Gordon Murrary repeats history with the all-new S1

Gordon Murray’s new S1 takes the S1 LM’s extraordinary hardware and gives it a more civilised brief: a 690 PS naturally aspirated V12, six-speed manual, active aero and central driving position, wrapped in a more elegant, touring-focused package.

There is something rather refreshing about Gordon Murray deciding that one of his cars should be less extreme. Not slow, obviously, but less concerned with cornering the laws of physics and more interested in crossing a few counties before lunch.

Meet the S1, revealed at The Quail during Monterey Car Week: a touring-focused evolution of the S1 LM, with the same family DNA but an entirely different temperament. Where the S1 LM celebrates Gordon Murray’s 1995 Le Mans victory with race-inspired intensity, the S1 is designed for fast, engaging, long-distance road driving.

The recipe remains gloriously old-fashioned. A bespoke, naturally aspirated 4.2-litre Cosworth V12 produces up to 690 PS at 12,100 rpm, while a six-speed manual gearbox, complete with a touring sixth gear, keeps the driver involved. The engine delivers 80 per cent of its torque from 2,500 rpm and around 500 Nm at 7,000 rpm, giving the S1 considerably more accessible muscle for effortless touring.

And then there is the visual diet, the enormous rear wing, long front splitter and deep side skirts of the S1 LM have disappeared. Every exterior panel is new, creating a cleaner silhouette inspired by classic proportions. In their place sits an integrated active rear aero system, allowing the S1 to concentrate on mechanical grip, balance and confidence rather than extreme downforce.

The suspension has been given a similar treatment, it tide height has risen by 10mm, damping is retuned for greater compliance, and yet the car retains the S1 LM’s width, track, lightweight architecture and wider tyres. There is even a target weight below that of the T.50, despite the S1 gaining a more luxurious cabin, enhanced sound system and additional acoustic refinement.

Inside, the central driving position remains, but the surroundings are rather more civilised. Premium leather, bespoke fabrics, touring-level seat comfort, improved acoustic insulation, revised infotainment and a lightweight bespoke audio system all add up to make the S1 an utterly glorious place to sit. The new dihedral doors gain integrated drop-down glass and wider openings, too. Just 64 S1s will be built, each individually commissioned by its owner. So perhaps the most intriguing thing about the S1 is not what Gordon Murray has added, but what he has removed.