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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
‘‘Following any recession, there’s a resurgence,’’ said Dennis, who is the chairman of McLaren Automotive, at the company’s headquarters — and factory site — in Woking, south of London. ‘‘We intend to catch that wave.’’
The company aims to make up to 1,000 of the 12C cars next year, with up to 40 percent being sold in North America, the report said. The care will compete with the Ferrari 458 Italia, priced at around 170,000 pounds, and the Mercedes SLS AMG at around 145,000 pounds.
‘‘Our volumes are very much linked to how we see the recovery,’’ Dennis added. Production forecast to reach around 4,000 by the middle of the decade.
‘‘Although we’re investing hundreds of millions of pounds into these cars, we have no desire at all to be the biggest sports car manufacturer,’’ said Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive managing director. ‘‘In fact, we take great pride in being one of the most exclusive, and aim to keep it that way.’’
Dennis also wants to use the production of the cars as a way to ensure the company’s future, since F1 is so precarious as a business alone, and he quoted the fact that 101 Formula One teams have vanished since McLaren started on the circuit in 1966.
‘‘To stay solely and exclusively a Formula One team is almost going to surely lead to extinction,’’ he said, noting the company had already successfully moved into electronics, applied technology and marketing.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday, December 3, 2009
It all began in 1999 as a concept (I remember cause I wrote about it in my SPM English paper), and in 2004, the Mercedes-Benz and Mclaren love story began. The two legendary companies set out to produce a memorable supercar and came up with the SLR (Sport, Light, Racing). The SLR spawned two coupe’s, two roadster’s and one Stirling Moss edition which was the final edition of the SLR range. In a span of five years 2,000 SLR’s were built but only 75 would ultimately be badged Stirling Moss, making it even more exclusive than the already very exclusive coupe and roadster SLR.
The SLR is powered by a 5.5-liter supercharged V8 powerplant that makes 626hp in the Coupe and Roadster models. The same engine makes 650hp in the 722 and Stirling Moss editions. The latter has a blistering speed that does the 0-100 run in 3.5 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 350km/h. With no roof, windscreen or side windows, a helmet for the driver and passenger of the Stirling Moss, is highly recommended.
The original 300 SLR racing cars was piloted by Moss himself and went on to a succession of victories in the 50s. The legendary Juan Manuel Fangio later became a five time Formula One World Champion in the cars too.
So it is in fact a sad day for the SLR legacy that goes back decades but with such a glittering history, we’re sure there will be future models of the SLR. Meanwhile, members of the SLR.CLUB (open to anyone who owns a SLR) will keep the history alive by getting together regularly and continue organising club events such as drives on famous racing circuits and participation in the Mille Miglia.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
2011 McLaren MP4-12C Super Sports Concept Car pure McLaren, Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8 litre, V8 Engine
0 comments Posted by Qcist at 11:37 AM
The independent car division based at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England,the McLaren MP4-12C is revealed as the first in a range of high-performance sports cars from McLaren Automotive.The 12C, and future models within the range, will challenge the world's best sports cars, benefiting from the expertise and virtuosity of the McLaren Group.
Through a rich modern history, McLaren's automotive division has already built the world's most critically acclaimed supercar, the McLaren F1 (1993-1998) and the world's best-selling luxury supercar, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (2003-2009). McLaren Automotive now looks to the future with a new range of revolutionary sports cars.
The first car from the new company, the McLaren MP4-12C, is a high performance two-seat mid-engine model in the 'core' sports car market segment for cars costing between £125,000 and £175,000.It goes on sale through a dedicated, worldwide retailer network in early 2011.
All the parts of the McLaren MP4-12C are bespoke and unique to this car. Everything from the engine right down to the tailor-made switches and buttons is pure McLaren: nothing has come from another manufacturer's parts bin.
"The 12C is all about performance," said Sheriff. "And in McLaren, we have a very broad definition of performance. We don't just look at the traditional one-dimensional parameters like top speed, we focus equally on useable measures such as in-gear acceleration times, braking performance in all conditions, and efficiency of power delivery combined with the lowest possible fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Sure, 12C is very fast, but it is also the most efficient, most driveable high-performance sports car in the world.
Thorough engineering and market research led to concept development and a clear decision in favour of a mid-engined two door high performance sports car. Intensive work was carried out in the wind tunnel and the driving simulator to ensure that the new car would inherently have superb dynamic qualities.
