosworth V12 into a visual centerpiece. A polished Inconel exhaust system and 24-karat gold-plated heat shield add an appropriately exotic finishing touch.

Three seats and a more luxurious cabin

Inside, the S1 retains one of Gordon Murray’s most distinctive design features: a central driving position.

The low scuttle height and three-seat layout preserve the intimate connection between driver and machine, but the cabin has been substantially refined compared with the more race-inspired S1 LM.

Premium leather, bespoke fabrics, tailored trim, more comfortable touring seats, additional acoustic insulation, revised infotainment displays and a bespoke lightweight audio system make the S1 considerably better suited to extended road trips.

The driver can also adjust the character of the steering through selectable power-assistance settings, allowing for lighter assistance during relaxed cruising or a more direct, unfiltered feel when attacking a winding road.

Even the doors have been redesigned for everyday usability. The new dihedral doors incorporate drop-down glass and provide a wider opening than the S1 LM’s race-inspired arrangement, making entry and exit easier.

Just 64 cars will be built

Production of the Gordon Murray S1 will be limited to 64 examples worldwide, with every car individually commissioned and specified by its owner.

Pricing has not been announced.

The S1 represents another evolution of the philosophy established by Gordon Murray with the T.50. Since that car was unveiled in 2020, the company has continued to champion lightweight construction, naturally aspirated engines, manual transmissions and an uncompromising connection between driver and machine.

With the S1, that formula takes a slightly different direction.

Instead of building the most extreme possible version of the S1 LM, Gordon Murray Special Vehicles has created a supercar intended to be enjoyed over hundreds of miles at a time—without sacrificing the visceral experience of a high-revving V12 and a manual gearbox.

In an era increasingly dominated by electrification, automated transmissions and ever more complicated aerodynamic systems, the S1 is a remarkably pure proposition: a lightweight, naturally aspirated, three-seat V12 supercar designed to be driven rather than merely experienced.