McLaren Automotive
Encyclopedia
McLaren Automotive, commonly referred to as McLaren, is a British automotive manufacturer
of high-performance vehicles. The company was established as McLaren Cars in 1989 as a producer of road cars based on Formula One
technology. It works closely with McLaren Racing, the successful Formula One constructor, and is a spinoff of McLaren Group
.
The McLaren Mustang teamed Ford Design with McLaren Performance of Formula One racing fame. Planned production was just 250 examples. Power was again provided by the turbo-four, but it was newly fortified with a variable boost control having a range of 5 psi (0.34473786465 bar)-11 psi (0.75842330223 bar) vs. the regular engine's fixed 5 psi (0.34473786465 bar). Rated output was 175 hp at 10 psi (0.6894757293 bar), a big jump over the 132 hp stock mill. A $25,000 price tag and virtual hand construction limited McLaren production to just 10 units (including the prototype).
that would go 0-60 mph in 3 seconds. Priced at £640,000 (approximately US$1,150,000), it was the world's fastest car for many years, with a top speed of just over 240 mph. 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 competitive formula one racecars for McLaren. The 6064 cc V12 engine
, which produces 627 bhp, was designed and built by BMW
.
Production of the original F1 began in 1992. The LM model was then introduced in 1995, followed by 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. Variants produced were 64 F1 (street car), 5 LM, 3 GT, 9 GTR95, 9 GTR96 and 10 GTR97.
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. The 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 One
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.
The F1 held the record for the fastest production car until 2005, with an independently measured top speed of 242.97 mph (108.6 m/s) at the Volkswagen
Ehra-Lessien
track in 1998. It has a 0 to- time of 3.2 seconds. This has been bettered by the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, and the SSC Ultimate Aero TT
. However, the F1 is naturally aspirated while the CCX, Veyron and SSC Aero are not.
with the Maverick supersonic car. Bob Bell was recruited as the technical director for the project. The project was given a budget of £25 million. But after the success of Richard Noble
and Andy Green
's Thrust SSC, the project was shelved.
The unique race car was designed by Gordon Murray
to mirror the performance of then contemporary Grand Prix grid and allows a passenger, seated directly behind the driver, to experience the power and exhilaration of a Formula One car. Safety and comfort were fundamental to the design criteria, based on the forces experienced in a Formula One car.
Incorporating many of the F.I.A. driver/passenger safety regulations, the MP4/98T has increased side-impact absorption to safeguard the passenger. Each passenger was seat-fitted using techniques prevalent in Formula One. This specialist foam seating is fitted into the carbon fibre monocoque. A six-point F1 harness seat belt system further ensures the safety of the passenger. A carbon fibre honeycomb composite structure, faced with 75 mm (3 in) of conforfoam padding separates the driver and passenger helmet area. Specified according to the F.I.A. impact absorption regulations, this conforfoam design is duplicated on the rear of the headrest structure to protect the passenger in the event of a frontal impact. Together with the head restraint they provide rearward and frontal impact absorption for the driver/passenger configuration. A passenger/driver alert button completes the safety elements.
Numerous celebrities have been passengers in the car, including: Max Mosley
, Murray Walker
, King Juan Carlos and Erja Häkkinen.
. DaimlerChrysler was the majority shareholder of the McLaren Group as well as engine supplier to the Team McLaren racing team through its Mercedes-Benz
division. The final stages of production of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren take place at a unique assembly facility at the McLaren Technology Centre
.
The SLR has a 5.5 Litre Supercharged V8 engine that produces 626 bhp. It can accelerate from 0 to- mph in 3.8 seconds and 0 to- in 6.3 seconds.
In 2006, the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR 722 Edition was announced. The "722 Edition" creates 650 bhp, with a top speed of 340 km/h (6 more than the standard SLR). A new suspension is used with 19 inches (482.6 mm) light-alloy wheels, a stiffer damper configuration and 0.4 inches (10.2 mm) lower body.
In 2007, the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Convertible was announced, which has been available from late 2007. The car uses the same supercharged 5.5 litre V8 that is in the coupé.
There is now a limited edition called the SLR Stirling Moss. It is the final SLR to be produced and is a tribute to Sir Stirling Moss
. Beneath the scissor-doors is a plaque which has Moss' signature on it.
, the Bentley Continental GT
and the Aston Martin DB9
. Both cars were to be powered by naturally aspirated V-8 engines. The P10 would have been an SLR replacement.
