McLaren Archives

McLaren create thunder down under

McLaren hosted a special track day event for 21 of its luckiest customers in Australia. The event was held at the iconic Philip Island Circuit where participants got to experience the thrill of driving their cars flat-out in a controlled environment.

It also shines a spotlight on the automaker’s commitment to ensuring that customers are given opportunities to enjoy the ownership experience. Unlike others, McLaren doesn’t believe that their relationship with customers end as soon as the money exchanges hands. instead, they believe that it is forged by continued engagement between both parties.

The event mirrored other track day programmes held by the Woking based manufacturer in other areas of the world. participants were offered the chance to get behind the wheel of 29 other McLaren models to truly experience the entire range of its supercars.

George Biggs, Managing Director of Asia Pacific at McLaren Automotive, said, “This event marks the first ever McLaren owner’s day to take place in Australia. Every McLaren is built to be driven and enjoyed, hosting it here on the Philip Island Circuit provides the best opportunity for our owners to do so.”

“It is great to see a growing community of McLaren owners in Australia that enjoy sharing their passion for driving. Besides the Owner’s Day event, McLaren owners in Australia may look forward to more driving programmes in the near future as we definitely have an exciting line up of activities in 2018,” he later added.

McLaren enlisted the expertise of Kenny Brack, Indy Racing League Drivers Championship winner and Indy 500 champion, to train and offer tips to owners that might help boost their performance on track. Even owners who are adept at handling a Mclaren at its limits can learn a thing or two from an instructor and professional racer like Brack.

Brack was appointed as Test and Development Driver for McLaren Automotive in 2015. His insight and experience has played a part in strengthening McLaren’s three tier product range – Sports Series, Super Series, and Ultimate Series. He will also be responsible for ensuring that every new car that is produced, is worthy of being called a McLaren

McLaren 720S wins 2018 Performance Car of the Year title

McLaren’s 720S has managed to nudge out nine other competitors to win the 2018 Performance Car of the Year title by Road & Track. According to the title, the car is the friendliest, least intimidating supercar thye have ever driven.

The 720S is the first model in the second-generation Super Series range. It has received praises by many due to its ability to blend performance with added luxury and exceptional driving enjoyment.

Commenting on the award, Tony Joseph, President, McLaren Automotive North America said: “We believe that the McLaren 720S is a revolutionary step forward, not only for our brand, but for the supercar segment.”

“To be named Performance Car of the Year by Road & Track is a great validation of the car and its capabilities,” he added.

Introduced this year, McLaren’s 720S features a 4.0-litre V8 engine that produces 710bhp and 770Nm of torque. It can accomplish the 0-100km/h sprint in just 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 341km/h. It also features McLaren’s active chassis system called Proactive Chassis Control II.

Unlike most other supercars, the 720S features a decent amount of creature comforts and wide variety of cutting edge technologies at the driver’s fingertips. And as such, this probably won’t be the only award that this McLaren will bag in its lifetime.

Fernando Alonso to drive for McLaren in 2018

After a rocky few months, McLaren’s driver line-up for the 2018 season seems to be set in stone. Former F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, who recently gave the team an ultimatium, has chosen to stick around for another year, according to F1.com.

He will rejoin current teammate Stoffel Vandoorne as McLaren mounts its renewed title hopes next year with new engine supplier, Renault. After several dismal seasons trying to rekindle the glory days of the McLaren-Honda partnership, both companies have decided to go their own separate ways.

The under performing McLarens have lacked the much needed power that would have allowed them to compete further up the grid. Instead, plagued with several reliability issues and a noticeable power deficit, contributed to a lackluster few seasons.

Previously, McLaren F1 cars were powered by Mercedes-Benz engines, the very same ones that allowed the team to be a dominant force in Formula 1 for decades. Now, with Renault power, the UK based team should be able to harness all of its knowledge and resources to make a much needed comeback.

Source: F1.com

McLaren preparing for release of new halo car, expected by ‘early’ 2018

McLaren has announced that it will unveil a new hypercar sometime during the first quarter of 2018. According to the British automaker, the car which remains nameless, will be an addition to its Ultimate Super Series product portfolio under its Track22 Business plan.

It is said to be the most extreme, track-concentrated road car McLaren has ever produced. Having said that, the automaker isn’t muddling its words regarding the purpose of this a vehicle. It has admitted that ‘daily usability will be sacrificed’ to offer the most intensive driving experience on track.

Though completely road legal, McLaren wants you know that, right from the onset, that this isn’t going to be the car of choice for daily commutes. Instead, its going to be a highly precise track-focused race car that can be driven on public roads – if you choose to do so.

McLaren describes the car’s look as ‘brutal’ and will be the ‘purest expression yet of the company’s ‘form follows function’ philosophy’. This could mean that the car will sport some outlandish looks and aero kits that will allow it to reduce drag and increase downforce.

Shortly after the launch of this car, McLaren will be following it up with the reveal of another vehicle that will also be part of the Ultimate Series. Codenamed BP23, the car is supposed to be the world’s first ever Hyper-GT. Both cars will be built in limited numbers and all are already spoken for.

Cars belonging to the Ultimate Series model line are positioned above McLaren’s core Super Series vehicles, which are considered relatively more affordable offerings. Cars like the McLaren P1 and P1 GTR, which are considered supercar royalty, fall under the Ultimate Series product line – the upper echelon of the UK-based automaker’s supercars.

McLaren will reveal further details of its new halo car by the end of this year, which should hopefully include some teaser images and performance specifications.

McLaren builds custom MSO R cars for customer

McLaren has built two unique versions of the 650S Coupe and 650S Spider supercars for a very special customer. McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the automaker’s special projects division was responsible for making both cars even more special thanwhat the automaker has in its product portfolio.

Compared with the cars that they are based on, these MSO R ones are fitted with a number of upgrades that include a carbon-fibre front bumper, bonnet, louvered fenders, roof scoop and rear deck, side mirror arms and wiper scuttle.

There’s Delta Red pin-striping on the front splitter and side blades, while the splitter, side skirts, sill panels, rocker panels and plenum adorn the MSO R branding. Several internal and mechanical bits are finished in a Liquid Silver colour, which provide for an understated look.

The Coupe is finished in satin Liquid Silver while the Spider gets a gloss finish, with a carbon-fibre central stripe. The matching pair of McLarens feature the same twin-element rear wing, with front dive planes for added aero efficiency. Both cars are also fitted with 5-spoke wheels, but the Coupe’s is finished in satin black but the Spider gets gloss black.

As for the interior, the cars are fitted with Alcantara material for the upholstery, primarily in black with red stitching. The colour theme is reversed for the seats, which are red with black stitching and feature an MSO R logo embroidered in black on the headrest.

The carbon-fibre steering is fitted with black Alcantara grips and a Delta Red centering stripe. McLaren has given both cars switches that are in gloss black and vent mechanisms in satin black with bezels in carbon fibre.

Apart from visual tweaks, both cars have received power upgrades as well. their engines have been blueprinted and the heads and exhaust ports hand-polished, giving the twin-turbocharged McLaren V8 engine a maximum power of 679bhp and up to 700Nm of torque.

As extravagent as this might be, it isn’t the first time that the British automaker has commissioned uniquely designed vehicles for customers with deep pockets. In fact, one of the first McLarens that was commissioned wasthe McLaren X-1. It was unveiled during the weekend of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2012.

In recent years, McLaren says that it has received and increasing number of requests to build customized versions of their cars. There is certainly a market for such offerings and McLaren would certainly oblige as long as the customers have substantial sums of money to spend on a new car.

McLaren and Honda end troubled F1 partnership

McLaren’s Formula 1 team and its engine supplier for the past two and half years, Honda, have decided to part ways after a dismal run of performance since the partnership was forged in 2015. Since switching from Mercedes-Benz powered engines to the Honda ones, McLaren hasn’t been the same.

The team have found themselves closer to the back of the grid, competing with teams that lacked the same technology funding, and driver talent than what the British based automaker had at its disposal. Despite having one of the most talented drivers of this era in Fernando Alonso, the team has failed to impress.

Plagued by constant reliability issues, the under powered Honda units have caused McLaren and Alonso, a great deal of grief. So much so that the Spaniard delivered an ultimatum to his team by stating, if things did not improve soon, he would leave in search of other opportunities.

After allowing all this to sink in, both teams have decided, in a complicated manner, to break-up and go their separate ways. As part of the deal, McLaren will receive Renault engines for the 2018 season, Toro Rosso will switch to Honda power and its driver, Carlos Sainz Jr., would be loaned to the Renault F1 team for the 2018 season.

