Deviants: Roadster, racing versions of McLaren P11 to follow
Although McLaren's next supercar is expected to be very different from the SLR, the company made in conjunction with Mercedes-Benz, one element will carry over: derivatives. It's one thing that the SLR cannot seem to let go of, breeding six different versions so far, and the upcoming P11 supercar is anticipated to breed at least a couple of versions of its own.
Predictably, the first will likely be a convertible. If Frank Stephenson designs the P11 with a drop-top variant in mind from the start, both models should benefit structurally. The second is anticipated to be a racing version, and although the original McLaren F1 begat a highly successful GTR version (and subsequently re-road-ized LM model), the SLR never went racing despite breeding a track-oriented 722 GT version. A racing-spec McLaren P11 (or whatever name it is eventually given) could prove highly successful in a sportscar racing series, however, it would likely be offered as a customer car instead of a factory works team so as not to distract McLaren from its never-ending pursuit of the Formula One championship, which it is leading now but incredibly it has not won since 1999.
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ik 2:22PM (9/01/2008)
how would you feel if you bought a car
and your neighbor bought the exact same thing
that's what rich people go through all the time
only with cars like the SLR
that's why there needs to be many derivatives
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JD 3:01PM (9/01/2008)
This is just wrong. They need to forget this whole thing, wait until Gordon is done with his little city car project, and let him start from scratch. The racing version I'm not opposed to, but a ragtop McLaren is just wrong.
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BoxerFanatic 1:02AM (9/02/2008)
I'd rather they build the car correctly, rather than adaptable... read: compromised.
McLaren F1 doesn't have an ounce of compromise. If this is just going to be SLR Mk II... color me less impressed with that premise.
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issalias 10:30PM (9/01/2008)
"not to distract McLaren from its never-ending pursuit of the Formula One championship, which it is leading now".... what the ???
Ferrari has been leading the constructors' championship the entire year!!!
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