Wednesday 20th May 2009

McLaren Confirms Factory Plan

Woking to be the UK's 'Maranello' with new McLaren Production Centre

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McLaren has confirmed it wants to build its new supercar factory alongside the existing F1 facility in Woking.

McLaren's Technology Centre...

Plans were submitted to Woking Borough planning department yesterday for a new McLaren Production Centre on empty land adjacent to the McLaren Technology Centre.

The new facility belonging to McLaren Automotive will have the capacity to build up to 20 cars per day, employing up to 800 staff directly, and an additional 1,500 in the local economy.

If local planners give the scheme the nod, McLaren Automotive's first product will hit the road in early 2011. Codenamed P11, the car is a two-seat Mercedes V8 powered sportscar designed to pinch customers from Ferrari's 430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo. A range of other McLaren models are already in the planning stages.

The proposed production centre has been designed by Norman Foster and take its cues from the existing Technical Centre building, which is sunk into the ground and heavily landscaped to minimise the environmental impact. The plans will be voted on by Woking Borough Council in July.

'It would be easy enough to consider building McLaren sports cars in existing productive and experienced foreigh factories; a number of which are knocking on our door' says McLaren's boss Ron Dennis. 'However McLaren is a great British company founded over 40 years ago that should, in my view, continue to design and build our own products.'

...also a Norman Foster design

'Ever since we revealed the McLaren F1 sports car in 1992, it has been a long-held dream of mine to launch a McLaren sports car company. Designing, developing and selling globally the best sports cars in the world is just half of that equation; building them to previously un-matched levels of quality, with ground-breaking technologies in a production facility in the UK is key to satisfying that dream.'

[The Milfman]

Nice to see some new jobs on the horizon.

[A Scotsman]

Actually, what the world really needs is a new Suzuki Cappuccino with a modern engine, top whack of a ton and fuel consumption of 50mpg. They'd sell like hot cakes.

[Gridl0k]

A Scotsman said:

Actually, what the world really needs is a new Suzuki Cappuccino with a modern engine, top whack of a ton and fuel consumption of 50mpg. They'd sell like hot cakes.

Other than looking a wee bit like Postman Pat's daily driver, isn't that Gordon Murray's new project?

As for McLaren - bravo.

[jagman21]

where was the M-M SLR built, I think it was portsmouth is this correct? I assume that that place is now going to shut down, with the end of the SLR production.

[The Milfman]

jagman21 said:

where was the M-M SLR built, I think it was portsmouth is this correct? I assume that that place is now going to shut down, with the end of the SLR production.

They do all sorts to my knowledge (friend did some work experience there) including stuff for the F1 team and general R&D but didn't think that the MM SLR was built there. However, I could be completely wrong and stand to be corrected (if this is the case I apologise in advance).

[VxDuncan]

The SLR is built on a line in the Technical Centre at Woking.

[aarondrs]

That's absolutely brilliant news for the Woking and for all the high tech automotive suppliers across the country. We DO still lead the world in advanced manufacturing and this only helps to emphasise the fact. All those 10's of racing engineering and manufacturing businesses in the UK are not her for nothing

[Drebin]

Looks like a brilliant place to work. And good to see McLaren making more jobs. from me

[NormanD]

Good to see they are still going to go Head to Head with Ferrari

[life-in-old-dog]

A local update - I live less than a mile away in Ottershaw and have written to McLaren several times asking about the opening of the public visitor centre - no reply to date. Having also walked there to enquire in person I was shooed away by 'security' and a neighbour walking their dosgs on public land behind the centre was also quizzed as to why they were there. As the building is mainly hidden/encopmpassed in banking, the best view I have managed was when flying out from Heathrow!
I fully understand security/spying threats etc but think that the local population might be considered more favourably than I have experienced - they even let Chris Moyles train there for a day before going up Kilamanjerro!! And the site was formally a farm [Ostrich farm at the end!]where the Council agreed to the land use change on the basis of local jobs etc.
Still, have seen quite a few 'first spots' on our road, including an eventual sit in a Maybach 5 years ago at a local petrol station agreed to by a very convivial german chaffeur, so it's not all bad!!
And if ever you're passing [on the A320 immediately to the East of Woking heading toward the M25] the roundabout outside the site has just been resurfaced in very smooth and grippy tarmac, should you wish to 'drift away' on a large flat, wide, and open road with good visibility. I know the idea has yet to occur to me though...

[belleair302]

When I worked on the F1 race team ten years ago, before the technology centre was developed there was much debate about a visitors facility, linked to the Science Museum and Donnington, for interactive displays and cars etc. The management spent too long looking at 'Brand Values' and sponsor clashes....and not enough time talking to the fans, and the engineers at Disney / EPCOT / Universal Studios etc in Orlando as how best to bring this concept to life.

They have well over 110 F1 cars is bubbles hidden in the basement, plus trucks, drivers helmets, old kit and some amazing models, toys and merchandise.

Why not do something for Woking and the locals???

Too much pride, not enough balls!!

[Lefty Guns]

A Scotsman said:

Actually, what the world really needs is a new Suzuki Cappuccino with a modern engine, top whack of a ton and fuel consumption of 50mpg. They'd sell like hot cakes.

like the smart roadster?

What I want to see is a £50k sports car to whoop the cayman. 1200kg and 300bhp please.

Edited by Lefty Guns on Wednesday 20th May 15:27

[Collaudatore]

life-in-old-dog said:

I was shooed away by 'security' and a neighbour walking their dosgs on public land behind the centre was also quizzed as to why they were there.......
I fully understand security/spying threats etc

They've got a nerve!!!

But seriously, good news and I hope it goes ahead.

[PompeyM3]

As far as I'm aware the Portsmouth McLaren factory does some of the carbon fibre body panels for the SLR.

[Gridl0k]

Lefty Guns said:

A Scotsman said:

Actually, what the world really needs is a new Suzuki Cappuccino with a modern engine, top whack of a ton and fuel consumption of 50mpg. They'd sell like hot cakes.

like the smart roadster?

I changed into 3rd in a smart roadster last Tuesday, I'm still waiting.

[Eddie the Ead]

Surely with the £40million budget cap for next year there will plenty of room in the factory to build cars once most of the staff have been forced out of their jobs throgh no fault of their own but an incompetant FIA.

[Lefty Guns]

Gridl0k said:

Lefty Guns said:

A Scotsman said:

Actually, what the world really needs is a new Suzuki Cappuccino with a modern engine, top whack of a ton and fuel consumption of 50mpg. They'd sell like hot cakes.

like the smart roadster?

I changed into 3rd in a smart roadster last Tuesday, I'm still waiting.

[dandarez]

McLarenello eh?

Like the idea, but don't let global warming advocate Murray anywhere near it!

[Gridl0k]

dandarez said:

McLarenello eh?

Like the idea, but don't let global warming advocate Murray anywhere near it!

He's not an "advocate". That suggests he wants global warming.

We can discuss human-initiated climate change after you've grasped the basics of vocabulary, if you'd like. It's quite complex.

[bertie]

jagman21 said:

where was the M-M SLR built, I think it was portsmouth is this correct? I assume that that place is now going to shut down, with the end of the SLR production.

No, it was built in the building pictured, in Woking, by the slowest factory employees ever!