The McLaren MP4-12C design follows similar principles to McLaren's Formula 1 cars, and the legendary McLaren F1, where everything is for a reason and all lines, surfaces, and details are designed with a job in mind as much as styled. This ensures that the 12C communicates its engineering through its styling and will remain timeless as a piece of automotive design.
"By the time the 12C is launched in 2011 we expect the economic conditions to be much improved. We have already seen significant interest in the car and the supply of the 12C will be relatively scarce; in its first year we plan to produce just 1,000 cars which represents only 3.5 per cent of the 'core' market," explained Antony Sheriff.
The McLaren MP4-12C is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8 litre 90° V8 engine - the 'M838T'. This marks the start of a new era in 'core' segment sports cars - smaller capacity, lighter weight, higher efficiency and more economical power units. The engine has the highest specific power output in its segment which, when allied to its low weight carbon composite chassis, delivers exemplary power- and torque-to-weight ratios.The McLaren engine revs to 8,500rpm, has quick transient throttle response and delivers its abundant torque throughout the rev range. A staggering 80 per cent of torque is available at below 2,000rpm, ensuring great driveability and no need to floor the throttle to deliver performance.
The McLaren MP4-12C has been designed around a demanding mechanical package that puts emphasis on aerodynamics, compact dimensions, performance and efficiency, practicality and comfort. Although the design of the 12C was driven by aerodynamics, it aims to remain contemporary and elegant throughout its lifetime as well as distinctive among its peers.
"The 12C design was therefore led by aerodynamics. At McLaren we have been able to use the Formula 1 techniques and the huge expertise that the company has amassed at the pinnacle of the sport," explained Stephenson.
Aerodynamic efficiency drove the 12C's design. High downforce helps maintain traction, cornering ability and stability while low drag aids top speed and acceleration. It has a completely flat underbody and smooth upper body surfaces to yield a highly effective drag coefficient and generate very high levels of balanced downforce at high speed.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler AG will have stakes in two Formula 1 teams next season, with a majority shareholding in Brawn GP coming into effect while its 40% stake in McLaren Racing is set to be bought out by the McLaren Group over the coming year.
“In a transaction structured so as to be completed by 2011, the McLaren Group will undertake a phased purchase of the 40 per cent shareholding currently owned by Daimler AG. As a result, the McLaren Group will become a fully independent stand-alone corporate entity,” the company confirmed in a statement on Monday.
This year’s championship-winning Brawn GP team will be renamed Mercedes Grand Prix, and Daimler AG’s statement confirming the purchase used the term ‘Silver Arrows’ to describe its future single-seaters.
However the collaboration with McLaren will continue beyond the buyout of Mercedes’ stake, since the German manufacturer will maintain its supply of engines to McLaren until 2015, at which time a prolonging agreement may come into place.
“The team will continue to be known as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, its distinctive silver-with-red livery will remain unchanged, and Mercedes-Benz will continue as both an engine supplier and a partner,” read the McLaren Group statement.
By the time the new engine-supply agreement reaches its term in 2015, the working relationship between McLaren and Mercedes-Benz will have reached its 21st year. “By which time it will have become by some margin the longest such association in Formula 1 history,” McLaren pointed out.
“For the benefit of both Mercedes and McLaren, we will continue our partnership cooperation in the future,” said Dieter Zetsche, Daimler CEO and head of Mercedes-Benz, in a separate statement. “We will be rivals on-track but, off-track, we will cooperate with McLaren and the other teams in order to create the best possible product for spectators worldwide.”
Mercedes-Benz Motorsport boss Norbert Haug looked back at the 60 Grand Prix victories, four titles and ten runner-up positions gained with McLaren Racing since 1995 in the drivers’ and constructors’ championships: “We thank our partner and will continue to work with McLaren based on an excellent partnership.
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“The reaffirmation of the two companies’ commitment to each other is the result of many weeks of careful and cooperative discussion,” the McLaren Group statement explained, adding that the agreement “covers both parties’ continued involvement in the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 partnership as well as a shared intention to act in the overall best interests of the sport of Grand Prix racing.
“It also reflects the independent vision of both companies with regard to their automotive production strategies,” the press release indicated, referring to McLaren Automotive’s intention of building “its own range of high-performance production sports cars” starting in 2011.
