The McLaren F1 supercar was built between 1994 and 1997 in a production run of 100 vehicles. Of that number, 72 were registered as road versions. Former Brabham designer, Gordon Murray, developed the bodywork of the McLaren F1. The car is a three-seater. The driver sits in the middle of the cockpit and passengers can enjoy the ride sitting slightly to the rear on each side. The XP 5 McLaren F1 prototype was until 2005 the world's fastest production road car with a true top speed of 386.4 km/h (240.1mph).
As English sports car manufacturer, McLaren, and the German car manufacturer, Mercedes, again go their separate ways, two home-grown super cars are launched. Mercedes is unveiling its SLS AMG at the IAA in Frankfurt and McLaren has responded promptly with the MP4-12C. You could call the whole thing a quickie divorce, as the McLaren will pump out a mighty 1,200bhp. The marriage is over -it's time for them to let their hair down!
The MP4-12C, engine included, was developed completely by McLaren. The English company has used its vast experience gained in Formula1 to construct this in-house model. McLaren is laying down the gauntlet to all its competitors, like Ferrari, Porsche and of course, Mercedes. There's only room for two people in the bucket seats but they're guaranteed that Formula1 experience.
The legend of the Silver Arrows was born on 3rd June 1934 when the W 25 made its racing debut at the Nürburgring after having its paintwork stripped off overnight to reveal the aluminium bodywork underneath. 75 years later, the W 25 returned to the birthplace of the Silver Arrow mystique to celebrate its own jubilee along with four other Mercedes-Benz racing cars. Shortly before the start of the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, Pedro de la Rosa (W 25), Bernd Schneider (W 125), David Coulthard (MP4-13), Alexander Wurz (W 145) and Niki Lauda (W 196) drove one lap around the GP circuit in the Eifel forest. On the Thursday leading up to the GP weekend, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Pilot Lewis Hamilton had already driven a W 25 all the way around the famous Nordschleife (North Loop).
Following Ron Dennis's departure from the Formula One scene, he has been preoccupied with his next dream project as CEO of McLaren Automotive. The former McLaren team principal not only plans to design the best sports cars in the world but, of course, to actually sell them. Despite the global downturn that has almost brought the automotive industry to its knees, Ron Dennis is still intent on realising his pioneering ideas.
He has put in a planning application with the local council in Woking (Surrey) for a new high-volume plant that will produce 20 vehicles per day using ultra-modern technology. This is expected to create 800 jobs in the factory itself with a further 1,500 in the local economy. What may seem like a crazy undertaking in the current economic climate.
McLaren boss Ron Dennis has both eyes firmly fixed on Ferrari for two reasons. First of all, the team is counting on winning the Formula 1 World Championships again this season with Lewis Hamilton.
At the same time, the Brit is keeping a close eye on the Italians' 60 years experience with their road cars, as Ferrari have been able to constantly increase sales of production cars on the back of racing successes. Dennis would also like to increase sales of McClaren road vehicles and the plan is to boost annual sales from the current 100 exclusive vehicles to 1,000 units by the year 2011. In the long-term, it is intended to even raise the figure to as many as 4,000 per annum. Dennis sees investments in such capacities as an expensive risk and has indicated that production could be outsourced to an independent coachbuilder.
On Friday McLaren launched the car it will campaign in the 2009 FIA Formula 1 World Championship at its headquarters in Woking, England. At the launch of the new McLaren Mercedes MP4-24, Ron Dennis announced that he would pass the role of Team Principal to Martin Whitmarsh on March 1st. Whitmarsh will therefore lead the team of Lewis Hamilton at grands prix from this season onwards.
Unveiled by world champion Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen, the new MP4-24 bears little resemblance to its world championship-winning predecessor due to the introduction of a raft of new rules that have reshaped Formula 1 ahead of the 2009 season.
The team has already completed two MP4-24 chassis and begins publicly testing at the Autodromo do Algarve circuit in Portugal on Monday. Test driver Pedro de la Rosa will conduct the first two days before Lewis (Wednesday) and Heikki (Thursday) sample the car.
