RE: Watch The McLaren Launch Live On PH

[al clements]

At the same time as the launch, the MP4-12C prototype was being blasted up Lord March's driveway at the Goodwood Festival of Speed preview day... see below:

http://www.youtube.com/user/candscmagazine#p/u/11/...

Edited by al clements on Friday 19th March 10:07

[Dibby]

Knew it wouldn't be long until the Mash got in on it: http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/mclare...

[Frik]

Rich_W said:

I've watched the whole thing now. Few things jump out at me.

300 Skilled staff? SLR had a lot of "straight from college" types as they are cheaper to employ. Some of the guys doing that were on £12k a year! Proper Automotive BMW/Merc/VAG Technicians cost a bit more to employ! Also "empowerment" was never an option! Do what you're told, you cannot be trusted to do anything else. Some of the faults on those cars were suspect! I hope they've learnt.

Parts supply. I'll be amazed if their dealers can sustain 1 of everything. Even with switches being used in multiple applications. If the aforementioned multi nationals have items go Back order, McLaren have no chance. As for fault codes giving accurate diagnosis. Lofty aspirations. Lets use an easy one "Boost pressure sensor low reading" That could be at least 5 things. None of which is the sensor itself. Fault codes are a guide, not an answer.

I reckon the dealers that get the franchise will be the larger ones too. Maybe not HR Owen in London as they carry Ferrari and Lamboghini already. And horses heads could be involved if they signed the enemey

F1 and Automotive cross over. Doubt it very much All the "fingers" of McLaren group are segregated. The access cards simply won't open any other doors.

For a car launch it's not especially well done. And given McLaren have a history of launching a car every year. You'd think they'd get good at it.

Here's some pics from Goodwood.
http://gallery.me.com/stevomacrocket#101209&bg...

The crash test film was good, and interesting to hear it take 3 hits. Without body panels... at 35mph I wonder how many of those inevitable accidents will have a closing speed of just 35? Even offset accidents on normal roads is 60!

It's just a shame they haven't made something aesthetically pleasing to the majoirty of car enthusiasts. Would it really have been that hard?

You know you don't half sound bitter when you make posts like this, Rich.

[Jonny671]

Redlake27 said:

How big are those wheels, they look massive..

[RacingPete]

Shape Shifter said:

simonrockman said:

It’s a shame there wasn’t a Q&A.

--- Simon

Shame for us. Journalists don't much like Q&As because if they have an incisive question, everybody else hears the answer, hence no exclusive. Q&As are usually only enjoyed by those journalists who want to showboat.

There was a Q&A session, but unfortunately it didn't make the launch video and was held after the photo shoot where the feed stops. This is probably to protect the publications asking the questions as if you had heard all the questions you wouldn't need to buy/read them.

[Alfie Noakes]

I'm not easily impressed.

I'm impressed!

[stevieb]

10 Pence Short said:

Bombjack said:

anniesdad said:

You'd expect the F1 cars to have ever increasing numbers as development or the introduction of new F1 cars continues. I'm pretty sure I'm right in saying that the roadcars will fit into this scale...at least that's what I read on the interweb once.

Fair enough. I should say though that my source isn't the interweb, or any journalist.

P11 - what we now know as MP4-12C
P12 - Hypercar
P13 - "911 competitor"

We could have a gentleman's wager if you like

Indeed.

The MP4 prefix is from the merger of McLaren and Ron Dennis' Project Four teams at the beginning of the 80s. From memory it was originally 'M' for Marlboro, who funded Dennis. When Marlboro split it become 'M' for McLaren, instead.

So all the cars share MP4.

The F1 cars are 'MP4/xx', where xx is just a sequential number.

The other projects become 'Pxx' where 'xx' is the sequential number of the project.

The MP4 was the project that introduced Carbon Fibre Technology to F1. Which was part funded by he original sponsors Marlboro.