It’s a complicated break up but it’s one that might allow McLaren to get back to its winning ways. This is especially sad considering that this same partnership allowed Mclaren a great deal of success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Any hopes of both teams rekindling that same success of their glory days will never be realized in the near future.

How well these new partnerships pan out remains to be seen, but rumour has it that Honda might introduce a more powerful engine for the 2018 season. If proven true, McLaren might have jumped the gun by switching to Renault power and allowing Toro Rosso to benefit from its R&D with Honda.

Source: F1.com

McLaren build purple 720S for special customer

Ever wondered what a purple McLaren 720S would like? Neither did we, but apparently someone had the British supercar maker do exactly that. Micheal Fux, a well known collector of rare and exotic cars, commissioned McLaren Special Operations (MSO) to have his 720S, defaced.

MSO, as the name implies, is a special division within McLaren that is responsible for churning out bespoke supercars for those wanting something out of the ordinary. Fux, had the team paint the car in a colour called ‘Fux Fuchsia’, which was created by Rolls-Royce just for him.

In fact, he owns this striking hue, and will retain exclusive rights to its use on any other McLaren vehicle. It isn’t to everyone’s taste, but the Woking based automaker did a fine at making the paint scheme look just right.

McLaren not only recreated this colour, but built a theme around it. As such, not only is the body colour ‘Fux Fuchsia’, but so are parts of the lightweight wheels, door appliqués, pinstripe on the steering wheel and even the rear-view mirror. It contrasts the largely white leather interior including white stitching and White Alcantara® floor mats, pretty well.

The car’s exhaust and windows are finished in stealth grey while the carbon fibre components taken from the MSO catalogue, add to the level of sportiness. Like the body colour, these features can be ordered by anyone through MSO and they can be fitted to just about any McLaren.

Jolyon Nash, McLaren Automotive Executive Director, Global Sales and Marketing, said, “MSO provides McLaren owners with virtually limitless possibilities to tailor a car exactly to their needs and tastes.

He added, ” unique paint colours and finishes, custom leather and stitching and exotic materials are all available within a bespoke commission, while beyond this there are opportunities all the way up to complete vehicles designed to individual specification.”

Mike Flewitt, McLaren Chief Executive Officer, will personally be presenting the car to Flux in Monterey, USA, during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Later, it will be placed on display for the ‘Concept Lawn’ on Concours Sunday.

Fux, is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who is known for his collection of rare McLarens. He currently has an Orange McLaren 12C, a purple 12C Spider and a green McLaren P1. A fan of cars that scream for attention, Fux can add the Fux Fuchsia 720S to his garage, though we doubt he will be content with just four oddly coloured cars.

Mika Häkkinen to drive legendary McLaren M23 around Laguna Seca

Former Formula One champion and arch rival of Micheal Schumacher, Mika Häkkinen has been tasked with belting a McLaren M23 at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, this August. The car belonged to F1 legend, Emerson Fittipaldi and helped him clinch the 1974 championship.

Häkkinen will complete a couple of 15-minute exhibition laps to entertain fans as well as showcase the capabilities of the vintage racer. Back in the 1970s, Formula was still a crude, unsafe and unfiltered sport that offered both the best as well as the worst of Motorsports racing.

Between 1973 to 1978, this McLaren-Ford M23 won 16 of the 80 grand prixs that it competed in. Three world championship titles were won with it, including the 1974 drivers’ and constructors’ title and 1976 drivers’ title.

Häkkinen will be sitting in for Jenson Button who was the original choice of McLaren. Since the latter wasn’t able to fulfill this task, the automaker turned to its most trusted ambassador and icon of Formula One.

Nicknamed ‘The Flying Finn’. Häkkinen drove 130 grand prixs for the McLaren team between 1993 and 2001, and winning 20 of them. This included two Drivers’ World Championship titles in 1998 and 1999 respectively.

The rivalry between the Finn and Schumacher was extremely fierce, which gave rise to exhilarating edge-of-your-seat action that is seriously lacking in the current F1 era. Their battles were so intense that they have become part of Formula 1 folklore.

“Though we were looking forward to having Jenson Button at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, we are delighted that a driver of Mika’s caliber is able to take his place,” said Gill Campbell, Senior Vice President of Event Operations at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

He later added, “Formula 1 is the pinnacle of racing advancement, and Mika will be able to showcase a car with great racing history during his spirited exhibition laps. Fans will surely enjoy the link between past and present during the exhibitions and throughout the event. Thank you to McLaren for making this happen.”

