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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.

McLAREN F1 ROAD CAR - PRODUCTION

Production of the McLaren F1 drew to a close in May 1998, with a total production of 100 cars built, sold and delivered to customers.

Of the 100 cars 64 were F1 road cars, five were F1 LM versions built to commemorate victory at Le Mans in 1995 and three were F1 GT road going versions of the long tail 1997 F1 GTR race car. The remaining 28 were F1 GTR race cars built for private customers competing in the FIA GT series and the 24 Heures du Mans.
(64) F1, (05) F1-LM, (03) F1-GT, (09) GTR-95, (09) GTR-96, (10) GTR-97

McLAREN F1 ROAD CAR - EQUIPMENT

  • Full cabin air conditioning
  • SeKurit electric defrost/ demist windscreen and side glass
  • Electric window lifts
  • Remote central locking
  • Kenwood CD stereo system
  • Cabin access release for opening panels
  • Tailored document case
  • Cabin stowage department
  • Four lamp high performance headlight system
  • Rear fog and reversing lights
  • Courtesy lights in all compartments
  • Map reading lights
  • Remote battery charging point
  • Facom titanium tool kit
  • External battery charger
  • McLaren F1 owner/drivers handbook

 

McLAREN F1 ROAD CAR - TRACK RECORD

The McLaren F1 set three incredible speed records on its way to making automotive history as the finest road car every produced.

On March 31, 1998, the McLaren F1 obliterated the production road car world speed record in XP5, achieving a new official top speed of 240.1mph/386.7kph at Germany's VW Ehra-Lessien proving ground. Incredibly this was a record the F1 held for 7 years, until March 2005.

On December 16th 1998 the same McLaren F1, driven by Peter Taylor, an independent test and development engineer broke the high-speed circuit record at MIRA averaging 168mph round the 2.82 mile banked circuit with a maximum speed of 196.2mph.

In March 1999 BBC's Top Gear, in conjunction with McLaren Automotive, set a new UK closed circuit record in aid of the Comic Relief charity. Driven by Tiff Needell XP5 once again sensationally set the fastest lap record of a British circuit averaging 195.3mph round the 2-mile banked circuit at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.

McLAREN F1 ROAD CAR - SPECIFICATION

    • Performance
      Top Speed 386/240.1 km/h / mph
      0-60 3.2 s
      0-100 6.3 s
      0-150 12.8 s
      0-200 28 s
      1/4 mile 11.1 s
      @ 222 / 138  km/h / mph
      Standing km 19.6 s
      @ 285 / 177 km/h / mph
    • Powertrain
      Type Number S 70/2  
      Cylinder Arrangement V12
      Cylinder Angle 60 degrees
      Power Output 461 / 627 kW / PS
      @ 7500 rpm
      Max. Torque 651 / 480 Nm / lb.ft
      @ 5600 rpm
      Engine Capacity 6064 / 369.9 cc / in3
      Valves/Cylinder 4 
      Bore 86.0 / 3.38 mm / inches
      Stroke 87.0 / 3.42 mm / inches
      Compression Ratio 11.0:1  
      Ignition system Transistorised system with twelve individual coils
      Induction system 12 single throttle valves, carbon composite airbox 
      Valvetrain Chain driven double overhead camshaft with continuosly variable inlet valve timing. 
      Engine Block Cast aluminium 60 deg V12
      Cylinder heads 4 valves per cylinder cast aluminium alloy 
      Flywheel Aluminium 
      Cam Carriers/Covers Cast magnesium
      Lubrication System Dry sump magnesium casting with scavenge pumps and one pressure pump
      Fuel 95-98 RON unleaded 
      Oil 5W40/10W60
      Cooling System Twin aluminium water radiators and oil/water heat exchanger. 
      Fuel system Flexible safety fuel cell with in-tank high pressure pump 
      Electrics 12V system with high capacity battery & 160 amp alternator;Chassis ECU, Engine ECU, DC/DC converter for heated glass 
      Transmission Transverse unit with high speed bevel gears and spur final drive
       All synchro constant mesh 6 Speed
       Limited slip differential
       Fan assisted air / oil radiator - pumped lubrication system
      1st Gear Ratio 3.23/8.7 
      2nd Gear Ratio 2.19/12.7
      3rd Gear Ratio 1.71/16.7
      4th Gear Ratio 1.39/20.0
      5th Gear Ratio 1.16/24.0
      6th Gear Ratio 0.93/30.0
      Final Drive Ratio 2.37:1
      Clutch Triple plate Carbon/Carbon 
       200mm (7.87") diameter 
       Remote actuation (hydraulic) 
      Steering Unassisted rack and pinion 
       Two turns lock to lock 
    • Chassis
      Front Suspension Double wishbones, Ground Plane shear Centre sub-frames, light alloy dampers/ co-axial coil springs, anti-roll bar 
      Rear Suspension Double wishbones, inclined Axis Shear mounting system, light alloy dampers/ co-axial coil springs, toe-in / toe-out control links 
      Front Tyre 235/45 ZR 17 
      Front Wheel 9 x 17 inches
      Rear Tyre 315/45 ZR 17  
      Rear Wheel 11.5 x 17 inches
      Front Calliper Type 4 pot monobloc light alloy calliper 
      Rear Calliper Type 4 pot monobloc light alloy calliper
      Front Brake disc Type ventilated
      Rear Brake disc Type ventilated 
      Front Brake Disc diameter 332 / 13.07 mm / inches
      Rear Brake Disc diameter 305 / 12 mm / inches
      Front Brake Disc Thickness 32 / 1.26 mm / inches
      Rear Brake Disc Thickness 26 / 1.02 mm / inches
      Turns Lock-to-Lock 2
      Parking Brake Automatic computerised control system 
      Brake Cooling Automatic computerised control system 
      Turning Circle 13 / 42.7 m / ft
    • Body
      Length 4287 / 168.78 mm / inches
      Width 1820 / 71.65 mm / inches
      Height 1140 / 44.88 mm / inches
      Wheelbase 2718 / 107.01 mm / inches
      Front Overhang 970 / 38.18 mm / inches
      Rear Overhang 599 / 23.58 mm / inches
      Front Track 1568 / 61.73 mm / inches
      Rear Track 1472 / 57.95 mm / inches
      Luggage Capacity - 2 occupants (VDA) 283 / 10 litres / cu ft.
      Luggage Capacity - 3 occupants (VDA) 227 / 8 litres / cu ft.
      Fuel Tank Capacity 90 litres
      Kerb Weight 1140 / 2513 kg / lbs
      Weight Distribution 41.2/58.8 F/R
      Drag Coefficient 0.32 
      Aerodynamics Full underbody air management (fan assisted). Driver selectable high downforce mode. Automatic brake  and balance aerofoil system.