- Gordon Murray Special Vehicles has introduced the new S1 at The Quail.
- Model is based on the S1 LM, but features unique styling and tuning.
- The modern-day McLaren F1 has a 4.2-liter V12 engine with 681 hp.
Gordon Murray Special Vehicles has used Monterey Car Week to unveil the new S1. It’s a modern-day version of the road-going McLaren F1 and it should appeal to purists.
Based on the track-focused S1 LM, the car features an entirely new carbon fiber body that is instantly recognizable. However, the design has been modernized and cleaned up a bit.
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Starting up front, there are pronounced intakes as well as modern headlights that are better integrated into the overall design. Continuing further back, we can see mirrors mounted on the A-pillars as well as lightweight wheels inspired by those used on the 1992 Monaco show car.
The S1 also sports dihedral doors, which allow for improved entry and egress compared to the S1 LM. They’re joined by a roof-mounted scoop, a retro rear end, and a four-tailpipe exhaust system.
Since the model is street-focused, it eschews the S1 LM’s aggressive body kit that includes a front splitter, sporty side skirts, and a fixed rear wing. In their place is a new active aero system, which is integrated into the bodywork and adapts to the “demands of high-speed stability and braking.” GMSV didn’t say much about it, but noted the setup focuses on “mechanical grip, balance, and confidence on the road” instead of maximum downforce.
The interior retains the classic three-seat arrangement with the driver at the center of the action. They sit behind a three-spoke steering wheel and find themselves looking at a central analog gauge that is flanked by digital displays.
The minimalist cockpit manages to feel classic and new, and the company said drivers will find premium leather, bespoke fabrics, and tailored trim. Other highlights include a lightweight audio system, enhanced sound deadening material, and revised infotainment displays.
Power comes from a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter Cosworth V12 that features lightweight pistons, titanium valves, titanium connecting rods, a dry-sump lubrication system, and a 24-carat gold-plated heat shield. It screams to 12,100 rpm, and produces 681 hp (508 kW / 690 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque.
That’s slightly less than the S1 LM and the engine is connected to a six-speed manual transmission. Here, it features straighter gearbox cable routing to deliver a “precise, rifle-bolt shift feel.”
Sticking with performance, the car has a revised suspension that “adds comfort and refinement for long distance journeys.” Among the changes are a 0.4-inch (10 mm) increase in ride height compared to the S1 LM. The model also has retuned dampers that deliver “greater compliance while preserving steering precision, agility, and feedback.”
Gordon Murray said “With the S1, we wanted to show how much beauty and purity there is in this design when the more extreme aerodynamic elements of the S1 LM are stripped away.” He added, “This is a car you could drive along the coast from Los Angeles to Monterey in real comfort, still enjoying every gearshift, every corner, and every note of the V12 when the road opens up. It is exclusive, analogue, and deeply driver focused, but also more elegant, more refined, and more usable over distance.”
Production will be limited to 64 units globally and each model will be personally commissioned by its owner. The company was tight-lipped on pricing, but there’s little doubt it could cost in excess of seven figures.
