The Purists Are Still Building
The automotive industry is increasingly moving away from V12 engines and manual transmissions, though a few automakers, including Aston Martin, continue to uphold the tradition. Gordon Murray Automotive is among the other brands continuing to deliver that exact formula, including with its latest reveal, the S1.
Unveiled at The Quail during this year’s Monterey Car Week, the S1 is essentially an evolution of the S1 LM, an extremely track-focused yet still road-legal car paying homage to the McLaren F1 GTR that won the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. But instead of pursuing even greater performance, the S1 dials back the aggression in favor of comfort and refinement, making it better suited to touring than outright lap times.
Built for Corners With Potholes
The S1 is still a performance car, especially given its S1 LM-derived platform. But components such as the suspension have been tweaked to prioritize comfort. It also places more emphasis on mechanical grip than extreme downforce, providing more predictable handling that is better suited to road driving.
Because of that, the S1 does without the S1 LM’s massive rear wing, long front splitter, and deep side skirts. Gordon Murray says every body panel is new, while the ride height has been increased by 10 mm (0.39 inches) and the damping retuned for greater compliance. These changes should help the vehicle clear road obstacles and better absorb bumps not typically encountered on smooth racetracks. It also comes with main-beam auxiliary lights positioned low within the front air intake and all-new lightweight wheels, both inspired by Gordon Murray’s 1992 Monaco show car design.
Inside, the three-seat cabin features refinements such as premium leather, touring-level seat comfort, revised infotainment screens, and a bespoke lightweight audio system.
Powering the S1 is a bespoke 4.2-liter Cosworth V12 derived from the same engine lineage as the S1 LM’s 4.3-liter unit. It produces up to 690 PS (681 horsepower), 30 PS (29.6 horsepower) less than its track-oriented sibling. The 12,100 rpm-revving engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission featuring a touring-oriented sixth gear as standard. The V12 and stick shift formula can also be found in other models in the lineup, including the T.33 and the flagship T.50.
A Supercar That Belongs on the Street
Gordon Murray did not disclose pricing, though production of the S1 will be limited to just 64 examples worldwide.
The S1 joins a limited pool of vehicles pairing a V12 with a manual gearbox, including the Aston Martin Valiant, Aston Martin Valour, and Pagani Utopia. Ferrari also has an entry with the 12Cilindri Manuale, though its manual-by-wire system electronically operates an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.
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