All three cars were aborted in 2005, with Mercedes rumored to have considered the projects simply too costly to turn into a solid business case, although Mercedes' AMG
subsidiary is going to produce the SLS alone as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The car will have a naturally aspirated V8 with over 570 bhp. Sales in Europe began from mid-2010.
and icars.sg published the spy shots of the car (then known as P11). The rear wheel drive MP4-12C will be powered by a mid-mounted bespoke McLaren M838T 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo engine and will have a revolutionary "Carbon MonoCell" carbon fibre chassis. The McLaren MP4-12C also features F1-inspired technology like brake steer, which brakes the inside rear wheel during fast cornering to reduce understeer, and a seven speed Seamless Shift dual clutch gearbox (SSG) with a technology called Pre-Cog. Pre-Cog is the name given to a system whereby the driver can half-pull the paddle shifter behind the steering wheel to get the transmission ready for an upshift, then instantaneous gear change once the paddle is fully pulled. The MP4-12C, whose design was unveiled on 8 September 2009, was launched in 2011 and is aimed at the Ferrari 458 Italia and Lamborghini Gallardo
at a price point of £165,000+.
, suggesting a possible price decrease to around £60,000.
Automotive industry
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
of high-performance vehicles. The company was established as McLaren Cars in 1989 as a producer of road cars based on Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
technology. It works closely with McLaren Racing, the successful Formula One constructor, and is a spinoff of McLaren Group
McLaren Group
The McLaren Group, based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England, is a group of companies created by Ron Dennis, described by the International Herald Tribune as "a small conglomerate"...
.
McLaren M81 Mustang
Ford announced the formation of a Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division headed by Michael Kranefuss in September 1980. SVO's stated purpose was to "develop a series of limited-production performance cars and develop their image through motorsport." Ford introduced the McLaren M81 Mustang in late 1980. The work of designers Todd Gerstenberger and Harry Wykes, it was another heavily modified hatchback with enough built-in potential for easy adaptation to race duty. Looking somewhat like the IMSA show car, the McLaren sported a grille-less nose above a low-riding "skirt" spoiler, plus functional hood scoops, tweaked suspension (mostly a mix of heavy-duty off-the-shelf components), massive fender flares, and premium German BBS alloy wheels wearing broad-shouldered 225/55R15 Firestone HPR radials.The McLaren Mustang teamed Ford Design with McLaren Performance of Formula One racing fame. Planned production was just 250 examples. Power was again provided by the turbo-four, but it was newly fortified with a variable boost control having a range of 5 psi (0.34473786465 bar)-11 psi (0.75842330223 bar) vs. the regular engine's fixed 5 psi (0.34473786465 bar). Rated output was 175 hp at 10 psi (0.6894757293 bar), a big jump over the 132 hp stock mill. A $25,000 price tag and virtual hand construction limited McLaren production to just 10 units (including the prototype).
McLaren F1
The company's first car was the McLaren F1, a supercarSupercar
Supercar is a term used most often to describe an expensive high end car. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car"...
that would go 0-60 mph in 3 seconds. Priced at £640,000 (approximately US$1,150,000), it was the world's fastest car for many years, with a top speed of just over 240 mph. The F1 was a three-seat coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
with the driver situated in the middle of the car. The car was designed by Gordon Murray
Gordon Murray
Prof. Gordon Murray , is a renowned designer of Formula One race cars and the McLaren F1 road car.-Early life:...
, who also designed competitive formula one racecars for McLaren. The 6064 cc V12 engine
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, which produces 627 bhp, was designed and built by BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
.
Production of the original F1 began in 1992. The LM model was then introduced in 1995, followed by 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. Variants produced were 64 F1 (street car), 5 LM, 3 GT, 9 GTR95, 9 GTR96 and 10 GTR97.
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. The 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 One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
racers JJ Lehto and Yannick Dalmas
Yannick Dalmas
Yannick Dalmas is a former racing driver from France. He participated in 49 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 18 October 1987, but qualified for only 24 of them. His best result in F1 was a 5th place at the 1987 Australian Grand Prix, but he was not eligible for World Championship points at...
and experienced Japanese driver Masanori Sekiya
Masanori Sekiya
is a racing car driver from Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, most famous for being the first Japanese driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1995.Sekiya drove in single-seaters in his early career, contesting the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship and Formula Nippon from 1987 to 1993, mostly for the...
that took the chequered flag after a race full of drama.
McLaren F1 GTRs finished 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 13th.
The F1 held the record for the fastest production car until 2005, with an independently measured top speed of 242.97 mph (108.6 m/s) at the Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
Ehra-Lessien
Ehra-Lessien
Ehra-Lessien is a municipality in the district of Gifhorn, in Lower Saxony, Germany.-Volkswagen Group test track:Volkswagen Group owns a test track facility in Ehra-Lessien...
track in 1998. It has a 0 to- time of 3.2 seconds. This has been bettered by the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, and the SSC Ultimate Aero TT
SSC Aero
The SSC Ultimate Aero is an American-built mid-engine supercar by Shelby SuperCars. The higher-performance limited production version previously held the Guinness Book of World Records record for being the fastest production car in the world , with a recorded speed of...
. However, the F1 is naturally aspirated while the CCX, Veyron and SSC Aero are not.
Maverick
In 1993, Ron Dennis announced the formation of McLaren Advanced Vehicles (MAV) and an attack on the Land Speed RecordLand speed record
The land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a wheeled vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C flying start regulations are used, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the Fédération...
with the Maverick supersonic car. Bob Bell was recruited as the technical director for the project. The project was given a budget of £25 million. But after the success of Richard Noble
Richard Noble
Richard Noble, OBE was the holder of the land speed record between 1983 and 1997, and was the project director of ThrustSSC, the vehicle which holds the current land speed record, set at Black Rock Desert, Nevada in 1997....
and Andy Green
Andy Green
Wing Commander Andy D. Green OBE BA RAF is a British Royal Air Force pilot and World Land Speed Record holder.-RAF career:...
's Thrust SSC, the project was shelved.
McLaren Mercedes MP4/98T
Launched in Australia at the beginning of the 1998 Grand Prix season, the West McLaren Mercedes MP4/98T was the first tandem Formula One car.The unique race car was designed by Gordon Murray
Gordon Murray
Prof. Gordon Murray , is a renowned designer of Formula One race cars and the McLaren F1 road car.-Early life:...
to mirror the performance of then contemporary Grand Prix grid and allows a passenger, seated directly behind the driver, to experience the power and exhilaration of a Formula One car. Safety and comfort were fundamental to the design criteria, based on the forces experienced in a Formula One car.
Incorporating many of the F.I.A. driver/passenger safety regulations, the MP4/98T has increased side-impact absorption to safeguard the passenger. Each passenger was seat-fitted using techniques prevalent in Formula One. This specialist foam seating is fitted into the carbon fibre monocoque. A six-point F1 harness seat belt system further ensures the safety of the passenger. A carbon fibre honeycomb composite structure, faced with 75 mm (3 in) of conforfoam padding separates the driver and passenger helmet area. Specified according to the F.I.A. impact absorption regulations, this conforfoam design is duplicated on the rear of the headrest structure to protect the passenger in the event of a frontal impact. Together with the head restraint they provide rearward and frontal impact absorption for the driver/passenger configuration. A passenger/driver alert button completes the safety elements.
Numerous celebrities have been passengers in the car, including: Max Mosley
Max Mosley
Max Rufus Mosley is the former president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile , a non-profit association that represents the interests of motoring organisations and car users worldwide...
, Murray Walker
Murray Walker
Graeme Murray Walker, OBE is a former Formula One motorsport commentator...
, King Juan Carlos and Erja Häkkinen.
- Year: 1998
- Model Designation: McLaren Mercedes MP4/98T
- Chassis: McLaren carbon fibre monocoque
- Engine: Mercedes-Benz Ilmor FO110G 3.0 litre V10
- Gearbox: McLaren six-speed semi-automatic
- Electronics: TAG Electronics
- Wheels: Enkei
- Tyres: Bridgestone
- Dampers: Penske
- Brakes: AP Racing
- Clutch: Sachs
- Fuels & Oils: Mobil 1
- Adhesives: Loctite
- Radios: Kenwood
McLaren SLR (P7 Project)
In 1999, McLaren agreed to design and manufacture the SLR in conjunction with Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
. DaimlerChrysler was the majority shareholder of the McLaren Group as well as engine supplier to the Team McLaren racing team through its Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
division. The final stages of production of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren take place at a unique assembly facility at the McLaren Technology Centre
McLaren Technology Centre
The McLaren Technology Centre is the headquarters of the McLaren Group, located on a 500,000 m² site in Woking, Surrey, England. It is a large, roughly semi-circular, glass-walled building, designed by the architect Norman Foster and his company, Foster and Partners. The building was short-listed...
.
