Rendered Speculation: Baby McLaren to take on 911
We've been hearing about McLaren's future product onslaught for almost a year, and in addition to the F430-rivaling P11 supercar, the bespoke automaker is planning a 911-fighter to slot in underneath it. AutoExpress tapped a design firm to render the new coupe and although it comes off as a botched attempt to replicate the Audi R8 – right down to the wheels – it could give us a glimpse of what to expect.McLaren wants to increase its output by several thousand units over the next five years and the new "entry-level" supercar is where it expects to find the sales. In an effort to reduce costs, the mid-engine coupe will be based off the P11's rear-wheel-drive chassis, with motivation provided by AMG's 6.2-liter V8. Keeping size and weight in check are two of McLaren's primarily goals, so expect a footprint smaller than the R8, a composite body and plenty of aluminum. Early speculation says that around 450 hp will be transmitted to a semi-automatic gearbox (controlled with paddle shifters), with a curb weight of around 2,800 pounds. That should allow the new coupe to scoot to 60 in around 4.5 seconds and top out at 195 mph before you have to deploy the standard carbon ceramic brakes. Pricing is expected to be around £80,000 with sales beginning sometime before 2012. Thanks to all who tipped in.
[Source: AutoExpress]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Biggins 3:06PM (2/18/2009)
looks like an Audi R8 / Ferrari F430 lovechild.
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BigMcLargeHuge 3:14PM (2/18/2009)
Heck yeah it does.
Dear McLaren; this car already exists. Try again.
Sam 3:21PM (2/18/2009)
Dear autoexpress, find a better design team.
BoxerFanatic 4:05PM (2/18/2009)
PhotooooCHOP!
It is an Audi R8, with a few mcLaren-esque visual changes.
The car probably will look nothing like this, detail wise, this is just a media figment.
But a McLaren for Porsche type money... sounds very good to me.
I know for that money, it won't be as revolutionary as the Big Mac, but I hope it does change the game in some sort of a way.
RG 3:20PM (2/18/2009)
I hate when car companies do this.
They are going to create a "911 rival" sounds all well and good, another $80k sports car to make Porsche look over their shoulder is never a bad thing right?
Then the closer the car gets to production, you start to see "911 TURBO Rival" or "911 GT3 rival" which means that we are no longer in the $80k ballpark, but in the $120k ballpark.
Aston did it with the AMV8
Audi did it with the R8
While thats all well and good, I would still like to see someone go after the bread and butter of 911 sales, which I assume to be the base 911 or 911S. This would cause Porsche greater concern than releasing a model that competes with its higher end, lower production 911 models.
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RG 3:37PM (2/18/2009)
Oh, and those door vents are the most idiotic thing I've ever seen. What are they supposed to vent exactly?
gt-racer 4:12PM (2/18/2009)
The door. Duh.
':^)
zamafir 5:23PM (2/18/2009)
I'm not sure what's worse, the porsche posturing or the raping of heritage, this'll be nothing like the McLaren F1,and the posturing against the 911 confirms it. As I, and others have been saying, the F1 was what it was because of it's designer, not because of McLaren. Mercedes/Mclaren, wisely, realizes the best they can reasonably do is compete with the 911 in terms of a mid engined car. What's interesting is Audi's already doing a fine job of competing with the pricey porsches, so it begs the question, for the 911 and it's variants, R8 and its variants, etc etc in that bracket, how well can mercedes really do. We all saw how the SLR did, beautiful and fast in a straight line? sure. Competitive in initial production trim with Porsche's costing as much? No. That was never their aim. now we have a cheaper project that'll supposedly make up the gap where the SLR left off for a lot less and without Murray? Nop. Not a chance in hell. Just as American car companies need to move away from producing shadows of their original glorious cars in the form of retro remakes, so too should Mercedes/McLaren help Mercedes stop bleeding market share and get their act together on everything they sell under 100k, where they really desperately (let’s not forget they just hired hyundai’s lead designer) need help.
Quattroporte 3:21PM (2/18/2009)
It's an image imposed over a mirrored picture of an R8. Look at the background, wheels, and mirrors.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/front_website/gallery.php?id=301989
http://www.netcarshow.com/audi/2007-r8/800x600/wallpaper_01.htm
Plus, those are the headlights of an Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.
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Quattroporte 3:27PM (2/18/2009)
...headlights of A Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.
http://www.netcarshow.com/lamborghini/2009-gallardo_lp560-4/1280x960/wallpaper_03.htm
TheCleaner 3:38PM (2/18/2009)
great spotting the fact it is indeed a photo-chop of the R8 pic! so.. this surely cant be an official pic, as they are surely infringing something.
Quattroporte 3:45PM (2/18/2009)
"...botched attempt to replicate the Audi R8 – right down to the wheels..."
I should have read it a little more careefully.
Seminole 3:40PM (2/18/2009)
Autoexpress actually paid someone to design that thing?
Shoot, give me five minutes with Photoshop and I'll send them my address to mail me my check.
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ME 6:04PM (2/18/2009)
"Autoexpress actually paid someone to design that thing?"
Yea, these people: http://www.beyond-form.com
From their website:
"Beyond-form offers the complete modern design service. We work with a variety of clients from magazine viuals, to bodykits, and full sketch and design programmes...All work is undertaken with the strictest of confidence."
What a crock. They make it sound like they do actual design work. With all the made-up photohacks they do no one would trust them to do actual design work, they would probably send it to Autoexpress before they showed it to the "client".
end rant...
Quattroporte 3:46PM (2/18/2009)
"I should have read it a little more careefully."
Just like I should have checked my spelling more carefully.
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Quattroporte 3:48PM (2/18/2009)
Just like I should have been more careful to click the reply button for the above comment. I must be tired today, sorry.
Steve 4:07PM (2/18/2009)
Its truly amazing that someone actually got paid of this R8/Gallardo mashup. Wish my job was that easy.
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phunkyphoxx 4:08PM (2/18/2009)
I know that one. It's a Ferorsche R8 :D
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fujia 4:26PM (2/18/2009)
The fight to the 911 has already been won....GTR.
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Mobius_1 4:45PM (2/18/2009)
Fact is, everyone is gunning for the 911, which just reinforces that the 911 is the best, the benchmark of the ~$80k everyday supercar territory, with a heritage no other carmaker can match.
Good luck, McLaren, you'll need it.
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