[Liokault]

Alfie Noakes said:

BSC said:

Is it really true as mentioned earlier in this thread that the car is powered by a Mahle engine? Mahle is a German company. I can't imagine that the epitome of British sports car has a German engine. How to be proud of it then?

Info I have is that they manufacture it, but it's not thier design.

Its not been Mahle for a while, they kept blowing up.

[HeavySoul]

Liokault said:

Alfie Noakes said:

BSC said:

Is it really true as mentioned earlier in this thread that the car is powered by a Mahle engine? Mahle is a German company. I can't imagine that the epitome of British sports car has a German engine. How to be proud of it then?

Info I have is that they manufacture it, but it's not thier design.

Its not been Mahle for a while, they kept blowing up.

Um what engine was in the F1??!

[bertie]

HeavySoul said:

Liokault said:

Alfie Noakes said:

BSC said:

Is it really true as mentioned earlier in this thread that the car is powered by a Mahle engine? Mahle is a German company. I can't imagine that the epitome of British sports car has a German engine. How to be proud of it then?

Info I have is that they manufacture it, but it's not thier design.

Its not been Mahle for a while, they kept blowing up.

Um what engine was in the F1??!

BMW V12.

[HeavySoul]

bertie said:

HeavySoul said:

Liokault said:

Alfie Noakes said:

BSC said:

Is it really true as mentioned earlier in this thread that the car is powered by a Mahle engine? Mahle is a German company. I can't imagine that the epitome of British sports car has a German engine. How to be proud of it then?

Info I have is that they manufacture it, but it's not thier design.

Its not been Mahle for a while, they kept blowing up.

Um what engine was in the F1??!

BMW V12.

Exactly!!

[bertie]

HeavySoul said:

bertie said:

HeavySoul said:

Liokault said:

Alfie Noakes said:

BSC said:

Is it really true as mentioned earlier in this thread that the car is powered by a Mahle engine? Mahle is a German company. I can't imagine that the epitome of British sports car has a German engine. How to be proud of it then?

Info I have is that they manufacture it, but it's not thier design.

Its not been Mahle for a while, they kept blowing up.

Um what engine was in the F1??!

BMW V12.

Exactly!!

But it's not a Mahle engine, it's a Mclaren / Ricardo co-operation isn't it?

Also, remember Mahle bought Cosworth didn't they?

[HeavySoul]

bertie said:

HeavySoul said:

bertie said:

HeavySoul said:

Liokault said:

Alfie Noakes said:

BSC said:

Is it really true as mentioned earlier in this thread that the car is powered by a Mahle engine? Mahle is a German company. I can't imagine that the epitome of British sports car has a German engine. How to be proud of it then?

Info I have is that they manufacture it, but it's not thier design.

Its not been Mahle for a while, they kept blowing up.

Um what engine was in the F1??!

BMW V12.

Exactly!!

But it's not a Mahle engine, it's a Mclaren / Ricardo co-operation isn't it?

Also, remember Mahle bought Cosworth didn't they?

I don't know, my point was that BSC was saying he couldn't imagine the epitome of British sports cars having a German engine. The F1 seemed to garner a pretty grand following with its German engine!

Personally I don't really see the problem where the parts come from, this is a multinational modern world. Important thing is that it is designed here and built here which makes it British in my book - I wouldn't expect all the parts on a car to be sourced from the UK because otherwise it might turn out to just be a fast Rover

[simonrockman]

Shape Shifter said:

simonrockman said:

It’s a shame there wasn’t a Q&A.

--- Simon

Shame for us. Journalists don't much like Q&As because if they have an incisive question, everybody else hears the answer, hence no exclusive. Q&As are usually only enjoyed by those journalists who want to showboat.

Edited by Shape Shifter on Thursday 18th March 19:21

I don't completely agree. Sometimes launch Q&As are the only opportunity you get to ask questions. Often they expose something the presenter was skirting around.

Although too often you get someone with a special interest missing the point.

