mclaren automotive

McLaren Celebrates 20 years from the Conception of the F1 Supercar

McLaren F1s gather for a party – click above for high-res image gallery

Twenty years ago this spring what is considered by many to be the greatest supercar of all time was conceived. The McLaren F1 may not have the shear power and technological prowess of the more recent Bugatti Veyron, but the product of ex-formula one designer Gordon Murray's fertile mind was vastly more elegant from a pure engineering standpoint. While the Veyron throws in everything but the kitchen sink with four turbochargers on its V16 engine, all-wheel-drive and active aerodynamics, the F1 relied on a lightweight carbon fiber chassis and a highly tuned normally aspirated V12.

Engineering and design work began in March of 1990 and the first prototypes rolled out of the McLaren factory two years later. The first production example was delivered to a customer in late 1993. Customers soon decided they wanted to race the F1 and the factory prepared five cars for the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. Aside from a front splitter, rear wing, and requisite racing safety gear, the F1 GTR was almost stock and the engine was actually restricted compared to the road version. Those five cars finished 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 13th first time out.

Ultimately, McLaren built 100 F1s including 72 for the street and 28 race cars along with six prototypes. Of those 21 returned to the factory last month for a celebration to mark 20 years as well as the launch of the new MP4-12C.

Gallery: McLaren F1 20th Anniversary

[Source: McLaren]

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McLaren Automotive Officially Launches Itself into the Automotive Stratosphere [w/Video]

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, 10 Luxuries

McLaren MP4-12C – Click above for high-res image gallery

This morning McLaren Automotive held a press conference at its technology center outside London England to officially unveil itself and its first new product to the world. An off-shoot of the McLaren Formula One team, the new automaker picks up where the previous efforts that produced the F1 of the mid-1990s and the more recent Mercedes-McLaren SLR left off.

Chairman Ron Dennis discussed the philosophy of passion behind the new enterprise while Managing Director Anthony Sherriff went over the MP4-12C in some detail. The over-arching design goal was performance through efficiency. By keeping size and weight down, the car is able to achieve extraordinary levels of performance. McLaren has developed an all-new bespoke powertrain consisting of a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 with 600 horsepower and a lightning fast dual clutch transmission.

Sherriff promises a compliant ride for everyday driving with handling that will top anything in the world. McLaren is currently in the process of appointing 35 dealers in 19 countries to sell its cars when they start production in 2011. First year production is pegged at 1,000 cars with that number rising to 4,000 annually by 2015 as at least two additional models are added. Pricing and final performance figures will be announced later this year. Check out Autoblog for more technical details on the McLaren MP4-12C. There is a video of McLaren formula one drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton testing the 12C after the jump.

[Source: McLaren]

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Video: Watch the Launch of the New McLaren MP4-12C Live

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

McLaren MP4-12C – Click above for high-res image gallery

On Thursday March 18, 2010 McLaren Automotive will officially launch itself into the realm of road going supercar builders at an event in London. The official launch event will be webcast live at 10:30 am GMT (6:30 am EDT, 3:30am PDT) and you can watch it right here after the jump.

McLaren Automotive chairman Ron Dennis and his team will discuss details of the car including its design and technology as well as provide manufacturing details and more information about the company. Check out the video to hear all about the successor to the legendary F1 right here.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C

[Source: McLaren Automotive]

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Say Goodbye to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

It was one of the most prolific supercars in the history of the supercar. And after 2000 examples built, Mercedes and McLaren are saying goodbye to the SLR, and along with it, one another.

The last of the SLRs – the Stirling Moss speedster – are rolling out of McLaren's factory in Woking, England. The German automaker has sold its stake back to the British racing team and bought a new one. Mercedes has followed with the SLS AMG, and McLaren the MP4-12C. And so ends one of the most intriguing partnerships in automotive history.

A dedicated staff will continue to look after the SLR long after production ends, organizing special events for their owners under the guise of the SLR CLUB. But after five different versions and five years of production, this chapter in both Mercedes and McLaren history draws to a close.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

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McLaren Unveils All-New, All-Conquering MP4-12C Supercar

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Most automakers involved in Formula One racing produce cars first, and race second. Only a handful are racing teams first, and produce road cars second. And they tend to be the most successful, and the most desirable. Only one example comes to mind, and that's Ferrari. But the Italian "scuderia" has now got some company from its toughest on-track competition.

After producing the legendary McLaren F1, the championship-winning racing team partnered up with Mercedes-Benz on the SLR supercar. But now they've back on their own with the newly unveiled MP4-12C. Built entirely in-house, the new McLaren boasts a twin-turbo V8 with approximately 600 horsepower and 433 lb-ft of torque, boasting the highest power-to-emissions ratio of any engine on the market. The custom-crafted powerplant resides in a carbon fiber body designed by former Ferrari stylist Frank Stephenson and encompasses the very latest in race-derived technology. Only 1000 examples will be built in the first year before McLaren ramps up production to meet anticipated growing demand, with a price tag in the neighborhood of $265,000. Have a look in the high-resolution image gallery below.

Gallery: McLaren MP4-12C

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