McLaren P1 - How much of it is actually British?
Discussion
I was wondering exactly how much of the P1 is actually made by McLaren themselves and how much is outsourced overseas. I mean I am sure if you took any supercar and brought it down to its component parts I am sure there would be a number of components manufactured by other companies such as brakes by Brembo etc.
Please do correct me if I am wrong but the following I know so far...
I know the engine is made by Ricardo PLC in Sussex but under licence from Nissan who originally designed the motor. Same unit is used in the 12C as I know but revised to accomodate the bolt-on electric motor and has new heads.
The tubochargers are made by MHI Inc (Mitsubishi Hardware Incorporated) in either China or Japan, not sure where.
The brakes are made by Japanese firm Akebono, where they are made I do not know but their website claims the majority of production is in China. However, they also have production sites in Japan and the US.
The chassis or rather the carbon 'Monocell' tub is made by a company over in Salzburg, Austria called Carbo-Tech which was carried over unchanged from the 12C.
The gearbox was made in Turin, Italy by Graziano Trasmissioni but I am not sure if it is the same unit but altered from the 12C or an all-new gearbox.
Tyres obviously outsourced by Pirelli.
I know it may sound like I am trying to pick holes in the P1 and run it down but I am not, I am just interested in how much of a global effort goes into the production of this car seeing as some people keep claiming it as the "all British supercar". I am a fan of the P1 myself and wish to gain more knowledge on it. Also please correct me if I am wrong on any of the details above.
Please do correct me if I am wrong but the following I know so far...
I know the engine is made by Ricardo PLC in Sussex but under licence from Nissan who originally designed the motor. Same unit is used in the 12C as I know but revised to accomodate the bolt-on electric motor and has new heads.
The tubochargers are made by MHI Inc (Mitsubishi Hardware Incorporated) in either China or Japan, not sure where.
The brakes are made by Japanese firm Akebono, where they are made I do not know but their website claims the majority of production is in China. However, they also have production sites in Japan and the US.
The chassis or rather the carbon 'Monocell' tub is made by a company over in Salzburg, Austria called Carbo-Tech which was carried over unchanged from the 12C.
The gearbox was made in Turin, Italy by Graziano Trasmissioni but I am not sure if it is the same unit but altered from the 12C or an all-new gearbox.
Tyres obviously outsourced by Pirelli.
I know it may sound like I am trying to pick holes in the P1 and run it down but I am not, I am just interested in how much of a global effort goes into the production of this car seeing as some people keep claiming it as the "all British supercar". I am a fan of the P1 myself and wish to gain more knowledge on it. Also please correct me if I am wrong on any of the details above.
I think it is wrong to say that the engine is made under license from Nissan. All that is really left of the Nissan engine design they started with is the 93mm bore diameter.
In the USA every new car sold is required to have a window sticker outlining the vital statistics of the car, standard features, optional equiment, fuel economy figures and other details. One of the other sections describes parts content and where it originates from. Here's an example of one for the 12C:
I have seen one for the McLaren P1 and here is the breakdown of parts content:
UK 41.8%, Germany 14.8%, Italy 14.5%, Austria 13.3%, USA/Canada 1%, Other 15.6%
Those percentages are strictly parts - obviously in the case of all McLarens at the moment 100% of their final assembly takes place in Woking in between the McLaren Production Centre and MSO facilities.
>8^)
ER
In the USA every new car sold is required to have a window sticker outlining the vital statistics of the car, standard features, optional equiment, fuel economy figures and other details. One of the other sections describes parts content and where it originates from. Here's an example of one for the 12C:
I have seen one for the McLaren P1 and here is the breakdown of parts content:
UK 41.8%, Germany 14.8%, Italy 14.5%, Austria 13.3%, USA/Canada 1%, Other 15.6%
Those percentages are strictly parts - obviously in the case of all McLarens at the moment 100% of their final assembly takes place in Woking in between the McLaren Production Centre and MSO facilities.
>8^)
ER
Edited by Peloton25 on Wednesday 16th April 20:47
GeorgeV12 said:
The chassis or rather the carbon 'Monocell' tub is made by a company over in Salzburg, Austria called Carbo-Tech which was carried over unchanged from the 12C.
The chassis is very different between the two cars, the P1 has an integral roof structure all as one piece12C "Monocell"
P1 "Monocage"
GeorgeV12 said:
I know the engine is made by Ricardo PLC in Sussex but under licence from Nissan who originally designed the motor. Same unit is used in the 12C as I know but revised to accomodate the bolt-on electric motor and has new heads.
The 12C engine has its roots in another engine but has been completely redesigned to a point where practically nothing of the original design exists any more, the cylinder bore is the only detail that is the same. Then it has gone through another extensive upgrade for the P1How do they come up with percentages by land? By value of components (but then how to value internally made items that would be at cost)? Do they break down bought in components eg if you source the chassis from Austria is it Austrian or do they look through to see where the bits and raw materials were sourced?
Schnellmann said:
How do they come up with percentages by land? By value of components (but then how to value internally made items that would be at cost)? Do they break down bought in components eg if you source the chassis from Austria is it Austrian or do they look through to see where the bits and raw materials were sourced?
It's parts content - so it would be based on where the part is produced, not traced all the way back to the source of materials used. Believe the percentage is based on cost - that would be an easy way to calculate it.The underlying point is more about jobs, and the idea that some customers will prefer to support local ones and therefore purchase a vehicle with a higher US part content. This section of the label gives them info to help make that determination at a glance. Of course with the globalized business of vehicle production there are few cars that come close to being 100% from anywhere.
Just looked at this year's list - available here - and only one vehicle touched 80% USA parts content, there are a few in the high 70% range. Most are considerably less.
>8^)
ER
threespires said:
Interesting question. These days I think most products have an international flavour.
I was told recently that legally Fiat/Chrysler is British - dunno if that is true, perhaps somebody can clarify.
Explained here:I was told recently that legally Fiat/Chrysler is British - dunno if that is true, perhaps somebody can clarify.
http://www.freep.com/article/20140129/BUSINESS0103...
>8^)
ER
Buzz84 said:
GeorgeV12 said:
I know the engine is made by Ricardo PLC in Sussex but under licence from Nissan who originally designed the motor. Same unit is used in the 12C as I know but revised to accomodate the bolt-on electric motor and has new heads.
The 12C engine has its roots in another engine but has been completely redesigned to a point where practically nothing of the original design exists any more, the cylinder bore is the only detail that is the same. Then it has gone through another extensive upgrade for the P1It really isn't the "same engine" at all.
ringram said:
What CF shell does the 650S use? The 12C or the P1?
Also does anyone know what engine changes were done for the 650S over the 12C?
650S uses the Monocell of the 12C. Chassis of the two cars are nearly identical actually - changes were made to the complex suspension system with relocated accumulators on the shock bodies where they can operate more effectively and the springs are stiffer at the front and rear. Also does anyone know what engine changes were done for the 650S over the 12C?
Engine of the 650S uses the same block from the 12C but makes its additional power from new pistons, new cylinder heads with new exhaust valves. Cooling is also enhanced.
>8^)
ER
Gassing Station | McLaren | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff