Gordon Murray is developing a lightweight EV architecture

Good news, Gordon Murray fans. An investment of £300million over the next five years will see Gordon Murray Design develop a “revolutionary, lightweight, ultra-efficient" platform for small EVs and delivery vans. The company will also set up a new R&D facility to pursue its goal of stripping as much weight and complexity out of vehicle platforms and manufacturing processes as possible. 

Meanwhile Gordon Murray Electric will join Gordon Murray Design (GMD) and Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) as part of the broader Gordon Murray Group (GMG). It’ll support GMD by developing electrified powertrains GMG can sell/licence to other car and technology companies. 

On today’s announcement, Murray said: “The automotive future will be increasingly electrified and it’s essential that we design the world’s lightest, most efficient and advanced EVs. This significant investment in Gordon Murray Design and the formation of Gordon Murray Electronics will be realising that goal.” 

Gordon Murray Automotive – the part of Murray’s empire responsible for the T.50 hypercar – will also benefit from the investment, with GMG confirming “future Gordon Murray Automotive vehicles are also now in development, and all will stay true to the ethos and exclusivity shown by the T.50”. 

Production of the T.50, which is currently undergoing pre-production testing and development, is set to begin early next year. 

Murray himself says the T.50 “clearly shows the path that we will take for future Gordon Murray Automotive products”. 

“Much of our learning about advanced lightweight materials and construction from the T.50 will play a key role in the electric vehicles that we develop. But we are not abandoning internal combustion power. We will continue to create the pinnacle of driver’s cars – with V12 petrol power as long as the regulations allow and in future we will develop our own hybrid and electric powertrains.”