Gordon Murray’s new city car, the T25, will have more interior space than rivals such as the Smart Fortwo and the Toyota iQ, according to the car’s designer.
The three-seater, which uses a central driving position, places the driver at the front and in the middle of the car. The two passengers are set back on either side.
See the Gordon Murray T25 picture gallery here
Steve Cropley blog - Why Gordon Murray must be taken seriously
With just the driver aboard, it’s claimed the 2.4-metre long, 1.25-metre-wide T25 will offer 750 litres of luggage capacity; the unoccupied passenger space is capable of storage. Murray calls the central driving position iCentre, and it is crucial to the amount of space in the T25.
The rear-mounted 660cc engine and positioning of the battery and fuel tank under the floor also help to maximise interior dimensions.
To get around the potential access problem, the T25 has two doors: a hatch at the rear and a side-hinged door at the front of the car that allows entry to the passenger compartment in the style of the Isetta bubble car.
Murray said he will have a finished body prototype running within a month and is aiming to get the car into production within 24 months.
Murray’s company will not build the T25; instead, he will license the production process. He is working on getting the car built in the UK, and is in talks with several interested parties. Murray described the talks as “making good progress”.
To read Steve Cropley's exclusive first drive of a T25 mule, buy Autocar magazine, on sale today.
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Re: Murray's T25 outspaces Smart
Go Gordon go, if this is priced realistic and can be made at a profit on the numbers to be produced then the UK could have a new mini car to take on the big boys.You only have to look at Dyson and Balylis, they took on the giants in there field and a few years later they are at the top.
City cars are the future no mater what we may feel,ok we will still have to have family cars and there will be still be a few sports models around but in general in the big towns and cities in Europe small Micro/Mini cars will be the norm.
Re: Murray's T25 outspaces Smart
Almost everything that I have ever seen that has the Murray signature is a status symbol of superb automotive art.
Gordon Murray long ago became fed up with the 'bling' kind of car and mega buck motors almost as if he had swallowed a massive sensibility pill of sustainable and utterly practical motoring life.
The man is brilliant, quite brilliant and he should be supported the World over.
Go on Gordon, there are countless zillions of sensible motorists out there who are simply longing for the automotive results of your creative pen.
Re: Murray's T25 outspaces Smart
Have my doubts about the T25 project. Here's one that makes more sense, as far as I'm concerned... Small is not the issue... Sleek may well be... For reasons of passenger safety, comfort, handling characteristics and energy-efficiency. Use a clever seating layout and you'll be able to accommodate three grown-ups easily.