Photo: McLaren
Here’s a rumor that appears to come back to haunt the automotive media landscape every year or so: McLaren is rumored to resurrect the F1. This time around, it’s suggested that the awe-inspiring McLaren F1 will be born again as a “hyper-GT.”
A report from Autocar puts it like this: “Autocar understands the new F1 development team has been given the goal of making the fastest GT car yet built, as opposed to a super-sports car chasing outright performance.”
As per the Track22 business plan, McLaren plans to invest £1 billion into research & development through 2022 to launch 15 all-new models or derivates. McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt declared that a spider version of the 570S is in the works, as are a handful of LT models.
Another aspect of the Track22 plan is electrification. According to the manufacturer, a fully electric system is “already in the prototype stages for evaluation in a possible future-generation Ultimate Series car. By 2022, the Track22 plan says that at least 50 percent of McLaren cars will feature hybrid technology,” following in the footsteps of the hybridized McLaren P1.
If another rumor is to be believed, a replacement for the P1 is due in 2023. Then again, McLaren hasn’t said anything official about the possibility of seeing a three-seat hyper grand tourer trickle down from the Track22 plan. Autocar may be on to something here, but I’d take it all with a pinch of salt.
An insider close to McLaren Automotive told Autocar that “the result will be the most exquisitely crafted and luxurious road-going McLaren yet made [...] The power-to-weight goal is to eclipse any other car with three seats or more. But at the same time, this will be the most refined McLaren ever sold.”
Other than three seats and the grand touring character, the future model is expected to use the proven 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8. In this application, the engine could develop “more than 700 bhp” with no electrical assistance.
UPDATE: No, the F1 won't get a successor. Mike Flewitt told Car & Driver: "We loved the F1, but we’re not going to make another one.” So yes, it was a bluff.
As per the Track22 business plan, McLaren plans to invest £1 billion into research & development through 2022 to launch 15 all-new models or derivates. McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt declared that a spider version of the 570S is in the works, as are a handful of LT models.
Another aspect of the Track22 plan is electrification. According to the manufacturer, a fully electric system is “already in the prototype stages for evaluation in a possible future-generation Ultimate Series car. By 2022, the Track22 plan says that at least 50 percent of McLaren cars will feature hybrid technology,” following in the footsteps of the hybridized McLaren P1.
If another rumor is to be believed, a replacement for the P1 is due in 2023. Then again, McLaren hasn’t said anything official about the possibility of seeing a three-seat hyper grand tourer trickle down from the Track22 plan. Autocar may be on to something here, but I’d take it all with a pinch of salt.
An insider close to McLaren Automotive told Autocar that “the result will be the most exquisitely crafted and luxurious road-going McLaren yet made [...] The power-to-weight goal is to eclipse any other car with three seats or more. But at the same time, this will be the most refined McLaren ever sold.”
Other than three seats and the grand touring character, the future model is expected to use the proven 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8. In this application, the engine could develop “more than 700 bhp” with no electrical assistance.
UPDATE: No, the F1 won't get a successor. Mike Flewitt told Car & Driver: "We loved the F1, but we’re not going to make another one.” So yes, it was a bluff.
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