Gordon Murray developing mini McLaren F1
Smart Roadster-sized two-seat sports car promises heroic power-to-weight ratio thanks to ultra-lightweight constructionThe father of the original McLaren F1, Gordon Murray, has teased a single picture of an all-new low-volume small coupe that's claimed draws direct inspiration from the 1992 hypercar.
Releasing a shadowy silhouette of the car Murray plans to make, the famous ex-Formula 1 engineer and designer says his latest sports car will be sold under his new 'IGM' (Ian Gordon Murray) brand.
Claimed to be a similar size to the Smart Roadster that was sold between 2003-2006, Murray claims the unnamed supercar has been developed using his iStream lightweight chassis technology that employs high-strength aluminium instead of tubular steel components.
This technique is claimed to see the new coupe's structure weigh-in at 50 per cent lighter than a similar-sized vehicle with a more conventional structure.
Featuring a small mid-mounted three-cylinder turbo engine fed air by a roof-mounted air scoop, it's rumoured the small rear-wheel drive coupe will produce around 110kW.
That should be enough, considering its kerb weight, for a sub-five-second sprint to 100km/h and a top speed of around 230km/h.
Claimed to have already been developed into a working prototype, Murray has not yet announced either the launch date or cost of the mini McLaren F1.
It's not the first time the South African designer has attempted to shrink his iconic F1 supercar.
As recently as 2015, Murray collaborated with motorcycle maker, Yamaha, to create the Tokyo motor show Sports Ride concept.
The small Japanese they created measured in at less than four metres long and weighed less than 750kg.
Like the latest IGM sports car, the Yamaha concept also came powered by a lightweight small three-cylinder turbo engine.
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