Gordon Murray Special Vehicles unveiled the S1 at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week on August 14, 2026, presenting a road-focused evolution of the GMSV S1 LM hypercar that sold at RM Sotheby's for $20.63 million in November 2025. The S1 uses a bespoke 4.2-litre Cosworth naturally aspirated V12 producing 681 bhp (508 kW) at 11,500 rpm and revving to 12,100 rpm, paired exclusively with a six-speed manual. Production is capped at 64 units globally — every allocation was sold before the public reveal.
The S1 is Gordon Murray Special Vehicles' third supercar after the T.50 (100 units) and the ultra-limited S1 LM (five units). It positions between them: mechanically derived from the S1 LM but retuned for touring rather than pure high-downforce circuit work. Compared to its LM sibling, the S1 lifts the ride height by 10 mm, softens the damper calibration, replaces the fixed rear wing with an integrated active aero system, and adds dihedral doors with proper drop-down glass.
Gordon Murray S1 Confirmed Specifications
Every figure below is confirmed by Gordon Murray Special Vehicles in its August 14, 2026 press pack or by first-day coverage from tier-one outlets on the same date.
| Parameter | Gordon Murray S1 (2027) |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4.2 L Cosworth V12, naturally aspirated |
| Peak power | 681 bhp (690 PS / 508 kW) @ 11,500 rpm |
| Peak torque | 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) @ 7,000 rpm |
| Torque delivery | 80% of peak available from 2,500 rpm |
| Redline | 12,100 rpm (fuel cut at 12,400 rpm) |
| Valvetrain | Titanium valves and connecting rods, silicon-carbide-coated pistons, dry-sump lubrication |
| Exhaust | Polished Inconel with 24-carat gold-plated heat shield |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual (touring sixth gear standard) |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Layout | Mid-engine, three-seat with central driving position |
| Ride height | +10 mm vs S1 LM |
| Aerodynamics | Active rear aero integrated into bodywork |
| Doors | Dihedral with roll-down glass windows |
| Dry weight | Below T.50 (target: sub-986 kg) |
| Production run | 64 units (all sold) |
| Price | Not disclosed (seven figures) |
| First deliveries | 2027 |
Cosworth V12: Detuned but Still Screaming to 12,100 rpm
The 4.2-litre V12 is a slightly tamer version of the unit fitted to the S1 LM, which produces over 700 PS. In the S1 it delivers 681 hp at 11,500 rpm alongside a retuned torque curve: 80 per cent of the 369 lb-ft peak is available from just 2,500 rpm, with the maximum arriving at 7,000 rpm. The redline sits at 12,100 rpm with the fuel cut placed at 12,400 rpm.
Internally, the engine keeps the same competition-grade components as the LM: silicon-carbide-coated lightweight pistons, titanium valves, titanium connecting rods and a dry-sump lubrication system. The Inconel exhaust is wrapped in a 24-carat gold-plated heat shield — a Gordon Murray signature detail carried over from the McLaren F1 and used again on the S1 LM.
Six-Speed Manual with Rifle-Bolt Shift Feel
Gordon Murray has stayed with a bespoke six-speed manual gearbox for the S1, matched to a triple-plate carbon-silicon-titanium clutch. Compared to the S1 LM, the shifter cable routing has been straightened to deliver what GMSV describes as a “precise, rifle-bolt shift feel.” Sixth gear is a longer touring ratio as standard, better suiting the S1’s road-biased mission.
Power reaches the rear wheels only. There is no dual-clutch, no hybrid assistance and no all-wheel drive. This is a deliberate positioning against contemporary hypercars that increasingly rely on electric augmentation: the S1 competes on lightweight, naturally aspirated feel and driver interface rather than on outright output.
Suspension, Aero and Chassis Changes
The S1 inherits the S1 LM’s wider track, tyre width and lightweight suspension architecture, but the ride height is 10 mm higher and the damper valving is more compliant, targeting comfort and refinement on longer drives while preserving what Gordon Murray calls “steering precision, agility and feedback.”
The most visible aero change is the switch from the LM’s fixed rear wing to an active rear aero system integrated into the bodywork. The S1 leans more on mechanical grip than on maximum downforce, and the active element deploys mainly for high-speed stability and braking rather than for cornering downforce.
Interior: Central Driving Position, Three Seats, Touring-Grade Comfort
The cabin keeps Gordon Murray’s signature central driving position and three-seat layout, matching the original McLaren F1 template. Compared to the S1 LM, the S1 gains thicker seat padding, more sound insulation and revised engine mounts to reduce in-cabin noise. Premium leather and bespoke fabrics replace the LM’s stripped-back trim, and the infotainment screens have been reshaped for touring use.
The dihedral doors are a new feature specific to the S1. They are easier to enter and exit than the LM’s access geometry and include proper roll-down glass windows in place of the LM’s fixed Lexan panels.
Design: McLaren F1 Cues With New Light Signature and Monaco 1992 Wheels
The S1’s visual language references the McLaren F1 more directly than any GMSV car to date, but with details unique to the model. A new headlight signature integrates the daytime running lamps inside the main light clusters, with auxiliary main-beam lights positioned low within the front air intake — a functional and visual differentiator from the S1 LM.
The lightweight wheels are all new and take their inspiration from the Monaco 1992 show car, an early Murray concept. Bespoke A-pillar-mounted mirrors integrate a discreet rear-view camera system, and the exterior carbon-fibre bodywork is unique to the S1, with proportions that echo the F1 while sitting on the S1 LM’s wider track.
Gordon Murray S1 vs S1 LM: What Changes
| Attribute | GMSV S1 LM (2026) | GMSV S1 (2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine displacement | 4.3 L Cosworth V12 | 4.2 L Cosworth V12 |
| Peak power | 720+ PS (over 700 hp) | 690 PS (681 hp) |
| Redline | 12,100 rpm | 12,100 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual (touring 6th) |
| Ride height | Baseline | +10 mm |
| Damper tuning | Circuit-focused | More compliant, touring-biased |
| Rear aero | Fixed dual-element wing | Active rear aero (integrated) |
| Doors | Fixed Lexan windows | Dihedral with roll-down glass |
| Interior | Stripped, race-oriented | Leather trim, more insulation |
| Production | 5 units | 64 units |
| Auction reference | $20.63 million (Sotheby’s, Nov 2025) | Undisclosed, all sold |
Price and Deliveries
Gordon Murray Special Vehicles has not disclosed a purchase price for the S1. Every allocation was placed before the public reveal, meaning the pricing conversation is now entirely a private one between GMSV and its buyer list. For reference, the first S1 LM allocation was sold at RM Sotheby’s in November 2025 for $20.63 million, a record for a new production car at public auction.
Given the S1 sits between the T.50 and the S1 LM in exclusivity and technical positioning, industry expectations place its per-unit price comfortably in the seven-figure range, without approaching the auction-record S1 LM figure. First deliveries are scheduled for 2027, with production distributed globally across GMSV’s existing buyer network.
Monterey Car Week 2026 Context
The S1 reveal at The Quail sits inside one of the most active Monterey Car Weeks on record. On the same day, McLaren unveiled its McL 6GT — its first manual road car since the F1 — and Lamborghini presented the track-focused Revuelto SV at 1,050 hp. The Aston Martin Valen, Bugatti Destrier, and Hennessey Blackbird all shared the same Peninsula debut week.
Related reading: McLaren McL 6GT · Lamborghini Revuelto SV · Aston Martin Valen · Hennessey Blackbird