mclaren

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

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]

Tags: mclaren, mclaren automotive, mclaren automotive webcast, McLaren MP4-12C, webcast

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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

Tags: mclaren, mclaren automotive, MclarenAutomotive, mercedes, mercedes slr mclaren, mercedes-benz, mercedes-benz slr mclaren, Mercedes-benzSlrMclaren, MercedesSlrMclaren, slr, slr mclaren, SlrMclaren

Mercedes-Benz Acquires World Champion Brawn GP Team

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports

Mercedes-Benz has a long history in grand prix racing. In the inter-war period, it competed with the famous Silver Arrows. After the war, the German automaker returned briefly, only to withdraw again after just one year. It wouldn't be until decades later that they'd come back to the scene, supplying engines first to the Sauber team (later acquired by arch-rival BMW) and then to McLaren, the championship team with which Mercedes has been tied – including a part-ownership and collaboration on the SLR McLaren supercar – since 1995. McLaren and Mercedes won several world championships throughout their fourteen-year history together, but now the two companies have gone their own separate ways. McLaren is building their own supercar – the MP4-12C – and Mercedes the SLS AMG, and now the two have announced a separation on the race track as well.

Although Mercedes will continue to provide McLaren with engines, the automaker has sold its stake back to the racing team. In its place, Benz has acquired a 75% stake in the Brawn GP team – which was previously Honda's, which in turn took over from British American Racing and Tyrrell before that. In its inaugural season, Brawn won both the constructors' title and the drivers' title, and will now be rebranded as Mercedes Grand Prix for the upcoming season. Eager to demonstrate German talent, the new Mercedes team has already signed Nico Rosberg – one of the youngest and most promising talents on the grid – and is preparing to announce its second driver shortly before returning for the 2010 championship in an effort to repeat this year's success.

Tags: f1, formula 1, formula one, Formula1, FormulaOne, mclaren, mercedes, mercedes grand prix, mercedes-benz, MercedesGrandPrix, silver arrows, SilverArrows

F1 Champion Kimi Raikkonen Could Be Paid 17 Million Euros Not to Race Next Season

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Sports, Wealth

There are few sports figures paid as highly as Formula One drivers...world champions especially. With the 2009 season already wrapped up, teams are preparing for their assault on next year's championship, with an unprecedented game of musical chairs taking place in the off-season.

Among the changes, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso is moving, at long last, from Renault to Ferrari. Trouble is, the Italian team already has two world-class drivers on contract. So to make room, Ferrari is willing to pay its 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen not to race.

According to reports, Raikkonen will be paid a whopping 17 million euros next year just to vacate his seat. He's free to move to another team, but if he does, Ferrari will only owe him 10 million euros. For his part, Kimi says he'll only consider McLaren, and knowing full well of the conditions of his contract, the British team (for whom he drove previously) is offering him only 5 million – a fair bit less than he'd be worth on the open market. The bottom line is that Raikkonen stands to make more money if he sits out next season than if he races.

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Tags: f1, ferrari, formula 1, formula one, Formula1, FormulaOne, kimi, kimi raikkonen, KimiRaikkonen, mclaren, raikkonen, scuderia ferrari, ScuderiaFerrari

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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Tags: exotic, mclaren, mclaren automotive, mclaren mp4 12c, mclaren mp4-12c, MclarenAutomotive, MclarenMp4-12c, MclarenMp412c, mp4 12c, mp4-12c, Mp412c, supercar

Project Kahn McLaren SLR Carbon

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Luxist readers will be familiar with the ultra-luxe customized Rolls-Royce motorcars made by bespoke British auto conversions house Project Kahn, such as the White Pearl Phantom and Drophead Coupe we wrote about previously. Now they've announced their newest model, the McLaren SLR Carbon. Based on the amazing Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR supercar, Project Kahn's version adds "stealth" exterior styling and carbon fiber features making it even more exclusive. Bonnet vents and badges blended black and smoked rear lights augment the stealth aspect, as does the privacy tinted glass. Kahn carbon F1-X wheels, a combination of carbon fiber with light magnesium alloy and Kahn valve caps complete the look. Inside a high gloss piano black or carbon fiber finish steering wheel complements front seats, door panels and dashboard finished in full beautiful Nappa leather or Alcantara.

