McLAREN F1 ROAD CAR - INTRODUCTION
The philosophy behind the F1 road car was simple - to be the finest drivers’ car ever built, or ever likely to be built...
This meant producing a car not only with outstanding performance but one versatile and usable as an everyday vehicle.
FORMULA 1 TECHNOLOGY
The McLaren F1 benefits from World Championship Formula One technology and experience and is the world’s first production road car to feature an all carbon composite monocoque and body structure.
This unique material combines the low weight necessary for performance with exceptional strength to exceed demanding industry safety requirements.
POWERTRAIN
McLaren Automotive commissioned the BMW S70/2 engine, designed and built specifically for the F1. This 6.1 litre, quad-cam, 48-valve V12 power unit produces no less than 627 bhp and drives through a bespoke six-speed transaxle gearbox.
RADICAL DESIGN FEATURES
- Central driving position
- ‘Ground-Plane Shear' suspension geometry’
- Intelligent brake cooling
- Fan-assisted ground-effect aerodynamics
These and many more simply amplify the F1's purity as the ultimate "drivers’ car".
Each McLaren F1, tailor-made to the owners’ personal specification, featured as standard full air conditioning, a superb ultra lightweight CD stereo system and exclusive hand-made luggage in soft leather.
In March 1998, the F1 confirmed that it is the fastest production car in the world, achieving a record top speed of 240.14mph. This was a record it held until March 2005.
This achievement was made all the more spectacular by the fact that the McLaren F1 was never conceived to achieve this record. It was merely a consequence of its unrivalled focus and supreme engineering as the ultimate drivers’ car.
