The MOTOR Awards 2021: Sweetest Engine Note

Welcome to the MOTOR Awards 2021, where our team offers a tip to those who have shown outstanding performance in the automotive sector over the past 12 months.

Sweetest Engine Note Winner: Gordon Murray T.50

Was there ever anything that could rival the GMA T.50’s naturally aspirated V12 built by Cosworth, which spins up to 12,100 rpm? Although the T.50 is not the most powerful Atmo engine – hell, it is even dwarfed by the 499 kW flatplane crank V8 that sits in the middle of the new Corvette Z06 – Gordon Murrays did it Creation is never about numbers. Well, not those kind of numbers. Instead, it’s all about purity and the ability to stand on end of the hair on the nape of the neck.

While we had heard the engine in various mule cars with full noise, we could only experience the T.50 in October on the track in wet Goodwood. While Dario Franchitti was still pedaling a bit quietly, the sound was still absolutely amazing, as pure a replica of the V12-era Formula 1 as you could possibly want with a little Brabham fan-car genetics the mix for a good measure.

Murray has often been able to identify the qualities that make up lasting appeal. His McLaren F1 was a car that rewritten speed records, but if this car was all about performance it would have long been relegated to a historic footnote.

Instead, it was incredible for its technical focus, surprising practicality, and obsessive weight-saving. Shot throughout F1, examples of Murray’s planet-sized brain were at work. The GMA T.50 shouldn’t be any different.

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What makes the T.50 sound so good? Where do we start? The Inconel and titanium exhaust is inclined upwards, forced in that direction by the steep diffusers. Look under the glazed engine cover and you will be greeted by the manifolds, exhaust manifolds, intake manifolds and trumpets.

The V12’s intake is fed through a roof scoop that amplifies the intake sound with Direct Path Induction Sound technology that works based on throttle position rather than engine speed and pushes bass into the cabin at low revs.

Murray is tied to the perfect primary and secondary balance of a 65-degree V12, and this 178kg little gem, weighing just 3994cc, can rev up from idle to the red line in just 0.3 seconds, a phenomenal pickup speed. A three-plate carbon-silicon and titanium clutch reduces inertia and the production car will rely on software to adjust the speed to be ready to drive.

Even a four-time IndyCar champion can find it hard to match RPM with such a rapid drop in engine RPM. But it sounds sublime and there may never be a better sounding street car. It’s a shame we have to spend $ 4.4 million and they’re all sold.

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Honorable Mention: Ferrari 812 Competizione

The Standard 812 is splendid, but the Competizione is the next level. It turns to 9500 rpm and the V12 gets new connecting rods, pistons, intake manifolds, lighter cranks and lower-friction engine oil. A faster transmission is also in place, along with a crazier exhaust to level out the particulate filter.

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Honorable Mention: Porsche 911 992 GT3

With the first GT3s on land here in Australia now, it’s good to remember that an engine with half the usual supercar cylinder charge can sound absolutely transcendent. A deserted track, an early morning and a 992 GT3 are the perfect place to unleash an ode to joy at 9000 rpm.

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