Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 hypercar teased

The Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 supercar appears to have taken a step closer to reality following a new teaser showing how the production car will look.

The single image of what's been being touted as the spiritual successor to the original McLaren F1 was released overnight by the fledging supercar-maker owned by the legendary Formula 1 designer and engineer.

As well as releasing the first pic of the T.50, Gordon Murray has also released images demonstrating how his modern day take on the F1's pioneering aero will work.

Featuring a huge 400mm ground-effect fan inspired by the Murray-designed Brabham BT46B F1 car of the 1970s, the T.50 combines a spinning rotor with active underbody elements and rear aerofoils to 'stick' the T.50 to the floor using suction force at high-speed.

The advantage of the system is forcing high velocity air through the rear diffuser to generate downforce without drag, meaning the T.50's performance or top speed will not be compromised by its advanced aero.

No claims about exactly how much downforce is generated have been made, but for the road car there will be six different aero modes that work in partnership with corresponding engine and traction control settings.

Under the rear boot lid, the T.50 is powered by an electrified naturally-aspirated 3.9-litre V12 developed by Cosworth. Claimed to produce up to 520kW, the all-new V12 is said to rev to a stratospheric 12,100rpm.

Reducing emissions and boosting power, a lightweight 48-volt mild-hybrid system is also employed.

Perhaps most startlingly, the T.50 shuns a dual-clutch 'box for a traditional manual transmission, as Murray wanted his first hypercar since the original McLaren to keep the F1's analogue feel.

So far, all of the T.50's testing has been virtual, using computer generated models to test its advanced aero.

Testing will now commence in the real-world using mules in the Racing Point F1 team's wind tunnel. It's thought on-road evaluation will also begin shortly after.

Next year will also mark the opening of a Gordon Murray Automotive customer experience centre at the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Park in Surrey.

Manufacturing is also tipped to begin in the same location shortly afterwards, in 2021, before sales kick off in 2022 -- almost 30 years after the original McLaren F1 debuted.

Just 100 examples of the T.50 supercar will be made, each costing £2.2 million ($A4m), with a further 25 track-suited models to follow.

According to reports most have already found homes.