McLaren F2 Project restarted

[ArchangelGTR]

From Autocar:



Autocar can reveal that McLaren’s own long-delayed mid-engined supercar project is back on track. The first prototypes already on test in the UK, and our exclusive artist’s impression reveals, for the first time, how the car could look.

For McLaren the project will be a chance to build a pure-bred follow-up the legendary F1, a car still regarded by some as the finest high-performance car in history.


F2: aborted Mercedes project comes good

The F2 has its roots in the P8, the car McLaren had been committed to building as a smaller and cheaper supercar with Mercedes, after the launch of the SLR. Mercedes boss Jurgen Hubbert confirmed in early 2004 that the company was actively “looking at a mid-engined road car”.

Codenamed P8, the car was put on hold in late 2004 by then-Mercedes Car Group boss Eckhard Cordes. Cordes said that the P8 had “successfully completed the concept stage,” but development had been frozen.

The hiatus was mainly a result of huge losses at Mercedes and the emergence of significant quality problems in its mainstream models. Also, the SLR was also not as well received as Mercedes had hoped and there was a great deal of recrimination in the air, especially about its perceived engineering failings.


McLaren goes it alone

The F2 will be a solo effort by the Woking outfit, and a chance to re-establish the company’s credentials at the top-end of the market.

Sources have told Autocar that mechanical mules disguised under a Ferrari 360 body are already running around the company’s Woking HQ. They advise to expect a mid-engined machine built around a carbon-fibre monocoque.

If the new car does echo the 15-year old F1 concept it will be powered by a normally aspirated V12 powerplant too. However, as F1 currently demands V8 engines, the baby McLaren could reflect F1’s attempts to become greener by concentrating on keeping weight down in tandem with a more modest powerplant.


Hilton Holloway

We may need an F2 section in the future.

[PatrickT82]

that illustration looks like a souped up Gallardo:P

[blindside.AMG]

Any word on who's making the engine??

[ShredR8]

talk about a Lambo mock........ mclearen sucks anyways bugatti, koenisegg, lambo, ferrari, and TVR are the best.

[lamehonda]

Got some resemblance to the proposed esprit

[vectorspecialist]

Originally Posted by ShredR8

talk about a Lambo mock........ mclearen sucks anyways bugatti, koenisegg, lambo, ferrari, and TVR are the best.

yup bugatti known for what...breaking the mclarens record speed with having around 350hp more and 4cyl more. lambo, only thing they do right is use awd. ferrari all the power in the world but no torque. and tvr...great cars but they aint in the USA so i cant drive one. konisegg...cant handle worth a dime when it comes to outright cornering.

[Samurai75007]

Looks like a Gallardo and Noble M14 made a baby.

[jcsaleen]

Originally Posted by Samurai75007

Looks like a Gallardo and Noble M14 made a baby.

I agree, Not sure what they are aiming for here as far as look.

[FireBball972]

no matter how it looks, its definitely interesting, you have to admit

[ArchangelGTR]

New McLaren due out in 2010:

The countdown to the launch of McLaren’s long-awaited second supercar has begun. Early prototypes of the final design began shakedown tests in mid-April.

Codenamed P11, the first of a number of versions of the new McLaren is expected to roll into showrooms in March 2010, although it’s expected to be unveiled in autumn 2009. The P11 will be followed by both open-top and hardcore versions of the base model.

Insiders say the mid-engined car will be pitched as a rival for the £130k Ferrari F430. The P11 is also said to be noticeably lighter and more compact than the competition.

It will be powered by a 550bhp V8 engine which some sources say will be built by Mahle (which bought out the old Cosworth business) in Northamptonshire. It’s thought that the McLaren engine will be based on an existing Mercedes unit.

Insiders in Germany say that production of the Mercedes McLaren SLR will be closed down by the middle of next year. This will clear the way for the P11 production system to be installed at McLaren’s Woking facility.

The Spider version of the P11 is expected to appear in March 2011. There’s scant information on this model, which is still in the development phase, but it is expected to have a proper folding fabric roof.

The summer of 2011 should see the ultimate expression of the new McLaren supercar going on sale. Project P12, which should cost around £250,000 in today’s money, is said to be a much more hardcore, driver-focused interpretation of the P11. It’s also likely to be the version closest to the spirit of the iconic McLaren F1.

According to internal McLaren documents finalised last year, a V10 engine delivering over 600bhp will power the P12. The rest of the car will be stripped down and re-engineered for ultimate weight saving.


Hilton Holloway

[murraydeschot]

All renderings, so far, of the new McLaren are false. I have that info from the horses mouth.

[ArchangelGTR]

Originally Posted by murraydeschot

All renderings, so far, of the new McLaren are false. I have that info from the horses mouth.

Interesting. Leave it to McLaren to keep everyone in suspense. I believe the F1 was this way too with a series of speculative renderings.

I'm sure that whatever it is, it will be added to my "must have" collection. And, I hope owners race them.