http://www.leftlanenews.com/mercedes-mclaren-part-ways-for-future-supercars.html

If the above link is to be believed then McLaren and Mercedes Benz are parting ways after a fruitfull relationship producing the SLR... ahem... we'll talk no more about that...

The fact that both companies are parting ways to pursue new projects sound interesting and the words "The car will probably be pitched as a successor to the McLaren F1" makes me decidedly exited!

But one question keeps on popping into my head could McLaren ever create something as special as the F1? Sure they could make a better car, something which handled better, was lighter and more powerful and performed better, but could they make a car which 10 years after it ceased production, still has such a massive appeal? (i think the fact this forum has so many new and interesting posts is testomony to that)

What do you think? Could the "F2" match the F1?

The fact that both companies are parting ways to pursue new projects sound interesting and the words "The car will probably be pitched as a successor to the McLaren F1" makes me decidedly exited!
But one question keeps on popping into my head could McLaren ever create something as special as the F1? No Sure they could make a better car, something which handled better, was lighter and more powerful and performed better, but could they make a car which 10 years after it ceased production, still has such a massive appeal? (i think the fact this forum has so many new and interesting posts is testomony to that) No

What do you think? Could the "F2" match the F1?Ummm, no.

It won't have the same appeal; it may be good, it may be very good, but it's the design parameters set out by GM that started it off on the road to be great. Without his vision and strict attention to detail it will be just another hyper/super car.

it could come in a close second

if it betters the Carrera GT and Pagani Zonda its one mighty car!

I would love to see a new car from McLaren. But not a hypercar or a supercar. Something to compete with the Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo.

http://www.ied.it/torino/2006/news_mclaren/

Check this out, it may have been posted here before but its relevent to this thread. McLaren employed the IED design school to undertake a live project, designing future McLaren models. Some look cool, some look rubbish but none match the smooth lines of Peter Steven's original.

I think it will be good for McLaren to bring out a new car, but i agree, no matter how much faster it is, no matter how much more responsive it is - they will never better then F1. The timing of the F1, in 1993 it was the Millenium Falcon of the supercar world, nothing could touch it. Today, a +220mph car is no big deal. However, if you lined the F1 up with today's modern supercar line up it wouldn't look out of place, infact it even makes some more recent cars look older with its superb attention to detail and ingenious packaging. I think it proves performance isnt everything, its how the design process is carried out which counts. Murray had a virtually unlimeted budget, the F1 was tottally bespoke... I just cant see that happening again...

http://www.ied.it/torino/2006/news_mclaren/

Bleah, a lot of those look really stereotypically futuristic, and some seem to take obvious cues from other supercars currently on the market. That IED Torino looks an awful lot like the Zonda.

True, but even the F1 took styling cues from other cars. No car is totally original. Which one looks like a zonda? IED torinio is the university, not the concept, (Institute of European Design)

I like this one best, but still not as good looking as the F1 imo. http://www.ied.it/torino/2006/news_mclaren/7f.htm

Interesting, thanks for the link. I see some Murci elements in the side profile, and overall I don't like the looks of the side too much, but I love the rest of the car.

http://www.mclarenautomotive.com/community/wallpapers/Can-Am_1280.jpg If you look on the McLaren Automotive website at the wallpapers section theres a few decent images of concept cars.

I must admit i like the look of this from the side and front but not so sure about the rear. Theres definatley hints of the original F1 in there, especially from the front, but i dont know, maybe im just old fashioned - it doesnt quite pull it off. Promising though. (Lets all pray that McLaren see the light and get a certain Mr Murray back where he belongs)

* a Mr Stevens would go amiss either - this one is appalling http://www.mclarenautomotive.com/community/wallpapers/Manta_1024.jpg

Mclaren will continue to make cars like the SLR and the CLK DTM not pure drivers cars. That era is over as mad as I get saying that it's true. It's all about the stitch of the leather not the weave of the carbon now a days...

Thats the point though, it was mercedes that made the SLR into what it was, Didnt Murray leave McLaren partly because of how the SLR was turning into a glorified SL? Mercedes were the ones in charge, McLaren just did their bidding. Now that there parting ways McLaren will hopefully start to think about building real cars again, ok they wont build something as pure as the F1 again - for a start theyd never get it road legalised today. Theres a chance though that they may just come up with something good... I dont expect an F1 beater, but a proper supercar designed with the right things in mind would be great...