McLaren ARTURA SPIDER, page #8

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McLaren 570S Spider Canada Commission is for our northern neighbors

McLaren's MSO custom division seems to stay quite busy. Every few months they seem to have a new special configuration to offer buyers. Sometimes they're a bit silly or unimpressive, but other times they create something really unique and cool. This McLaren 570S Spider falls into the latter category. It's called the Canada Commission, and the company will build just five of them exclusively for our northern neighbors. What makes it a Canadian Commission is primarily the unique color scheme. It's painted white, and the various carbon fiber accents are finished with a translucent red finish. In addition, it has white accent stripes along the side sills and on the rear diffuser. A white maple leaf appears on the back ahead of the spoiler, and on either side sill where the car's typical "570S" logo would go. Inside the custom Canadian contraption are even more white and red accents amidst the black interior. The headliner is red as is the steering wheel. On the top of the steering wheel is a white stripe indicating the 12 o'clock position. There are other maple leaf accents scattered about the interior, too. As we mentioned, the Canada Commission 570S Spider is just for Canadians. Three examples will go to McLaren's Toronto dealer, and one each will go to the Montreal and Vancouver locations. It will also cost just over $353,000 Canadian, which comes to about $280,000 American. That's over $70,000 more than a plain roadster. But hey, it's really exclusive, and a pretty cool custom edition. We're sure McLaren won't have trouble selling them. Related Video: Image Credit: McLaren Design/Style McLaren Convertible Performance Supercars mclaren special operations mso mclaren 570s spider

McLaren EV supercar: Here's the math that says it's 5-10 years off

It emerged last December that McLaren had built an all-electric testbed for a future EV supercar, to go along with the English automaker's $1.4 billion investment in electrified powertrains. But as we told you a few weeks ago, McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt said that such a car was, as a practical matter, years away from production. Now COO Jens Ludmann has put some numbers to the carmaker's quest, saying, "[The] Senna has 800 PS [Pferdestarke] on 1,200 kg, that's about the power to weight that we're looking for." He's talking about 789 horsepower in a package lighter than a base Honda Civic Coupe. The issue isn't energy capacity, it's energy density. Said Ludmann, "[The] battery technology should achieve 500 watt-hours per kilogram. That is a level where it really makes sense. Today we are around 180 watt-hours per kilogram." McLaren Engineering provides batteries for Formula E rated at 216 Wh/kg, but those packs aren't suitable for a consumer road car. According to what the company's learned from the battery industry, we're 5 to 10 years away from 500 watt-hours per kilogram for a roadworthy vehicle. In 2015 Rimac unveiled a battery it made for the Koenigsegg Regera. Said to be the most energy-dense car battery at the time, it boasted a power-to-weigh ratio of 60 Wh/kg. Figure that the battery industry's adding 40 Wh/kg per year — which gets us from 2015 to Ludmann's 180 Wh/kg current state of affairs. Using that measure, we're 8-10 years away from 500 Wh. McLaren wants its theoretical EV owner to be able to do 30 minutes or 10 hard laps at the track, be "as exciting as a 675LT," and recharge in 30 minutes for another half-hour track session. That battery would need exceptionally high energy density, and the cells and electronics would need to stand up to constant high power output and extreme discharge cycles. To enable that with today's battery tech, you'd end up with a vehicle that could do 500 miles in everyday road use, be far too heavy for McLaren's aims, and take far too long to charge. Ludmann told Wheels magazine everything else about the EV supercar is "all resolved — easy." While we dig in for what could be a lengthy wait, we'll have to be satisfied with the McLaren hybrids that should start showing up in a couple of years. Related Video:

