Frank Stephenson to direct McLaren design

[ArchangelGTR]

Frank Stephenson to direct McLaren design

Based only on his work to date, history would remember Frank Stephenson as one of the most influential automotive designers of our time. He's credited with the resurrection of the retro hatch – having designed the MINI, Fiat 500 and Alfa MiTo – in addition to a portfolio of lust-worthy supercars for Ferrari and Maserati. It came as a surprise when the American-raised designer left his post as head of the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, shortly after the Fiat Group hired former Pininfarina designer Lorenzo Ramaciotti to oversee styling for the entire group, and a big question mark had been left lingering over where he would head next.

Questions demand answers, and in due course this has received its own. Emerging reports now indicate that Frank Stephenson is going to McLaren to head up a new design team for its road car division. The development is an interesting one for McLaren, which used its F1 engineers to direct the styling of its previous road cars. However as the company strives to distance itself from Mercedes-Benz in the wake of the departing SLR, it is clear that McLaren hopes to run in the big leagues and go head-to-head with the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini et al. Following in the footsteps of Gordon Murray is no mean feat, but we'll be looking forward to seeing what Stephenson and McLaren have in store for us next.

You may not know him by name, but Frank Stephenson is the man responsible for the designs of the Mini Cooper, the Fiat 500 and the Alfa Romeo Mi.To - three of the most lauded hatchbacks of the last decade.

He is also responsible for the design of the Ferrari F430 and 612 Scaglietti in addition to his duties at the Fiat Group, which has many speculating whether Stephenson might be the man to pick up where Gordon Murray left off on the McLaren P11. Stephenson resigned from his post at Alfa Romeo in April.

Born in Morocco and raised in Spain, Stephenson attended the Art Center College of Design, which has turned out many famous designers, including Chip Foose and Chris Bangle. The McLaren P11 is a car rumored to have been Murray’s last project with McLaren before leaving to found his own company in 2004. Murray was the designer of the legendary McLaren F1.

The P11 project was expected to be its spiritual successor, an all-new supercar, but it has lain dormant since his departure. With the acquisition of Stephenson’s immense talent, however, and the firm’s cessation of its partnership with Mercedes for the SLR supercar, there is renewed hope of the P11’s revival.

The new supercar is expected to feature a mid-engine V10, rather than the v12 of the F1. It will also be smaller and lighter than its predecessor. The McLaren F1 was at its height the fastest production car in the world, but the new car will be aimed more squarely at the likes of the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and the Porsche 911 GT2, rather than the Bugatti Veyron or other top-speed-seeking supercars.