“This is a win-win situation, for both McLaren and Daimler,” said Ron Dennis, the Executive Chairman of McLaren Automotive and founder of the McLaren Group.
“I’ve often stated that it’s my belief that, in order to survive and thrive in 21st-century Formula 1, a team must become much more than merely a team,” Dennis explained. “The next few years will be a very exciting time for McLaren, during which period we intend to become an ever-stronger technological and economic force.
“Over the past two years we’ve analysed in great detail the challenge of entering the high-performance production sports car market,” he continued, however underlining that “Formula 1 will always be a core activity, for sound business reasons as well as for historical sporting reasons.
“All of our partners will of course continue to play a crucial role in our Formula 1 programme,” Dennis said. “For that reason, and because the engines they produce are very competitive, we’re delighted that Mercedes-Benz has committed to continue not only as an engine supplier but also as a partner of ours until 2015 – and perhaps thereafter.”
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The LM5 was designed as a vehicle which could rekindle the drama and sophistication of the legendary McLaren F1. And while McLaren have since revealed the MP4-12C supercar, it's not exactly in the same league as the technological tour-de-force which was the original F1.
The McLaren LM5 is a concept created by Matt Williams, a graduate of Coventry University's Transportation Design degree program. The LM5 was produced as his final year project.
The styling of the F1 was primarily dictated by function. However it also retained a unique sense of character and presence. Williams thought it would be interesting to develop the brand identity of McLaren - but more specifically the F1 model - and bring it into the 21st Century. And while the LM5 concept was designed to offer a similar personality and overall stance to the F1, it was also designed to utilize more extreme and race-influenced bodywork.
The McLaren LM5 concept features the same three-seat layout with a central drivers seat as the old F1. All three sports seats have an extremely slim profile to reduce weight and free up interior space, and instead of conventional safety belts all the seats feature racing-style four-point harnesses. The multifunction steering wheel features a central display for the tachometer.
The proposed engine for the McLaren LM5 concept is a worked over 5.0 litre V10 sourced from BMW. Mounted midship in the carbon fibre pre-preg chassis this unit would make the LM5 a force to be reckoned with on both road and track.
While the LM5 is at the moment just one man's idea of what the F1's successor could look like, the design itself uses both past and present McLaren influences giving it a sense of realism. And It's important to remember that McLaren themselves have made it public knowledge that they're working on developing a successor to their most iconic car within the next couple of years.
Friday, October 9, 2009
This sports car combines the old yet astounding SLR race cars of the 50s and the latest and meanest technology of high-performance supercars. With the power of race cars and the sleek, curves and designs of a luxury car, the combination from the two car manufacturers is hard to beat.A blast from the past and a taste of the future, this might just be a good description of the latest sports car that came out from a collaboration of Mercedes-Benz and McLaren, two big giants in the car manufacturing industry. We're talking about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.
This supercar is definitely fast. SLR McLaren sports a 626-horsepower supercharged 5.5-liter V8. Also, it has a full carbon-fiber monocoque, features crash structures and body panels. And with the supercharge V8 engine, you can see the 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren go from naught to 60 miles per hour in less than 3.6 seconds. Top speed has been measured to exceed 200 mph, a feat that can only be achieved by very few even among the high performance sports cars. It was the high-performance division of Mercedes-Benz which created the V8s. The AMG were the ones who hand-build the supercharged V8 engines with top notched precision and quality. It is not at a big surprise to see the supercharged 5.5 (5439 cc) liter dry sumped 90 degree V8 engine to produce around 466.8 kW at 6500 rpm (626 hp) and 780 N·m (575 ft·lbf) torque at 3250 - 5000 rpm. The numbers maybe daunting but the sound of the engine will appease the minds of those who long for the perfect high performance cars.
Mounting that V8 engine into the body of SLR exotic car is also not as traditional as one would like to expect. The engine in SLR sports car is placed in a front mid-engine position just behind the front wheels. Instead of using the traditional oil-pan, dry-sump lubricants are used. With this innovation, it is highly possible to mount the engine to a level that used to be unachievable. Because of the low position of the engine in the supercar's body, the results are more than one hoped. The new Mercedez-Benz SLR McLaren race car has better aerodynamics and better handling due to the lower center of gravity.
