Category: McLaren

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Apple offers $2.5B for McLaren Technology Group

Less than a fortnight after reports that Apple had laid off a large number of employees from it's Titan Automotive project, the Financial Times reports Apple has been linked with a £1.5bn (AUD$2.5bn) deal to buy McLaren Technology Group, the Formula One team owner and supercar maker, citing three unnamed sources.

Apple has been attempting to develop its own car for a while now with the car team said to boast upwards of 800 members before the recent layoffs took effect, so this would appear to be a huge change of direction.

As far as electric vehicle IP is concerned, McLaren have good form. Not only have they built and raced their own A123 based KERS system in Formula One since 2009, and manufactured the McLaren P1 hybrid hyper car since 2013 but McLaren are also the official powertrain (motor, gearbox & power electronics) supplier for Formula E. On the embedded electronics side they also supply a control ECU to several motorsport championships including Formula One and NASCAR.

So far both companies have denied the story but there are obvious similarities between this potential tie-up between Apple & McLaren and the route Tesla Motors followed to get it's first car into production, working with another Formula One team with a sports car business, Lotus.

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Laguna Seca Shoot-Out: McLaren P1 vs. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder [VIDEO]

Two 900 hp plug-in hybrids, the McLaren P1 versus the Porsche 918 Spyder.

Both of these cars have carbon fiber tubs and body panels. Both have small displacement, high revving V-8s packed between their passenger compartments and rear axles. Both use twin-clutch transmissions, carbon ceramic brakes, and active aerodynamics. Both have roughly 900 hp.

With the help of pro racing driver Randy Pobst, Motor Trend find out which one is fastest around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca!

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Chris Harris – McLaren P1 Hybrid [VIDEO]

Chris Harris takes the McLaren P1 hybrid hypercar for a drive around the UK in typical wet British weather.

The car is obviously a gorgeous piece of automotive engineering but watching this video you could be forgiven for forgetting the P1 is a hybrid. Unfortunately no mention is made of the electric powertrain until the last minute of the film when Harris hits E-mode for a short demo.

Better late than never, as the saying goes!

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Chris Harris drives the McLaren P1 Hybrid on Road and Track [VIDEO]

Chris Harris drives the new $1.2 million McLaren P1 at the Yas Marina Grand Prix circuit in Abu Dhabi UAE. Before taking to the track at night, Chris Harris chats with Chris Goodwin, the Chief Test Driver for McLaren Automotive to discuss the technology of McLaren's latest offering, perhaps the definition of the modern day hypercar.

Fair warning, the McLaren Chris Harris drives in this video is the XP7, the pre-production prototype for P1. The car has had a long life over the past 15 months, driving around the world and clocking over 40,000 hard miles.

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Bugatti Veyron Hybrid in the works? “Maybe”

Despite rumours of faster, more-powerful and even 4 door version of the Bugatti Veyron, company boss Dr Wolfgang Schreiber has exclusively revealed to Top Gear none of the above will become reality.

With McLaren's P1, Porsche 918 and LaFerrari hypercars all sporting battery powered assistance, what's the brief for the next Veyron? Will the Veyron, like it's rivals utilise hybrid power in pursuit of ultimate speed?

"Maybe," smiles Dr Schreiber. "But it's too early to open the door and show you what we have planned".

We'll take that as a "Yes".

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Spark-Renault SRT_01E Formula E race car to debut in Frankfurt

Spark Racing Technology has announced plans to introduce their Spark-Renault SRT_01E Formula E race car at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 10th.

Set to become one the most prominent race cars in the series, the SRT_01E has a Dallara-designed monocoque chassis that is constructed out of carbon fiber and aluminum. The model also features aerodynamic styling and bespoke Michelin tires that are specifically designed to last the entire race.

While the McLaren-sourced electric powertrain can produce up to 270 bhp (200 kW), it will be limited to 180 bhp (133 kW) during races. However, drivers can use a 'Push-to-Pass' system which temporary allows the car to harness its full potential. This should enable the model to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in approximately three seconds and hit an FIA-limited top speed of 225 km/h (140 mph).

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$1.2m hybrid McLaren P1 almost sold out in the UAE

Nineteen of the 20 Formula 1-inspired McLaren P1 cars set to be delivered to the UAE have already been sold ahead of its arrival in November. Local dealer Al Habtoor Motors has said it is hoping to...

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McLaren P1 Hybrid Supercar tested to extremes [VIDEO]

With only a few months remaining until the first deliveries will be made to just 375 customers, the development programme for the McLaren P1™ continues to accelerate as it nears its end. This...

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