MCLtd. "Project" Numbers

[Stratoraptor]

We all know how the F1 was referred to as "Project 1" before it was named the "F1" and DA mentions of a "Project 2" before it was shelved. There is also the new "Project 8" in the works. I assume that the SLR and the 1+1 McLaren-Mercedes two seater used in the Adrenaline Programme are among these.

My question is what were Projects and their numbers?

[Mr. Bernoulli]

The project numbers refer to the cars that McLaren Cars as a company has worked on. This includes all feasibility work carried out so that if a project is deemed not to be viable, it is abandoned.

The F1 was obviously Project 1.
After this various projects were considered but then abandoned including a small city car which was superseded by the SMART car.
The SLR was Project 7 and the next car would have been Project 8.

The two seat car was not produced by McLaren Cars like the F1 but both were used as part of the same marketing programme.

[Stratoraptor]

OK, so what were the all the Projects 3 through 6?

[F1 monster]

you write, the next car "would have been" project 8 as if ther e is no next car.

but there have been lots of articles tha tmclaren is working oni a smaller 2 seat supercar sort of like the gallardo or the esprit. is this pure speculation?

tia

[Peloton25]

Wasn't the current Formula One car with it's MBZ engine initially started as Project 4, hence the MP4?

I believe I read that somewhere, but admittedly I don't follow that side of the business all that closely.

Originally Posted by F1 monster

you write, the next car "would have been" project 8 as if ther e is no next car.

but there have been lots of articles tha tmclaren is working oni a smaller 2 seat supercar sort of like the gallardo or the esprit. is this pure speculation?

tia

Recently it's been mentioned that the possibility of this project happening is shrinking, or that it has been officially shelved. I heard that info on another forum and don't have an actual source to reference at this time though.

>8^)
ER

[Stratoraptor]

Originally Posted by Peloton25

Wasn't the current Formula One car with it's MBZ engine initially started as Project 4, hence the MP4?

The first MP4 was built in 1981 powered by the Ford DFV. It was a totally new team with Ron Dennis taking chief and John Barnard the new car designer hence the MP4/1 was totally different car from the M29 which it succeeded -- it was also the first carbon-fibre monocoque chassis. The Mercedes-Benz badged Ilmor engines didn't find a home inside a McLaren until 1995 in the MP4/10.

So all we can learn from that is that the MP4 does not designate what was Project 4. All the there remains the chance that the MP4/10 could have been worked on by MCLtd as their Project 4.

[Peloton25]

Thanks for the history lesson.

I'll try to recall where I got that piece of info and see if I can figure out what it really said.

>8^)
ER