McLaren Automotive
McLaren Cars (since renamed McLaren Automotive) is an automaker founded in 1990 with the object of producing road cars based on Formula One technology. It works closely with the Team McLaren Formula One constructor and is part of the McLaren Group.
F1
McLaren Cars' first product was the McLaren F1, a sports car and also a supercar priced at £640,000 (approx. US$ 1,150,000). The F1 was a three seat coupe with the driver situated in the middle of the car. The car was designed by Gordon Murray who also designed some very competitive formula one racecars for McLaren. The 6064 cc V12 engine, which produces 627 bhp (461 kW), was designed and built by BMW.
Production of the original F1 began in 1992. The LM model was then introduced in 1995 and the GT model, in 1997. The GTR was built from 1995 through 1997.
Production of the McLaren F1 drew to a close in May 1998, with a total production of 100 cars, made up as follows:
F1 - 64
LM - 5
GT - 3
GTR95 - 9
GTR96 - 9
GTR97 - 10
The McLaren F1 GTR was developed from the F1 road car, and proved highly effective in the four hour GT races in 1995, its first season of racing. Le Mans 24 Hours that year was to be McLaren’s first attempt at the world’s most prestigious endurance race.
McLaren decided to update the 001 chassis – the original test car – and enter it to augment the five customer cars that had been running all season. It was this car, piloted by former Formula 1 racers JJ Lehto and Yannick Dalmas and experienced Japanese driver Masanori Sekiya that took the chequered flag after a race full of drama.
McLaren F1 GTRs finished 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 13th, not only winning the race at its first attempt, but totally dominating this most gruelling of events.
The F1 previously held the record for the fastest production car ever made, with an independently measured top speed of 241.35 mph (391 km/h). It has a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds. This has been bettered by Bugatti Veyron 16.4. However Bugatti Veyron 16.4's engine is assisted by four turbo's while McLaren F1 does not use any turbo.
Similar vehicles are the Ferrari Enzo and the Bugatti EB110, though plans are in the works for Cadillac's Cien and also Chrysler's ME Four-Twelve are concept cars which would outpace the F1. However, plans for the Cien and the ME Four-Twelve have been officially shelved.
SLR
In 1999, McLaren Cars agreed to design and manufacture the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren in conjunction with DaimlerChrysler (who also supply engines to the Team McLaren racing team under the Mercedes-Benz brand). Engineered by McLaren Automotive in partnership with Mercedes-Benz, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is manufactured at a unique assembly facility at the McLaren Technology Centre.
The SLR has a 5.5 Liter Supercharged V8 engine that produces 626 bhp. It can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.8 sec.
P8
Around the time the SLR was being finishing development, word came about of a second supercar collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren. To be called the P8, the car was to be a mid engined sports car similar and in direct competition to Ferrari's 360 Modena and the then in development F430. Early concept sketches depircted a car looking quite like a Lamborghini Gallardo, but with Mercedes markings and a striking set or rear flying butresses (similar to the oens seen in the Maserati Merak or Ferrari 599GTB). The car was supposed to have completed development by 2006 to be released as a 2007 model, however it has more than likely been cancelled.
See also
External links
- McLaren Automotive official website
- A guide to the F1