McLaren 570S Spider gets new lightweight track pack for $24,000

The McLaren 570S Spider is one of the most versatile sports cars around. It's fast, comfortable and practical, but it's slightly less capable from the factory than its fixed-roof brethren. McLaren is changing that with a new lightweight track pack. It's similar to the one on the 570S Coupe and shaves nearly 73 pounds from the car. That said, at more than $24,000, it's not exactly the cheapest way to go on a diet. According to McLaren, 10 percent of 570S coupe owners opt for the track pack. Carbon fiber is the name of the game here. Inside, Alcantara-wrapped carbon-fiber seats shave 29 pounds from the car. These are paired with a Alcantara steering wheel with carbon-fiber spokes and shift paddles. The doors, center console, and infotainment system all have carbon-fiber trim, too. All track pack models are fitted with McLaren's Track Telemetry system. On the outside, the 570S Spider track pack gets a Dark Palladium-painted roof and lightweight 10-spoke forged alloy wheels with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa summer tires. Those wheels save 33 pounds in total. Customers can option some carbon-fiber trim pieces, too. The 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 breathes a little easier thanks to a new titanium exhaust system. McLaren doesn't say how much power it adds, but it should at least make the car a little louder. Related Video: Featured Gallery McLaren 570S Spider Track Pack Design/Style McLaren Convertible Luxury Performance mclaren 570s mclaren 570s spider

Here are this year's top 5 automaker April Fools’ jokes

April 1 is the wonderful day when PR departments really push themselves to top the zany jokes they came up with the previous year. And it's not just fast-food chains competing with each other, or breweries announcing they have released stuff like a fermented herring flavored beer: carmakers' media teams rarely miss out on the opportunity to play a little joke on their audience. Here are a few of our favorites from this year:1) Porsche Porsche announced that it's launching a Mission E tractor, styled to resemble its 1950s tractor models. "With a power output in excess of 700hp, the Mission E Tractor will be the fastest accelerating agricultural vehicle in the world, enabling farmers to harvest crops in record time with the added environmental benefits of zero emissions at source and significantly reduced operating noise."2) Lexus Lexus actually jumped the gun, telling us on March 28 that it's combining cars and drivers using DNA matching. The kicker was that with DNA-matched cars, owners would be able to start their Lexuses by licking the steering wheel.3) McLaren Automotive McLaren said it's boosting efficiency by quite eccentric measures, such as measuring the technology center's lake and floor tiles daily, and by synchronizing the staff's tea breaks.4) BMW Motorrad BMW's motorcycle arm is solving parts availability issues in remote locations by offering a 3D printer mounted permanently on the bike's rack: If you need to replace a broken-off gear lever, you can just print one. "The new system will mean that even very rarely required parts not generally stocked by BMW Motorrad sales partners can be supplied on a just-in-time basis." BMW even went to the lengths of announcing that the "BMW Motorrad iPart 3D Mobile Printer" was tested on the Antarctic, by erecting a tent whose poles were produced onsite.5) Honda Last but not least, Honda UK purportedly cut the roof off a new CR-V, calling it the CR-V Roadster. Tellingly, no convertible top was even offered for the concept, "making it a no-top rather than a drop-top. This innovative design makes it a vehicle purely for sunnier climates and therefore completely useless for the two-day British summer which traditionally occurs in May."Related Video: Featured Gallery Top 5 April Fools 2018 Image Credit: Porsche Green Humor Weird Car News BMW Honda Lexus McLaren Porsche bmw motorrad mclaren automotive

McLaren 720S on a rutted dirt trail presents many questions

Supercars are capable of many amazing things, but those generally require pavement. Anything other than glassy smooth tarmac is liable to end in disaster for low, stiff speed machines. And yet, this Dutch duo defied the odds, taking a McLaren 720S where probably no 720S has gone before. Or really, should go. As seen above, this McLaren 720S somehow ended up on a somewhat rutted, undulating dirt road, and one of those ruts halted its progress altogether. As such, the passenger hopped out, and revealed that he should be a professional off-road spotter. He seems to be giving directions on where to maneuver the sports car so that the dangerously low front spoiler doesn't get wedged in the dirt and snapped off. It's amazing to see it come through without so much as a light scrape across the dirt. The thing is, as impressive as this feat is, we're left with so many questions. Where were these guys going that required driving on a dirt road like this? And if they knew they were going to be on a dirt road like this, why drive a McLaren 720S? Surely a person with the means to own a 720S owns other vehicles with greater ground clearance. Also, was this the only obstacle they had to overcome? Did they make it to their destination with an unscathed car? Is this actually the Netherlands' answer to the Rubicon trail? We may never know the fate of the marvelous mystery McLaren crew, but we hope the best for them. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Image Credit: YouTube / AUTONEWS MD McLaren Coupe Supercars Videos mclaren 720s

