The Next McLaren F1?

[Equinox]

Hello,

I did a search and didn't find anything. So I apologize if this was already done. The articles I found this info on were released yeaterday, so I don't know if anyone else caught it yet or not.

NOTE: This is not about the McLaren P11, but an actual successor to the McLaren F1.

Formula One powerhouse McLaren secretly has begun work on a replacement for its legendary F1 supercar, while it also gears up to become a mainstream sports-car maker.

McLaren's Technology Center in Woking, England, has built some 2,000 McLaren SLR supercars a year for Mercedes-Benz, but McLaren boss Ron Dennis reportedly has his sights set on producing 1,000 of its upcoming Ferrari F430-fighting P11s a year starting in 2011. The number, Dennis said, will rise to 4,000 cars by mid-decade as future models such as the Porsche 911-challenging P8 come on line.

At the top of those future models, according to McLaren Automotive Design director Frank Stephenson, will be an all-new version of the F1, the 240-mph exotic that rewrote the supercar rules when it arrived in 1992.

In an informal interview at the Geneva motor show, Stephenson said he is sketching ideas to replace the legendary Peter Stevens-styled F1. So, while spy photographers have been busy snapping pictures of P11 prototypes, Stephenson has moved on to the challenge of replacing one of the most revered cars in automotive history.

"For the F1 replacement, there are not the restrictions on us, like with P11," Stephenson said. "I am looking at a clean sheet of paper for the F1 replacement, and we are still trying to see what directions we want it to go in, in terms of its design.

Stephenson, who led design for BMW's first Mini, the original BMW X5, the reborn Fiat 500 and the Maserati MC12, said that McLaren has more road cars to come.

"The P11 is the building block for the whole of the McLaren automotive range," he said. "It's really a Ferrari F430 competitor, and there's plenty of room above that."

Taken from: The next F1: McLaren plans replacement for supercar: AutoWeek Magazine

Very few cars evoke the kind of passionate reaction that the McLaren F1 does. No one knows this like McLaren itself, which is why at its Technology Centre in Woking, England, McLaren engineers are hard at work developing a successor to the legendary F1.

McLaren is now in the midst of developing the P11 - a mid-engined rival for the Ferrari F430 - to be followed by the Porsche 911-fightin’ P8. The P11 architecture which underpins both cars will also be used to create an über-McLaren to replace the F1.

McLaren’s director of Automotive Design, Frank Stephenson revealed that he was currently sketching ideas for a vehicle to take over where the F1 left off.

The 'F2' as it is called, will be positioned to compete with the likes of the ultra-exclusive Bugatti Veyron and Koenigsegg CCX. The top-tier McLaren is tipped to run a mid-mounted V8 of around 6.0 litres in capacity, with an estimated top speed of above 385km/h (240mph)

The P11 and P8 projects mark the start of McLarens ‘mainstream’ sportscar production. Initial production of the P11 is set at 1000 units per year when it arrives in 2011, rising to about 4000 units per year with the P8 by the middle of the decade. By comparison only 65 regular F1’s were built.

Taken from: New Details Of McLaren F1 Successor Emerge

As a big fan of McLaren, I can't wait to see what they come up with. Once again, if this was already posted, and my search did not turn it up, I apologize.

[Equinox]

Also, on a side note, and because I don't want to start a new thread. I read that Bugatti is rumoured to be working on a car faster than the veyron.

Instead of aiming for cheaper there are some suggestions that Bugatti are looking at developing a car faster than the already ridiculously fast Veyron.

If the rumours are true then expect a super…super car that will cost more than the Veyron’s €1 million sticker price, have an output around 1,175hp and top 400km/h. The big difference (aside from price, power and performance…) is that the rumoured new car would be less of a Grand Tourer like the Veyron and more of a track capable machine, with an estimated Nurburgring lap time of 6mins 40 seconds.