The SLR has a 5.5 Litre Supercharged V8 engine that produces 626 bhp. It can accelerate from 0 to- mph in 3.8 seconds and 0 to- in 6.3 seconds.
In 2006, the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR 722 Edition was announced. The "722 Edition" creates 650 bhp, with a top speed of 340 km/h (6 more than the standard SLR). A new suspension is used with 19 inches (482.6 mm) light-alloy wheels, a stiffer damper configuration and 0.4 inches (10.2 mm) lower body.
In 2007, the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Convertible was announced, which has been available from late 2007. The car uses the same supercharged 5.5 litre V8 that is in the coupé.
There is now a limited edition called the SLR Stirling Moss. It is the final SLR to be produced and is a tribute to Sir Stirling Moss
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
. Beneath the scissor-doors is a plaque which has Moss' signature on it.
Aborted projects (P8, P9 and P10)
The partnership between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren resulted in three further cars being proposed. The P9 was to be a mid-engined baby supercar with a less expensive model, the P8 or "SLS", competing with cars such as the Ferrari F430Ferrari F430
The Ferrari F430 is a sports car that was produced by the Italian automaker Ferrari from 2004 to 2009, as a successor to the 360. It debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show...
, the Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Continental GT
-Flying Spur:The four door Continental Flying Spur saloon was first displayed at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. The Flying Spur utilizes most of the technical underpinnings of the Bentley Continental GT, and was introduced to European and North American markets in the summer of 2005...
and the Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin DB9
-DB9 Volante:The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is the convertible version of the DB9 coupe. It is built by hand in limited numbers and has enhanced styling. It is powered by the same 6.0 litre, DOHC 48 valve V12 as the DB9 and is completed with 470 bhp and a top speed of 186 mph...
. Both cars were to be powered by naturally aspirated V-8 engines. The P10 would have been an SLR replacement.
All three cars were aborted in 2005, with Mercedes rumored to have considered the projects simply too costly to turn into a solid business case, although Mercedes' AMG
Mercedes-AMG
Mercedes-AMG GmbH, commonly known as AMG, is a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz car company specializing in high-performance luxury cars....
subsidiary is going to produce the SLS alone as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The car will have a naturally aspirated V8 with over 570 bhp. Sales in Europe began from mid-2010.
McLaren MP4-12C (codename P11)
McLaren Automotive is currently developing a sports car, the MP4-12C, as a successor to the McLaren F1. Rumours were confirmed when Britain's CAR MagazineCar Magazine
Car Magazine is a British automotive enthusiast magazine published monthly by Bauer Automotive. International editions are published by Bauer Automotive in Brazil, China, Greece, India, Mexico, the Middle East, Poland , Romania, Russia, South Africa , Spain, Thailand and Turkey...
and icars.sg published the spy shots of the car (then known as P11). The rear wheel drive MP4-12C will be powered by a mid-mounted bespoke McLaren M838T 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo engine and will have a revolutionary "Carbon MonoCell" carbon fibre chassis. The McLaren MP4-12C also features F1-inspired technology like brake steer, which brakes the inside rear wheel during fast cornering to reduce understeer, and a seven speed Seamless Shift dual clutch gearbox (SSG) with a technology called Pre-Cog. Pre-Cog is the name given to a system whereby the driver can half-pull the paddle shifter behind the steering wheel to get the transmission ready for an upshift, then instantaneous gear change once the paddle is fully pulled. The MP4-12C, whose design was unveiled on 8 September 2009, was launched in 2011 and is aimed at the Ferrari 458 Italia and Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini Gallardo
The Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by Lamborghini. The Gallardo is Lamborghini's most-produced model to date, with over 10,000 built in its first seven years of production...
at a price point of £165,000+.
Hypercar (P12)
McLaren may also be developing a new car under the "P12 project", which would cost around £350,000-£400,000. It was first talked of in an issue of the Top Gear Magazine but it has now also been mentioned by Vinnels who admitted that a higher price point "will allow us to play with more exotic materials."The Baby McLaren (P13)
In issue no. 1,015 of Auto Express Magazine, there was an article about a new McLaren coming out in 2012. It was expected to cost around £80,000, and have a top speed of around 195 mi/h and 450 bhp. More recent information suggests the project may have been delayed until 2015, and is aimed as a direct competitor to the Porsche 911Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
, suggesting a possible price decrease to around £60,000.
External links
- McLaren Automotive official website
- McLaren Performance Technologies official website
- How It Works magazine article