Tags: carbon fiber, CarbonFiber, McLaren, Mercedes McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, MercedesMclaren, Project Kahn, ProjectKahn, Rolls-Royce, UK

$2 Million Supercar Catches Fire in California

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The internet is rife with reports of wealthy motorists – evidently possessing more money than driving skill – completely wrecking their six- or seven-figure exotic sportscars. But this one's a special case. What you're looking at here is the burnt-out husk of a McLaren F1, one of only 100 ever made and even fewer imported by the grey market to the United States. Its owner reportedly likes taking his prized possession on long journeys, but evidently hadn't started it up in a while – six months, according to reports – before taking a drive through Santa Rosa, California, where the engine burst out in flames last week on Airport Boulevard. Ordinarily that kind of damage would be cause for an insurance write-off, but considering that the car is said to be worth $2-2.5 million and is insured for $3 million, and that the repairs surely wouldn't come anywhere near that amount, the insurance actuaries decided to pack it up and send the vehicle back to England where it was made to be repaired.

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Tags: burnt mclaren f1, BurntMclarenF1, california, f1, mclaren, mclaren f1, MclarenF1, press democrat, PressDemocrat, santa rosa, santa rosa california, santa rosa press democrat, SantaRosa, SantaRosaCalifornia, SantaRosaPressDemocrat, supercar, wrecked exotic, WreckedExotic

McLaren Hits the Ground Running with New Footwear Collection

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Shoes

McLaren spends all their energy chasing Ferrari around the race track. And as often as not, they catch them. But the British racing team is going after Ferrari off the track too, with new sportscars coming out to follow the departing SLR to take the fight to Ferrari in the road car market where the Italian team has been king for decades. In the meantime, Ferrari has come to dominate another area as well, with a vast empire of licensed merchandise on the market. So its arch-nemesis will fight it on that ground too, and to that end has launched its latest footwear collection.

Bearing construction and design inspired by its Formula One cars, McLaren shoes boast hi-tech materials and fashion-forward lines evocative of the technology-driven image which McLaren projects. Realized by Spanish licensee FasionVentures 21, the collection includes both casual and more formal models, recently supplemented by the collection's latest Spring/Summer 2009 line which you can see in the gallery below. Prices start around $200, available from McLaren's online shop and various retailers worldwide.

Gallery: McLaren footwear Spring/Summer 2009

Tags: f1, formula one, FormulaOne, mclaren, mclaren footwear, mclaren shoes, MclarenFootwear, MclarenShoes

Multimillion $ Ferraris & More in London Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

On October 29, RM Auctions will present an amazing collection of classic sports cars, including several stunning multimillion dollar Ferraris, at their Automobiles of London event. The star of the sale is a highly-prized 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California, estimated at $5 million - $6 million. Other hot-ticket Ferraris on the London block include a 1965 250 LM Berlinetta, est. $4.3 million - $4.8 million; a 1959 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta, Est. $3 million - $3.8 million; and a gorgeous black 1968 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta (above), est. $1.3 million - $1.4 million. Also on offer is the ex-Park Lane 1997 McLaren F1, the last roadgoing F1 ever produced, est. $1.9 million - $2.4 million; and an ultra-rare 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante, est. $970,000 - $1.1 million. See the gallery for pix.

Gallery: RM London Autos

1959 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta

1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder

Tags: Bugatti, Ferrari, London, McLaren, Rm Auctions, RmAuctions

Enzo Crash Driver Stefan Eriksson Arrested

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Well, it certainly took long enough but Stefan Eriksson, the former Gizmondo chief who spectacularly smashed a Ferrari Enzo on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, has been arrested on suspicion of grand theft. Eriksson was arrested at his Bel-Air home on Saturday but it's not clear whether or not they thing he stole the Ferrari. He is being held without bail. As we mentioned earlier, last month police impounded a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren driven by Eriksson's wife. I guess this means what we suspected all along, that the shadowy figure of "Dietrich" that Eriksson said was driving the car didn't really exist.

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Tags: enzo crash, ferrari enzo, gizmondo, mclaren, pch crash, stafan eriksson, StafanEriksson

Paris Hilton And Her New Mercedes McLaren

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Celebrity Shopping

Here you go, yet another reason to envy Paris Hilton, she's traded in her Bentley for a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. Sky News has pictures of Paris out at (where else) The Ivy in L.A. driving the new black beauty. How much does it cost? Well, it isn't a Bugatti Veyron (maybe next year Paris) but according to the recent Forbes List of Most Expensive Cars, the McLaren sells for a cool $452,750.

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Tags: celebrity shopping, exotic car, luxury car, mclaren, mercedes, paris hilton

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