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New McLaren F1 starts tests
Official testing of McLaren Automotive’s new hypercar is now under way ahead of its 2014 launch. The spiritual successor to the iconic McLaren F1 aims to have the performance to eclipse every other hypercar, including the Bugatti Veyron, the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder and the successor to the Ferrari Enzo.
McLaren insiders have confirmed that the first test of the ‘mega-Mac’ (it will get an MP4-12C-style alpha-numeric name in production) took place in Spain last month on closed roads before shifting to Germany for its development. Hot-weather testing has also taken place, most likely in Bahrain.
Earlier estimates of a price of around £400,000 now appear to be wide of the mark. Instead, a figure approaching £1 million seems a more likely estimate for each of the 500 units planned for the production run.
The original F1 was priced at £540,000 when Autocar road tested it in 1994, which equates to about £810,000 in 2011.
Powering the mega-Mac is a new 799bhp 5.0-litre V8 engine (160bhp per litre) that McLaren is developing in conjunction with Ricardo. It will be mated to a seven-speed Graziano dual-clutch gearbox to send power to the rear wheels. Peak power arrives at 7500rpm, with peak torque of 590lb ft available between 3500rpm and 6800rpm.
Autocar understands that the car will be able to crack 0-60mph in just 2.8sec, 0-100mph in 5.5sec and 0-200mph in 20.0sec.
The mega-Mac is based around a lightweight carbonfibre monocell that is similar to the one used in
the MP4-12C. Aluminium pushrod suspension will also feature, alongside hydraulic anti-roll control, adaptive dampers and a five-stage traction control system.
Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes will be standard, complete with brake steer and electronic brake force functions. The ability to switch off the ABS system on race tracks is also likely to be offered.
McLaren insiders have described the styling of the mega-Mac as “bigger, angrier and more functional looking” than the MP4-12C, although styling cues from both the MP4-12C and the original F1 will be carried over. Active aerodynamics will also feature.
Luxuries will be kept to a minimum in the interior, which is claimed to offer impressive all-round visibility. However, features such as an on-board data logger and a video camera to film circuit laps will be offered by McLaren.
Production will take place at the McLaren Technology Centre (not at the MP4-12C production site) at a rate of two to three per week over a four-year production cycle.
New McLaren F1 starts tests - Autocar.co.uk
Official testing of McLaren Automotive’s new hypercar is now under way ahead of its 2014 launch. The spiritual successor to the iconic McLaren F1 aims to have the performance to eclipse every other hypercar, including the Bugatti Veyron, the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder and the successor to the Ferrari Enzo.
McLaren insiders have confirmed that the first test of the ‘mega-Mac’ (it will get an MP4-12C-style alpha-numeric name in production) took place in Spain last month on closed roads before shifting to Germany for its development. Hot-weather testing has also taken place, most likely in Bahrain.
Earlier estimates of a price of around £400,000 now appear to be wide of the mark. Instead, a figure approaching £1 million seems a more likely estimate for each of the 500 units planned for the production run.
The original F1 was priced at £540,000 when Autocar road tested it in 1994, which equates to about £810,000 in 2011.
Powering the mega-Mac is a new 799bhp 5.0-litre V8 engine (160bhp per litre) that McLaren is developing in conjunction with Ricardo. It will be mated to a seven-speed Graziano dual-clutch gearbox to send power to the rear wheels. Peak power arrives at 7500rpm, with peak torque of 590lb ft available between 3500rpm and 6800rpm.
Autocar understands that the car will be able to crack 0-60mph in just 2.8sec, 0-100mph in 5.5sec and 0-200mph in 20.0sec.
The mega-Mac is based around a lightweight carbonfibre monocell that is similar to the one used in
the MP4-12C. Aluminium pushrod suspension will also feature, alongside hydraulic anti-roll control, adaptive dampers and a five-stage traction control system.
Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes will be standard, complete with brake steer and electronic brake force functions. The ability to switch off the ABS system on race tracks is also likely to be offered.
McLaren insiders have described the styling of the mega-Mac as “bigger, angrier and more functional looking” than the MP4-12C, although styling cues from both the MP4-12C and the original F1 will be carried over. Active aerodynamics will also feature.
Luxuries will be kept to a minimum in the interior, which is claimed to offer impressive all-round visibility. However, features such as an on-board data logger and a video camera to film circuit laps will be offered by McLaren.
Production will take place at the McLaren Technology Centre (not at the MP4-12C production site) at a rate of two to three per week over a four-year production cycle.
New McLaren F1 starts tests - Autocar.co.uk
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