Everyone agrees you can never have too much power under the bonnet, whether in a sports car, a luxury limousine or an SUV. Whilst Mercedes displayed their entire AMG fleet directly alongside their eco-models in Bologna, they relegated the large SUVs to the second row and even the Maybach was found a more discreet home. But this allowed the SLR McLaren 722 GT, produced in limited numbers for the racing circuit, to take the limelight.
Audi followed the same policy as Mercedes, tucking the Q7 V12 TDI away in a corner, but gave the R8 a more prominent position. BMW weren't at the show anyway. But this made Brabus all the more visible with its Rocket 6.3 S Biturbo. Based on the Mercedes CLS and packing a mighty 730 bhp and 1,320 Nm (974 lb-ft of torque), it is absolutely not politically correct. But who cares? The Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed was also there, boasting a far from miserly 610 bhp, and the Americans had brought over the Corvette ZR1 which has 620 super-charged horsepower under the bonnet. Exotic species such as the Pagani Zonda F and the six-wheeled Covini C6W also raised the level of excitement.
At the next Detroit Auto Show, a star will be born: Mercedes Benz plan to steal the show with the 2009 McLaren SLR Stirling Moss. This boldly styled racer is the last vehicle scheduled to be built in the context of the partnership between Mercedes and McLaren. The price tag will be around 750,000 euros and only 75 will go on sale. The bodywork for this tribute to the legendary Formula 1 driver will be made of carbon fibre. The turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 engine packing a mighty 650bhp is the same one that has already been used to power the SLR 722.
They have also instituted a few cost-cutting measures, i.e. there is no roof or windscreen. The car reaches a top speed of 217mph and goes from 0 to 100kph in just 3.5 seconds. Other unique features are the swing-wing doors, a retractable air brake and a two-piece protective cover that is stowed in the boot. Check out the gallery for a foretaste of what's in store for Detroit 2009...
The F1 drivers' championship of 2008 was probably the most exciting seen in recent years. During the course of the 16 races on the calendar, there were some real highlights, and at various stages, different contenders headed the leader board. Despite the length of the season, the destination of the trophy was decided only on the final corner of the final lap in Brazil.
We saw Felipe Massa cross the finishing line as the winner – and his whole family hugging each other with delight in the Ferrari garage. But the Brazilian had the title within his grasp for only a few seconds before there was a total reversal in fortunes as Timo Glock slowed down to a snail's pace and Lewis Hamilton snatched back a place – enough to give the young Briton the 2008 title. Now it was the turn of the McLaren-Mercedes team to launch into wild celebrations with Hamilton's girlfriend dancing around in the middle.
In the video 'Down to the Final Corner', you can follow the decisive minutes and watch a mini-review of the whole season encapsulated in eight short minutes. It's a collection of ups and downs, triumphs and disasters plus highlights and sensational incidents from an action-packed season. With all the changes due to come into effect in next year, we have every reason to expect the 2009 season to be just as thrilling. Who knows? Maybe it will fill a nine-minute video next time round.
No scriptwriter could have come up with a more thrilling last few laps of the 2008 season than was served up by Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa and two German bit-part players.
A roar goes up from a hundred thousand throats on the packed grandstands of the Autodromo Carlos Pace. Felipe Massa takes the chequered flag, wins his home race and seems to have accomplished the impossible - the championship miracle of Sao Paulo. As they enter the last lap of the season's grand finale, Sebastian Vettel overtakes Massa's rival for the title, Lewis Hamilton, pushing him down to sixth position and, at the same time, out of the record books.
But the jubilation on the terraces and the exuberant celebrations by Massa's family in the Ferrari garage are abruptly cut short. Just 22 seconds after Massa's victory comes the next miracle: on the long turn leading into the home straight, Lewis Hamilton passes Timo Glock to cross the finishing line as new world champion.
"My heart was practically bursting. I don't know how I managed to keep my cool", said Hamilton. He could barely grasp what had happened or express it in words. "At the last corner I managed to get past Timo Glock and I'm telling you it was just amazing. I can only thank God." It was his dream come true.
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