All-new McLaren P11 supercar to be re-sketched
Author: Chris Barker
Published: 29 August 2008
The all-new McLaren P11 supercar is aiming for the Ferrari F430 Scuderia and Porsche GT2 territory. And with a rumoured 0 – 62mph in sub-four seconds and a top end that sees 200mph in the rear view mirror, you can’t argue.However, the McLaren P11 design was supposedly set in stone. Or rather an extremely light moon-landing material. Or so we thought. That was before new styling chief Frank Stephenson got in on the act and decided he wanted to make his own McLaren mark.From the moment he stretches his legs out beneath the McLaren design table, the former BMW, Mini and Ferrari designer will be busy, as McLaren push forward very grand ideas indeed. Stephenson will need to brush up on his cat stroking skills and evil genius expressions as much as his CAD skills, as McLaren roll out a plan for supercar domination from 2009.Once the McLaren P11 is signed off, there’s the small matter of a family of supercars to get stuck into the design of. Tough job some people have. Sources say that all the engineering for a forthcoming supercar range is in place, but the styling is open to suggestion.
As far as the McLaren P11 though, and the concern is more immediate. This unforeseen design rescheduling has pushed back the supercar’s launch date – the first since the McLaren F1 – from this year to later in 2009.The images of the P11 that have been floating around thus far will bear no credence on the finished article according to insiders, although the running gear will remain unchanged. Therefore a 550bhp Mercedes-Benz 6.2-litre AMG lump linked to a double-clutch transmission will power the all-new McLaren beast.Two of the briefs Stephenson will earn his crust from will be a McLaren P11 convertible and a 600bhp plus V10-powered GTR race version. It’s a dog’s life being a car designer isn’t it.
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