McLaren F1 team finds perfect sponsor for the Halo: A flip-flop maker

If you can't hide it, embrace it. When the Halo safety device was mandated for Formula One cars this year, many were quick to draw parallels with the structure's eccentric looks and a flip-flop shoe. Now it seems McLaren is in on the joke, as it has joined forces with a flip-flop manufacturer. Next week, McLaren's cars will feature on their halos a prominent logo for Gandys, a British lifestyle brand known for its flip-flops. There's a charity involved, as 10 percent of Gandys' profits go to an orphans support foundation called Orphans For Orphans; the Forkan brothers behind the brand started Gandys after losing their parents in the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami. And it's not just about a sticker on a racing car, since Gandys and McLaren will launch a limited-run "Halo Edition" flip-flop model, with all profits going to the aforementioned foundation. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. McLaren's CMO, John Allert says: "The placement of the logo on the MCL33's Halo was not only perfect from a branding perspective, but also a great opportunity to underline Gandys' charitable commitment to providing a safer, more protective environment for those at risk." Related Video: Image Credit: McLaren Humor Motorsports Weird Car News McLaren Racing Vehicles halo

McLaren granted trademark for ‘McLaren GT,’ but is it even a car?

Last year McLaren Automotive Limited applied to trademark the name "McLaren GT" in the U.S. and the UK. Last week the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the request. It's tempting to wonder if we're looking at the name of the new McLaren monster car, the three-seat road-going Ultimate Series offering so far known as BP23. McLaren has, after all, called the coupe a "Hyper-GT" in an official press release. There are two hitches to making that connection, though. The first and weakest hitch is that last month, Autocar reported that McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt said he wanted proper names for the company's Ultimate Series cars, "rather than an alphanumeric designation." The Senna was the first under that regime. Yes, we could consider "GT" a name, and there are no numbers involved. Yet that would be a pretty bland follow-up to the Senna, especially a follow-up that's meant to be the new capstone on what McLaren can do, faster than the 243-mile-per-hour F1 and more powerful than the P1. The second, more compelling hitch comes in the line describing what the trademark is for: "Retail store services featuring motor land vehicles." That pinpoints a different use than a road car trademark. McLaren's P1, 650S, 12C Spider, Spider, and Longtail trademark applications are all for "Motor land vehicles, namely, automobiles, and structural parts therefor." McLaren GT, on the other hand, appears to be some kind of storefront that will sell those cars. The trademark for "Jaguar Racing" is also for stores selling cars, among other things, and the trademark for McLaren Qualified applies to "Retail store services featuring pre-owned vehicles." Perhaps this is part of a future dealer initiative or rebranding effort. Or maybe it's nothing, you know how trademarks go. Does this mean the new hypercar won't be called "McLaren GT?" No. But we'll need more clues and a stronger case to make the call either way.

New McLaren hybrid hypercar will be company's fastest ever

We've reported earlier that the upcoming McLaren Ultimate Series "Hyper-GT" BP23 will be a seriously fast machine. Today, McLaren set a top speed target for it: The limited-edition hybrid hypercar will surpass the legendary McLaren F1 from the 1990s. That car reached the top speed of 243 mph, or 391 km/h; it appears the manufacturer wants the new car to hit or exceed 400 km/h. Maybe it'll even top 250 mph. The indicated 243 mph speed illustrated in the teaser sketch is a nice touch. The BP23 will hit the highest top speed of any McLaren yet. It will feature nods to the original McLaren F1 in several ways, including the centrally mounted driver seat flanked with passenger seats. That 106-unit production run also refers to the original F1 road car's sales figure. The finished vehicles will all be done to any specific customer's taste, as they will be seen through by McLaren's Special Operations division. McLaren is still keeping a few surprises to itself, as the actual top speed along with the BP23's actual name will be revealed closer to the car's unveiling. McLaren also hints the name will be something more special "rather than an alphanumeric nomenclature." This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Related Video: Featured Gallery McLaren Ultimate Series BP23 Image Credit: McLaren Automotive Green McLaren Coupe Future Vehicles Hybrid Performance mclaren automotive mclaren bp23 mclaren hybrid

