Gordon Murray Invents the T.25, a Revolutionary Tiny Car

The T.25 can seat three, but is far smaller -- and far greener -- than a conventional car.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on September 21 2010

The T.25 car

You’ve seen Smartcars, we’re sure. Now imagine something half the size of that.

Thinking of a Lego car? Close, but not quite—it’s the T.25 the new invention from legendary automative designer Professor Gordon Murray, who’s made his name building streamlined Formula 1 racing cars. The new car isn’t built for speed, but for the practicalities of city living: it’s narrow enough for two to drive in a single lane, and short enough that three of the cars can share a single parking space. And, despite its miniature size, it can comfortably seat three people.

If adopted en masse, the new mini-car could solve numerous problems associated with the automotive industry: it could prevent gridlock on roads, and could drastically cut down on pollution. And with the car’s low price point—around $9,000—it will be accessible to people who’ve never had the financial means to buy a car before.

To top it all off, Murray claims that the lightweight vehicle is “as sturdy and safe as a conventional car,” he told BBC News.

Although the T.25 is a revolutionary new type of car, Murray doesn’t intend to stop there: he’s planning to license his lightweight manufacturing method, called iStream, to other car manufacturers, which will allow them to create cars using far less pollution and fewer materials.

“It’s not a small step forward, it’s a massive step,” said Murray. “We’ve really ripped up the rule book and thrown it out of the window.”

Filed under: General Interest, Green,

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