Gordon Murray Automotive has announced it will reveal a T.33 Spider next week, with a global debut set to take place on April 4.

The topless supercar, teased in a technical sketch, is identical to the T.33 hardtop, save for the lack of a roof. While the announcement may come as a surprise, the V12 supercar was always destined to spawn a drop-top sibling. "From the outset of the T.33 program, I always intended for there to be a Spider - in fact, I sketched the Spider before the coupe to ensure the proportions worked," said founder Gordon Murray.

"From that first sketch I knew, with its open cockpit and incredible Cosworth GMA.2 V12 engine right behind you, the T.33 Spider would deliver a truly involving driving experience that's quite unlike anything else," he added.

Based on these comments, it's safe to assume the Spider will make use of the very same V12 that powers the coupe. As such, we can expect the 3.9-liter 12-pot to deliver 607 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque. This powerplant loves to sing, and peak power is achieved at an astonishing 10,500 rpm. The redline sits at 11,100 rpm, which is amazing for a road car.

These days, there are wagons that develop more power than the T.33, but the lightweight supercar strikes back with a featherweight mass of just 2,403 lbs. To put that in perspective, this is a V12 supercar that weighs about the same as a Mazda MX-5 Miata.

We assume the T.33 Spider will be slightly heavier than its coupe sibling, as it may require additional chassis strengthening and a roof mechanism. Still, it shouldn't affect performance by much.With any luck, the carbon fiber monocoque may not require strengthening at all.

Besides, any minor loss in performance will be made up for by the fact that you'll be able to hear that wailing V12 better than before, with the ram ait intake right overhead. And you get the benefit of the added style and drama that comes with a Spider.

Gordon Murray Automotive has said it will share full technical details and more images of the newcomer next week, so we'll know everything about it very soon. There's no denying this engineering masterpiece will be attached to a massive price tag, as the T.33 coupe was priced at $1.8 million.

That massive price tag didn't stop people from placing orders, and the supercar sold out within a month of the reveal. As the T.33 was designed to comply with local road legal requirements, we assume the T.33 Spider will be made available in the USA.

As the final non-hybrid car from the automaker, it's sure to go down as a legend in the supercar history books.