This year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will be held at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The event will see more than 550 historic cars taking part in the race weekend. Like many shows of this nature, fans will get to see a range of vehicles ranging from the pre-war era cars to more modern ones.

Ron Dennis has left McLaren to pursue other interests

After 37 long years witnessing both the ups and downs at McLaren, Ron Dennis, the head honcho of the brand has decided to step down from his position. He also reached an agreement with other shareholders to sell his shareholding in both McLaren Automotive and McLaren Technology Group.

This news maybe confusing because most of us are used to knowing McLaren as a single entity, but its rather simple and Ron, orchestrated it. See, back in 1980s, Ron merged Team McLaren (the Motorsports one) with his own company called Project Four. They combined to form McLaren International which eventually became the McLaren Group.

Then, in 2004 he announced the launch of McLaren Applied Technologies, which would focus on applying motorsport-bred innovations and technologies so as to improve the performance and product innovation of blue-chip companies in a number of industries.

Later, in 2010 Ron supervised the formation of McLaren Automotive, which is the company that manufacturer’s McLaren road cars and has been churning out some absolute stunners as of late.

In the beginning, McLaren only had less than 100 employees and the company itself was only worth RM 15 million, however through growth and investments, today the company is worth RM 12 billion and employs more than 3,400 people. Ron Dennis, was key to the company’s overall success throughout its history.

During his 37 year reign as Executive Chairman, he lead McLaren to 158 Gran Prix wins and 17 Formula 1 World Championships as well as employed talented if not some of the greatest drivers in history, such as Niki Lauda, Alin Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and Lewis Hamilton, to drive for the team.

Speaking of his resignation from the top job at McLaren, Ron Dennis, said, ” I am very pleased to have reached an agreement with my fellow McLaren shareholders. It represents a fitting end to my time at McLaren, and will enable me to focus on my other interests. I have always said that my 37 years at Woking should be considered as a chapter in the McLaren book, and I wish McLaren every success as it takes the story forward.”

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa will take over as Executive Chairman of McLaren Group. And despite the sale of Ron’s shares, The Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company and TAG Group will remain as majority McLaren Group shareholders.

Though he will be leaving one of the most prestigious names in Motorsports, Ron Dennis isn’t done yet. He plans to to continue to consult for various other companies and work with the UK Government’s Ministry of Defense Innovation Advisory Panel in helping to improve the technology, the culture and the organisations that play vital roles in maintaining the UK’s national security.

McLaren 570S Spider to be launched at Goodwood Festival of Speed

McLaren has unveiled the open top version of its venerable 570S, called the 570S Spider. According to the automaker, it offers the same high-performance dynamic attributes and refinement as the 570S Coupe but with an open-top experience.

The Spider will join the Coupe and GT variants of the 570S line-up in McLaren’s Sports Series product family after its world debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The car will feature a retractable hardtop that incorporates the same technology used by the roofs of the 650S and 675LT Spiders. The car weighs 46kg more than the Coupe version, which is undoubtedly due to the extra structural reinforcement needed to compensate for the lack of a B and C pillar.

The roof takes just 15 seconds to open and close and will be able to do so at speeds of up to 40km/h. There’s also an electrically operated glazed rear window/wind deflector to ensure that occupants aren’t troubled by outside air flowing into the cabin. But, its extended rear spoiler is 12mm higher than that of the Coupe to compensate fro the change in body shape.

Like its Coupe brethren, the 570S Spider’s body is constructed from carbon fibre, has a mid-engine drivetrain layout and the typical McLaren dihedral doors.

Powering the car is the same 3.8-litre turbocharged V8 found in the Coupe and is mated to a seven-speed DCT gearbox. The engine produces nearly 570bhp and 600Nm of torque, which allows the 570S Spider to sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 328 km/h with the roof up (identical speed to Coupe) and 315km/h with the roof down.

The first 400 Spiders will be built as launch edition models, mimicking the same strategy used for the 720S when it was initially launched. The car is available to order now and is priced at £164,750 (RM893,769) and will also come in three new exterior colours which are Curacao Blue, Vega Blue and Sicilian Yellow. In total, there will be 20 different body colours to choose from, which McLaren say will complement the car’s complex bodywork very well.