The Big Mac: British design student pens McLaren F1 successor
McLaren LM5 design study by Matt Williams – Click above for image gallery
Since hiring Frank Stephenson as its styling chief last year, the nascent McLaren Automotive hasn't been lacking for design talent. But the general consensus over his first design at Woking seems to be that the MP4-12C is missing a touch of originality to set it apart from other supercars. Enter one Matt Williams, a recent graduate of the transportation design program at England's Coventry University who thinks he can do a better job with the study you see here.
Positioned above the MP4-12C in McLaren's product porfolio, the LM5 concept is envisioned as a successor to the venerable McLaren F1. That means three seats across, with a central driving position. That means power provided by BMW's M division; a retuned version of company's soon-to-be-retired 5.0-liter V10 in this case. And of course, that means epic performance. Unfortunately, it's just a concept car, extant only in the clay and CAD. So for now, we'll just have to sit and wait to see what Stephenson and his colleagues at McLaren cook up next, admiring the images in the gallery below in the meantime.
[Source: Diseno-art.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TKE 1:23PM (10/15/2009)
Uh... no. This is more 90s than the McLaren was.
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Craig 1:24PM (10/15/2009)
Beautiful! Love it... The main reason I wasn't completely taken by the new McLaren is that it's laking a lot of the features that made the F1 so original.
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Mark 1:24PM (10/15/2009)
So basically, he took the original F1 and made it a bit more cartoon-y. How is that original?
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mubs 1:25PM (10/15/2009)
Wow!
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Taglane 1:29PM (10/15/2009)
That is ugly as hell!
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Gruv 1:30PM (10/15/2009)
FYI Autoblog, that is a concept done by a student. Generally student projects aren't really involved with the "real" company at all. Hence, I doubt he has any "colleagues" @ McLaren.
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SteveDC 2:07PM (10/15/2009)
If you paid any attention to what you were reading instead of looking for a reason to be a jackass you'd realize that you're the one who is incorrect here. The line you refer to says:
"So for now, we'll just have to sit and wait to see what Stephenson and his colleagues..."
Now, refer back to the reference to the student:
"Enter one Matt Williams, a recent graduate of the transportation design program at England's Coventry University..."
See the problem there? Now look at one more sentence:
"Since hiring Frank Stephenson as its styling chief last year, the nascent McLaren Automotive..."
So there we have it. Mr. Joseph was referring to the colleagues of Styling Chief, Frank Stephenson, not graduate student Matt Williams.
Thanks for playing. Better luck next time.
Autblogist! 1:33PM (10/15/2009)
Well he couldn't get much more boring than the MPC- R2d2123, er whatever it's called. I'd take a Ferrari over the new Mclaren, just based on looks, in that price range, performance is given so why buy an ugly, boring supercar.
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BoxerFanatic 3:24PM (10/15/2009)
Actually, I couldn't disagree much more.
The MC4-12C is much more subtle, that is true. but where it is simple, it is also *right.* (although I would probably put dymag or BBS CH-R forged wheels on it...)
It is actually one of the few cars that has ever "grown" on me, the more I look at it. Usually my first impression stays intact. I originally thought the car was unassuming, but not ugly. The subtlety is showing it to be a good design, even if it isn't screaming out at you.
I am a big fan of mid-engined V8 Ferraris, but the F458 is ugly, and almost as cartoonish as this design study big Mac. The lines don't fit, nor do they flow on the new Ferrari designs. This design study, AND the new Ferrari lineup, 599, Cali, and 458, all seem like design school thesis work, meant to be avant garde for just the sake of being avant garde. I prefer form to follow function more closely.
The lines on the MC4-12C are far more simple, and graceful than even the car's NAME. And I have a feeling that another color, like blue, or slate grey might suit the car more than the burnt orange of the first set of press photos. An accent color on the dividing blade in the side scoop might also spice it up a bit, somewhat like the "blade" on an Audi R8.
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The rendering on topic here has good surface development, but over-all, is a bit too fictional. and too bulky in the fenders, especially the rear. The original big Mac was not that drastically flared, and was a very compactly built car.
The rear quarter visibility is also very poor by being purposely cut off by bodywork. The front end is also too busy, too angularly angry, and there is no need for a heat extractor vent in the front bonnet cover, if anything it may need an air intake for the interior climate control.
Interesting concept, but not ready for reality... and not an original, but rather an updated copy of the original. McLaren F1 defined the term "clean-sheet design" from anything before it, and things like this that follow, owe homage to it.
JZeke 1:36PM (10/15/2009)
This thing is all fender, what is rolling on - 400 width tires? The F1 packaged three people in the general footpring of a MKII Mr2. This would be as wide as a semi, with none of the advantages the Ur F1 had.
Whats up with the crappy visibility? McLaren has stated for the new MP4-12c that visibility should be good in their cars. Its a carryover from the packaging genius Gordon Murray created in the F1.
I don't think this kid reads his history, because all we have here is a fairly generic styling package without an iota of the clever thinking that made the F1 so great - and will likely have us loving the MP4-12c.
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edgararellano 1:55PM (10/15/2009)
No.
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larry raines 2:06PM (10/15/2009)
more sexy than what they have now - which is a Saleen-esque boring turd
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TheManInBlack 2:10PM (10/15/2009)
At least the name on the side is accurate...
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efmvii 2:11PM (10/15/2009)
I think it's having an allergic reaction to something
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M7 2:14PM (10/15/2009)
OHHHH YESSSSSS
THIS is a real car...an a proper F1 succesor...looks scary as the old f1 engine sound
NICEEEE!
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Andre 2:15PM (10/15/2009)
Nice, Love some of the lines - Why are there so many negative idiots who think they can do better comments in here and probably don't know their left from their right to begin with.
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PDKid 3:00PM (10/15/2009)
I like it.
Why? As a purely aesthetic design, it is clearly second generation McLaren F1 in appearance, with little to no inspiration drawn from other cars - which was what I was hoping for with McLaren's new design. Going to the MP4 from the F1 is surely a brilliant fiscal decision, but the purist in me wants another incredible F1 - a car that is unique and amazing. The Zonda and CCX (and variants of each) seem to be the F1 of today. Incredibly high performance. Outrageously expensive. Mysterious and elusive.
The MP4 will compete well in its segment, I'm sure, but I would get totally hard if McLaren adapted an evolutionary design from their previous car and blew away cars like the CCXR Edition in performance and the One-77 in pure awesomeness, exclusivity and even price. I was thrilled as a kid when I heard that the F1 was a million bucks! It was the super car of supercars. And God bless Christian von Koenigsegg - poor guy lost all his hair trying to design a car that would beat it, and his car pretty much did and he deserves a throne, but the one car that i would invite to reclaim that crown is the F1.
And as for width....dude, you have no idea how wide this thing would be in reality - to me it looks narrow enough to fit in a hangar which will be fine for its owners. It looks wide enough to severely lower its center of gravity, which is what any engineer and driver would covet. Now, if it happened to be as tall as a semi.....
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Sofa King Fast! 2:24PM (10/15/2009)
I could see that 3-seat layout getting old really fast.
Imagine having to climb over another seat every time you get in or out. forget it.
Also, I can't imagine there is enough air intake to the engine from the single port behind the cabin. A real car would probaly need a few more intakes.
Other than that, the lines are nice and have just enough similarity to the original f1
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Venom 2:47PM (10/15/2009)
Not that old when you can take 2 girls from the club with you and the guy in the Lambo can only take 1.
LOL
John P. 2:47PM (10/15/2009)
Beautifully designed Matt. Keep up the good work!
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