Man who designed McLaren F1 has just unveiled the spiritual successor to the iconic supercar and it's ultra-limited Gordon Murray S1
Published on Aug 18, 2026 at 2:04 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Aug 18, 2026 at 2:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Gordon Murray, the man who designed the McLaren F1, has unveiled the spiritual successor to the McLaren supercar, the Gordon Murray S1.
Murray is the man who gave the world the amazing McLaren F1, which is still the world’s fastest naturally aspirated production car.
During The Quail at the 2026 Monterey Car Week, Gordon Murray Special Vehicles, the special division of Gordon Murray Automotive, took the covers off the new F1.
This looks to be the true successor to the icon of the 1990s.
This really does look like the McLaren F1
Murray has spent the last three decades politely declining to remake the fabled McLaren F1.
However, clearly, he has now decided the time is right to give us the successor.
This new supercar follows on from the S1 LM, a wild homage to the 1995 McLaren F1 GTR that won that year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The new S1 is the stripped-back version, more closely resembling the regular production F1 of the 1990s.
Murray has decided to cap production at 64 units, the exact number of road-going McLaren F1s ever built.
This car really does look like its predecessor, with a very similar front-end, side profile, and even the taillight arrangement.
And yes, it does have the same three-seat layout as the original supercar.
There is plenty of power under the hood of the Gordon Murray S1
Under the hood, the 64 people who will own the car will find plenty of power.
The supercar has a 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine, making an incredible 681hp.
For context, the 6.1-liter BMW V12 in the original F1 made 618hp.
For those who love the analogue feeling, you can rejoice with the new S1.
This supercar has a six-speed manual transmission, making it a true enthusiast’s car.
Even the digital displays inside the cabin have been done in a way that does not ruin the 1990s vibe that the car exudes.
Real knobs and dials and tactile controls ensure this isn’t a car that has been rammed full of high-tech gadgetry.
Pricing has not yet been disclosed.
But the supercar is likely to cost up to $20 million, based on auction prices of the S1 LM.
Not that it matters, as all 64 Gordon Murray S1 supercars were reserved before the public unveiling.
Gordon Murray’s greatest cars
1967: IGM Ford Special – A lightweight South African racing special that launched an incredible 50-year engineering career
1974: Brabham BT44 – The first Formula 1 vehicle designed by him to win a Grand Prix race
1978: Brabham BT46B – The infamous Fan Car that dominated its only F1 race by using a massive rear turbine to create immense downforce
1983: Brabham BT52 – A dart-shaped Formula 1 machine that secured a World Championship after underbody ground-effect aerodynamics were banned
1988: McLaren MP4/4 – One of the most dominant F1 cars ever made, winning 15 of 16 races and handing Ayrton Senna his first title
1992: LCC Rocket – An ultra-lightweight open-top road car featuring tandem seating and a high-revving motorcycle engine
1992: McLaren F1 – A revolutionary carbon-fiber production vehicle featuring a central driving position and a legendary top speed record
2003: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren – A dramatic grand tourer blending a supercharged V8 engine with striking gullwing doors and race-inspired dynamics
2020: GMA T.50 – A spiritual successor to his 1990s masterpiece, equipped with a bespoke 12,000-rpm V12 and an aerodynamic rear fan
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
