About Gordon Murray's Comments on Hypercars

"oldestyoungn" (oldestyoungn)
06/16/2014 at 12:11 • Filed to: FRONT PAGE COMMENTARY, FRONT PAGE, HYPERCAR, OPINION, OPPOINION

He really does have a point even if it's partially him being old and bitter. People seem really split, but I think a lightweight (maybe technological?) hypercar could indeed provide interesting competition. Wouldn't you watch a race between the McLaren P1, Porsche 918, LaFerrari, and Gordon Murray F2 (or whatever it'd be called)?

Anyways I can't wait to see if he puts his money (craftsmanship?) where his mouth is. In the meantime all the babies on the front page can keep slapping each other with biased opinions.

Thanks Oppo for not being as stupid as a lot of them are.

DISCUSSION (25)

newton > oldestyoungn
06/16/2014 at 12:21

Apples to oranges really. Murray is a purist. None of the modern hypercars are purist cars. I can appreciate both, but I don't believe Murray's vision is a vision of the future.

Mattbob > oldestyoungn
06/16/2014 at 12:22

I understand a little, but it sounds like with his attitude you might just end up with an ariel atom. Pure light weight is still being done, the definition of a supercar has changed though in my opinion. A supercar now represents the peak of what a manufacturer can achieve in all aspects, and this includes driver aids to get fast times these days.

Axial > oldestyoungn
06/16/2014 at 12:30

The "supercar" or "hypercar" is about being able to go really fast, really efficiently and being able to drive to work on a daily basis in comfort.

Otherwise, it's either a track car or a luxury car.

spanfucker retire bitch > oldestyoungn
06/16/2014 at 12:34

There's really very little truth to it. He is mostly old and bitter. His comment basically cements the fact that he's one of the myriad of idiots who when they hear about electric propulsion in a car, they think of a Prius.

There's a term used for people who are stuck in the past and incapable of seeing the true future of their given field. They're called Luddites. There are advantages to electrical motors far beyond mere efficiency. The torque-fill technique that all of the modern hypercars now use is one such example. It doesn't matter how much you thinker with, adjust and engineer an ICE - it will never able to deliver the same instant torque as an electric motor. Ever. It's just the way that ICE works.

When you combine the two, and you work towards getting the best out of both worlds by letting the strength of each technology make up for the weakness in the other, you have true synergy of performance.

I do hate using the word "synergy" with all of the PR bullshit that surrounds it, but it's still a real word dammit, and in this instance, it is being used correctly!

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > oldestyoungn
06/16/2014 at 12:34

Prediction: He'll partner with Tata and build it to Indian safety standards.

BeaterGT > newton
06/16/2014 at 12:59

Really? He mentioned weight being the way of the future and I agree. Taking weight off a vehicle while retaining safety will always be vastly more efficient than battery packs and turbo powerplants.

newton > BeaterGT
06/16/2014 at 13:03

I have a hard time believing it's possible to develop a safe and highly technological performance car that's much lighter than the hypercars out now. The only way to sacrifice technology, which is the impression I got from Murray's sentiments. Taking away technology is not the way forward. It's more purist.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > newton
06/16/2014 at 13:06

I would love to see what he could do with the more modern materials and engine tech, even with natural aspiration. Carbon fiber weighs even less than it did 20 years ago with a reduction the amount of resin used, the different types of weave and filaments.

BeaterGT > newton
06/16/2014 at 13:10

I'm sure a lot of people had a hard time believing it before carbon fiber "technology" made it's way onto the scene. Just because he doesn't care for hybrid powerplants doesn't mean there aren't other technological advances to be made within the design. If anything, we need both types of people.

BeaterGT > spanfucker retire bitch
06/16/2014 at 13:13

Gordon Murray is an idiot? There are areas of technological advancement outside of your dearly beloved hybrid motors you know. And just become someone isn't a Visionary doesn't make them a Luddite.

spanfucker retire bitch > BeaterGT
06/16/2014 at 13:25

In this instance, yes, he's an idiot.

BeaterGT > spanfucker retire bitch
06/16/2014 at 13:32

I guess all of the people on the Nissan ZEOD team are idiots too since their car didn't make it 5 minutes into a 24 hour race.

Manuél Ferrari > oldestyoungn
06/16/2014 at 13:34

I think the only way we'll see a new hypercar that's very light and nice enough to sell for huge bucks is when we hit the next level of chassis/component design.

Imagine a car where the entire chassis and suspension is manufactured using carbon nanotubes. Pipe dream now but might be doable some day.

spanfucker retire bitch > BeaterGT
06/16/2014 at 13:37

I guess Audi are a bunch of idiots as well, eh? And Toyota too, buncha' dumbasses. Don't they know Hybrids are awful?

BeaterGT > spanfucker retire bitch
06/16/2014 at 13:47

Nope. They're pretty smart chaps.

mcseanerson > oldestyoungn
06/16/2014 at 14:17

He should do a vision car for Gran Turismo! All the engineering none of the manufacturing.

mcseanerson > BeaterGT
06/16/2014 at 14:20

As much as I agree with you, like seriously 100 percent agree with much love to Mazda for actually pursuing this, to not consider electric motors as the future of propulsion is basically ignoring that petroleum is not renewable and it's alternatives as fuels in ICE motors are not really feasible. We probably have another 20 years of ICE in the mainstream though.

BeaterGT > mcseanerson
06/16/2014 at 14:24

Without a doubt. The best option is to use both technologies to their fullest potential. A lot of people don't seem to realize that these new powerplants weigh more though and how much weight has an effect on all components of a vehicle. The replacing fuel with batteries argument is futile at this point.

mcseanerson > BeaterGT
06/16/2014 at 14:28

What would be my ideal would be to see cars split into heavy modern cars and lighter purists cars. Like a bunch of sub 2500 lb cars that have tiny zippy motors and sporting intentions and 3500+lb cars with batteries and doo dads

oldestyoungn > mcseanerson
06/16/2014 at 14:36

Problem solved!

asbsvc > BeaterGT
06/16/2014 at 16:09

Thank you. Simply because you do not want your car to sound like a fucking turd (i.e. the whole F1 grid) does not make you a luddite.

BeaterGT > asbsvc
06/16/2014 at 16:16

People just like to throw that word out on this site. As for F1, sure they could be louder but the races have been fantastic and that's what really matters.

asbsvc > BeaterGT
06/16/2014 at 16:41

on the racing front, you are correct. The '14 Canadian GP was wonderful. However I do not want the current F1 grid to be louder, I want them to sound better, as in the screamers from the v10 era. If the awful noise coming from my TV was any louder...

BeaterGT > asbsvc
06/16/2014 at 16:45

I could talk about my distaste for turbo powered (and muffled) motors for days but it is what it is.

asbsvc > BeaterGT
06/16/2014 at 16:49

Sadly you appear to be right.