McLaren's MSO makes this 720S supercar even more super

McLaren has brought a special edition of its already stunning and supremely quick 720S supercar to this year's Geneva Motor Show. Designed by McLaren Special Operations, this one-of-a-kind creation is finished in "Atlantic Blue" paint and comes with a tastefully understated "Saddle Tan" leather interior with contrasting grey stitching. To drive the point home that this car is unique, McLaren's press release offers the gentle reminder that "even the floor mats are bespoke." So, don't expect to find suitably stylish replacements at your local NAPA auto parts store, ladies and gentlemen. McLaren's MSO branch is basically the British automaker's tailor-made service for its range of performance cars. Oftentimes the creations are true one-offs, entirely commissioned by well-heeled clientele who want their car to stand out from the masses. Not that McLaren creations are exactly clogging up parking lots, but, hey, if you have it then why not flaunt it? MSO does occasionally build a limited series of vehicles, like the 10 race-inspired 570S sports cars finished in paint jobs similar to the liveries of McLaren F1 GTR race cars from the 1990s. If you have to ask the price, well, then you probably shouldn't be shopping for customized McLarens. The standard McLaren 720S starts at approximately $288,000, putting it right in the middle of the company's lineup. Considering the owner of the Geneva Motor Show car didn't specify gold-flake fenders, or an interior constructed out of platinum-plated Lego blocks, it's safe to assume this car doesn't streak too ridiculously far into the fiscal stratosphere. Engine power remains the same. The twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 nestled in the carbon fiber chassis produces 710 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. Punch the gas pedal, and the 720S needs less than 3.0 seconds to sprint from 0 to 60 miles per hour. The top speed is 212 mph. And did we mention how incredibly fast all this feels in real life? In our review of this ballistic British supercar, Mike Austin summed up just how rapid your first impression will be. "The 720S is so fast that there's no warming up to it. Almost immediately you're driving at speeds that, in pretty much any other car would mean imminent calamity." He also praised the fact that getting the most out of the 720S demands attention and skill, not just a heavy right foot. "In our world of point-and-shoot supercars," he summarized, "McLaren made the 720S a true driver's car." So the car is special.

McLaren's electric supercars are not quite there yet

While Rimac is all about electric supercars and has just revealed its outrageous-sounding 1,914-horsepower C_Two car at the Geneva Motor Show, McLaren is cautious about producing an EV quite yet. Hybrids are far more suitable for McLaren's immediate need than launching a full electric vehicle, says McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt. In an interview with Autocar, Flewitt says McLaren's electric portfolio is still very much in development, and that one in two McLarens sold in 2022 is to be a hybrid. But it wouldn't be right for the brand to launch a half-baked, full-electric supercar, and McLaren's standard is that any EV would have to offer performance equal to its existing cars. "It's a challenge for us to produce the same engagement as with the P1, the Senna and the 675 LT," says Flewitt. Earlier, he has stated that for an electric supercar to match the P1's performance, it would have to weigh two tons. EV development, however, is still on track, and McLaren has "an electric mule running around." For the company, getting the desired electric performance in a production-viable package is still at least five years away, Flewitt says. "It's not in [ the Track22 plan] because we don't have an answer yet." McLaren is a lot more positive about hybrids. Flewitt says hybrid tech is a lot easier to integrate into a powertrain design, making it integral instead of bolt-on. As he said a month ago: "Hybrid design is part of the next platform. It is designed-in from day one rather than having to adapt an existing chassis." Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: AutocarImage Credit: AOL/Drew Phillips Green Geneva Motor Show McLaren Coupe Electric Future Vehicles Hybrid Performance Supercars 2018 Geneva Motor Show mclaren automotive Rimac mclaren hybrid