Autoblog

While McLaren's next car is not expected to use any Ferrari technology, it will take after Ferrari in one way: the scarlet marque is launching is F1 challenger on January 6, 2008, and McLaren will do so the day after, on January 7. The move is a bit of a surprise, since McLaren said that it wouldn't be hosting a public launch of the car at all, hoping to diminish the scrutiny from nearly an entire season mired in scandal.

The now-very-public launch of the MP4-23 will take place at the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart, and will be attended by head honchos all the way up to Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche. The event will be lacking, of course, a certain former World Champion and the Spanish sponsors he took with him back to Renault. In Alonso's stead will be Heikki Kovalainen, a lot of hope, and, if we know Ron Dennis, a commitment to regaining the number one status -- this time the right way.

[Source: World Car Fans]