A Q&A, taking the thing off-script, shows how well the speakers really know their product. One of the most impressive lunches I went to was with the CEO of a hard disk manufacturer. Around the table were journalists from lots of different disciplines, technical, consumer, financial. The CEO fully answered whatever was thrown at him, be it material science on the head flying height, marketing processes, distribution or his rivals P&L.

My original post was to complain aout the people here criticising the quality of the presentation. I'd bet Jon Delorean could have done a much better job of launching a car than Colin Chapman, but I know who would have a better understanding of what made the car.

Simon

[Frik]

To be fair, that's another reason why the F1 was so expensive.

[bertie]

HeavySoul said:

bertie said:

HeavySoul said:

bertie said:

HeavySoul said:

Liokault said:

Alfie Noakes said:

BSC said:

Is it really true as mentioned earlier in this thread that the car is powered by a Mahle engine? Mahle is a German company. I can't imagine that the epitome of British sports car has a German engine. How to be proud of it then?

Info I have is that they manufacture it, but it's not thier design.

Its not been Mahle for a while, they kept blowing up.

Um what engine was in the F1??!

BMW V12.

Exactly!!

But it's not a Mahle engine, it's a Mclaren / Ricardo co-operation isn't it?

Also, remember Mahle bought Cosworth didn't they?

I don't know, my point was that BSC was saying he couldn't imagine the epitome of British sports cars having a German engine. The F1 seemed to garner a pretty grand following with its German engine!

Personally I don't really see the problem where the parts come from, this is a multinational modern world. Important thing is that it is designed here and built here which makes it British in my book - I wouldn't expect all the parts on a car to be sourced from the UK because otherwise it might turn out to just be a fast Rover

I agree.

I think it is a McLaren / Ricardo engine in this, so even that is UK too...

article said:

Even the engine is a 100 percent McLaren effort. The M838T is an intercooled, twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 with variable valve timing and lift. The 90-degree V8 with its racing-style flat-plane crankshaft has been developed in partnership with Ricardo, the British powertrain specialists. The use of a dry-sump oiling system allows the crankshaft to be located at about the height of your shin, and the very low center of gravity enhances manueverability. The engine revs to 8,500 rpm, which is extremely high for a turbocharged engine.

McLaren claims a power output of about 600 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque.

[Emeye]

Just been watching the video - I almost fell asleep TBH, then the next guy was talking through all the design and tech on the car more interesting. Unfortunately he then mentioned Microsoft and Dual Windows. I can't believe that is a good thing! They claim to be using the pinnacle of design and tech, most of it in-house, but then they go and lumber it with that crap.

The way they describe the Iris (or whatever it's called) System is like a giant Smart Phone/iPad slapped to the dash, may be more powerful, but still not very promising IMO.

In all seriousness, I suspect the electrics may be the greatest downfall on this car!

[simonrockman]

I suspect dual Windows means proper Windows & CE versions.
I agree it's not A Good Thing.

[bertie]

Emeye said:

Just been watching the video - I almost fell asleep TBH, then the next guy was talking through all the design and tech on the car more interesting. Unfortunately he then mentioned Microsoft and Dual Windows. I can't believe that is a good thing! They claim to be using the pinnacle of design and tech, most of it in-house, but then they go and lumber it with that crap.

The way they describe the Iris (or whatever it's called) System is like a giant Smart Phone/iPad slapped to the dash, may be more powerful, but still not very promising IMO.

In all seriousness, I suspect the electrics may be the greatest downfall on this car!

Why do you suspect that?

[HeavySoul]

Can you imagine a world where this country actually gets behind and supports their sports car brands like the Italians do behind theirs and don't just continually knock them?

This thing has not even been released for sale yet and yet half the people on here are convinced XYZ is not going to work properly or will be inferior!

This is a well designed, well performing sports car that is decently priced and will hit the ground running as serious competition for all those well established sports car brands on their first attempt - we have to be a bit more excited and pleased about it!