Not only does the mean features of the sports car that attracts attention but how the two car companies were able to fuse their own traditions and expertise into a single exotic car. For one, McLaren's expertise in Formula 1 has been imbibed wholly by the SLR's design. The composition of carbon fiber material that was used in the body of the new SLR sports car is so Formula 1. Because of this body, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren has become more rigid and surprisingly strong.
The SLR also has a five speed automatic transmission. There are modes, the Sport, Comfort and Manual which basically covers every known driving style. Sport is for everyday use, Comfort for bumpy or slippery roads, and Manual gives you control over the gears either through the touchpad or the levers on the steering wheel. When you use Manual, you open up three more modes, namely Sport, Supersport and Race. Speed increased significantly as you go up shifts.
With all these features it is not surprising that the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is classified as a sports car and a supercar. Remember to get this right, though, the "SLR" does not stand for "Sportlich, Leicht, Rennsport" which is German for "Sport; Light; Racing" as most people think. Its real meaning is "super-leicht, Rennsport" which means "super-light, racing." The sports car is being sold with a base price of €443,066 £300,000 or $450,000.
Friday, October 2, 2009
2011 McLaren MP4-12C Super Sport Concept CarDouble mid McLaren MP4-12C was completed “in one piece” carbon chassis, which carries the aluminum and special plastic body panels. Eight-installed 3.8-liter engine with an angle of 90 degrees to the collapse of the cylinders and the two turbines. Its capacity is about 600 horsepower and maximum torque is 595 Nm (80 per cent of which is already available from 2000 rpm).
The motor will be used with the seven-Graziano robotized transmission with dual-clutch transmission and a choice taxied. According to preliminary data from the ground up to “hundreds” McLaren supercar will drive for about three seconds. Its top speed of 320 kilometers per hour.
Sales of McLaren MP4-12C, which is scheduled to release a limited edition of one thousand copies, will be no earlier than 2011. The car will do to the markets of USA, UK, Germany, Europe and the Middle East.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Come Wednesday the 9th of September McLaren Automotive will unveil one of the most anticipated supercars of the year, if not this decade. Following months of many spy shots and some official details, the MP4-12C will be presented.
Previously known by its codename P11, the car will go on sale in 2011 and will be a spiritual successor to the McLaren F1 supercar going head-to-head with the Porsche 911 Turbo and Ferrari 458 Italia.
It is expected to lead the field in technical innovation thanks to its Formula One association. Details obtained by WCF state the MP4-12C will have a carbon-fiber monocoque body structure. However, the big innovation is in direct correlation to its namesake, the MP4-12 F1 racecar from 1997. First seen on this racecar, but subsequently banned by the FIA, the MP4-12C will incorporate technology known as a “brake steering” system. It will allow the driver to brake either rear wheels via a selectable second brake pedal resulting in reduced wheelspin and the elimination of understeer.
Power will be sourced from a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V8 petrol engine and accessed through a 7-speed gearbox which will reportedly pump out 600 to 700bhp. Although the MP4-12C is meant to be a supercar worthy of the tag, its makers are not skimping on its everyday usability. As such the 320kmh-plus road runner will have goodies like wi-fi connection, an onboard computer and self-adjusting suspension. Apparently it also comes with vertically opening doors.
As already stated in previous reports this car will not be an only child. CEO Ron Dennis stated that his company is not just building one car but is actually building a brand. Therefore expect to see a total of three models over the next six years, culminating in annual sales of about 4,000. In comparison Ferrari produces about 6,000 cars a year while Porsche is said to be facing a culling of its high-selling non-sports car models under its new VW home.
Of the three upcoming cars the MP4-12C is the midsized one, said to have a future price tag of £150,000 (US$246,000). A 911 rival will launch for about £60,000 (US$98,400) and a Lamborghini Murcielago competitor will round out the initial lineup.
Looking at the rendering posted above, a source states it is very close to the real thing except the headlamps which are more boomerang shaped. Perhaps an early design draft.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
For the performance , the ASMA Perfectus Mercedes McLaren SLR’s 5.5-liter supercharged engine capable to produce 700 hp (522 kW) and 855 Nm (630 lb-ft) of maximum torque which need to give credit to the superchargers, a high-flow catalytic converter, ASMA racing mufflers and a reprogrammed ECU. With all these upgrades, the car now able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds with the top speed of 350 km/h, 10 km/h more than the SLR 722.