Rumour has it that the Super Bug was set to be released in 2009 at a cost of €2.5 million but Volkswagen Group CEO, Martin Winterkorn has put the project on hold. The Super Bug would use a modified version of the Veyron’s quad turbo W16, which would make it the worst value for money horsepower upgrade in the history of horsepower upgrades, with each horsepower over and above the Veyrons 1,000hp output costing some €8,571…

I found the bolded part to be amusing!

Taken from: Bugatti rumoured to be developing a supercar faster than the Veyron

[Badsight]

they cant make another F1 !

thinking of the F1 while writing this post made me wonder what category the F1 slotted into

because its not an F1 "experience" replicator , & its not really all that practicable with that seating even tho they did add luggage space

it ended up being a supercar for sure , even now its weight & HP are hardly matched by any V12 supercars

but ive heard it was tail happy when pushed hard , & the standard roadcar version was setup for the road , not a track-day special at all . out-handeled by heavier supercars that have been made since

[Badsight]

& a V8 !!!

how can you succeed one of the most awesome road reliable V12 hyper-engine's , with a sodding V8

[CdocZ]

Originally Posted by Badsight

& a V8 !!!

how can you succeed one of the most awesome road reliable V12 hyper-engine's , with a sodding V8

Because a proper V8 can be an incredibly capable engine, and I doubt the point is to engage in a horsepower war with Bugatti or others.....

[Badsight]

im not doubting V8 potential

im dismissing the successor to one of the most awesome road V12's is the history of combustion engines being a V8

the roll-on torque of a tuned V12 has to be experienced to be believed!

no engine note compares!

[W.R.]

Is it just me or does the car in the images look far too much like a Lotec Sirius (But infinitely more boring and charisma-less). And seriously, the Bugatti extract; ever since the dawn of the Veyron, people have been speculating what will follow up, and so far nothing has been confirmed.

[Suka]

Looks very similar to those Esprit pictures from a few years back.

[LeonOfTheDead]

that should be the P11, not the next F1

[NSXType-R]

Well if they're true, Jay Leno would have a field day!

[NicFromLA]

Just remember: When the McLaren F1 first came out they had a hard time selling them.

Also to keep in mind: It doesn't matter how good a car the P11 is, you need a parts and dealership network to sell cars. The Gallardo is a great car and Lambo has access to VW's infrastructure and those cars are dying.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by NicFromLA

Just remember: When the McLaren F1 first came out they had a hard time selling them.

Also to keep in mind: It doesn't matter how good a car the P11 is, you need a parts and dealership network to sell cars. The Gallardo is a great car and Lambo has access to VW's infrastructure and those cars are dying.

they could use Mercedes' ones, as they will for as regards the engine and probably gearbox
and the Gallardo IS a VW (Audi), which is different.

[LTSmash]

Originally Posted by W.R.

And seriously, the Bugatti extract; ever since the dawn of the Veyron, people have been speculating what will follow up, and so far nothing has been confirmed.

If McLaren were to be the ones to rival Bugatti with a new supercar where its sole purpose was to topple the Veyron, I would be disappointed. Top speed is so... clichéd (I couldn't think of a better word ). This continual ‘race’ for the fastest road car is becoming an annoyance.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by LTSmash

If McLaren were to be the ones to rival Bugatti with a new supercar where its sole purpose was to topple the Veyron, I would be disappointed. Top speed is so... clichéd (I couldn't think of a better word ). This continual ‘race’ for the fastest road car is becoming an annoyance.

But if you think about it, there were just 3 cars contenting the title, the Koenigsegg, the Veyron and the SSC.
it's just all the fuxx around it.
And I don't think the rumored next F1 would be a competitor of the Veyron directly.
people assume that just ebcause the F1 has been the fastest for a long time and by a good margin, but it wasn't something they had in mind while designing it, it was a "collateral effect". sort of.

[PRC777]

Wasn't the F1's engine Naturally-Aspirated? If so, this would further separate it from most of the heavy supercars like the Veyron, wouldn't it? I would assume McLaren would build their next F1 by tradition (an NA engine).