RE: Factory Tour: Behind The Scenes At McLaren
Friday 9th July 2010
Can you spot an SLR? We can't eitherIt's extremely hard to believe that McLaren Automotive is a British sports car outfit. Its meticulously spotless Woking HQ, the professional air of quiet, assured efficiency, the fact that the new production facility for the MP4-12C is three weeks ahead of schedule.
We're here at the McLaren Technology Centre basically to piggy-back on the product presentation and facility tour being given to dealers, as it's a great chance to get close to the new MP4-12C and the people who will be making it.
I won't go into great detail about the new Macca - if you want that, you can read our original story on the MP4-12C, or take a look at the 23-page official press release(!) - but a chat with Christian Marti, McLaren's regional director for Europe, reveal some fascinating insights into the attention to detail, technology and focus that's gone into the car.
Another intriguing aspect of the car is the absence of anti-roll bars. Instead, hydraulic fluid is pumped around the dampers. The result, says McLaren, is more adjustable, and helps to deliver the highest levels of lateral grip of any road car as well as being 'more comfortable than a BMW 3-series' in terms of ride quality. Crikey.
The same unbelievable lateral thinking goes into every aspect of McLaren Automotive. Take the size of the new factory floor. As factory boss Alan Foster explains when he shows us around the current assembly floor - where the final-phase prototypes are currently being built, and where the first four months-worth of production will take place. The new factory assembly hall will be 99x198 metres, he say, rather than 100x200m. Why? Because with the particular tiles McLaren is using, these dimensions mean it won't have to cut any to make the factory floor, saving time and money. Clever.
There are similarities with the better high-volume car assembly plants, however, most notable of which is an adherence to the mantra that 'no fault is fed forward'. If one of the technicians finds a fault, they fix it there and then, rather than when it gets to the end of the line. There are also electronic ID swipe cards at every station, so that everything - at every stage - done by anyone is carefully recorded.
Factory Tour: Behind The Scenes At McLaren
PH goes on a whistle-stop tour of McLaren and its MP4-12C supercar
Can you spot an SLR? We can't either
It's all rather at odds with the traditional pencil-behind-ear, garden shed image of the small-volume British sports car industry. McLaren is serious about making sports cars and it shows. When you visit, there is the sense that McLaren has thought of everything, and that it knows that its plan to build 4000 MP4-12Cs a year cannot be anything other than a resounding success. It's something I've only ever experienced before with German or Japanese manufacturers. Let's not call it smugness or arrogance - let's call it quiet confidence.
Having been ferried to the MTC reception past the mound of earth and large concrete-filled hole that will become the factory for the new car, we're ushered to a tea and coffee stand, around which are clustered several McLaren F1s (no Mercedes McLaren SLRs in sight), before we file off to a room for a presentation on the car.
The carbon fibre monocell, for instance, (a naked example of which is displayed next to the car) is an utterly astounding piece of engineering. It weighs less than 80kg, and is a one-piece moulding. Thanks to the clever design of the front and rear aluminium subframes (which are bolted rather than bonded to the carbon central monocoque), the Carbon fibre tub is all-but indestructible. McLaren was even able to re-use a single tub during crash testing.
But if you really want to get a handle on how much thought has gone into the MP4-12C, muse on this: McLaren has developed an entirely bespoke air conditioning system for the car, because the narrowest existing system is 2cm too wide. This would have meant a wider centre console, a compromised driving position, and a wider and heavier car. So McLaren built its own air-con.
The factory floor as it stands is pretty impressive. It's small, and there are currently only five cars in build, but everything is sparklingly clean, and everybody working on the cars seems relaxed and focused on the job in hand. It's more like a scientific laboratory than an assembly hall.
With the memory of such diligence of design and build fresh in our heads, the bullish confidence of Ron Dennis - who says a few words to us before we are shuttled back to the 'real world' - doesn't seem at all misplaced.
"To win, you have to be the best," he says. "So we are bravely, and without flinching, investing in our future. We will bring the same level of effort and focus to our customers as we do to winning Grands Prix."
British industry could do with more people like Ron Dennis. And more companies like McLaren.
Discussion
From and engineers point of view I think you cant help but admire and respect McLaren as they clearly drive and strive for excellence in every aspect of their organisation.
It really is refreshing to see such attention to detail were compromise really doesn’t seam to be an option (apart from maybe an LSD? But maybe McLaren have the electronic diff thing tied down). I have no doubt this car will be a class leader out the box which is a huge achievement I think.
For me the MP4-12C is the most desirable car in the world today.
Great article boys.
It really is refreshing to see such attention to detail were compromise really doesn’t seam to be an option (apart from maybe an LSD? But maybe McLaren have the electronic diff thing tied down). I have no doubt this car will be a class leader out the box which is a huge achievement I think.
For me the MP4-12C is the most desirable car in the world today.
Great article boys.
leon9191 said:
From and engineers point of view I think you cant help but admire and respect McLaren as they clearly drive and strive for excellence in every aspect of their organisation.
It really is refreshing to see such attention to detail were compromise really doesn’t seam to be an option (apart from maybe an LSD? But maybe McLaren have the electronic diff thing tied down). I have no doubt this car will be a class leader out the box which is a huge achievement I think.
For me the MP4-12C is the most desirable car in the world today.
Great article boys.
Absolutely agree. It really is refreshing to see such attention to detail were compromise really doesn’t seam to be an option (apart from maybe an LSD? But maybe McLaren have the electronic diff thing tied down). I have no doubt this car will be a class leader out the box which is a huge achievement I think.
For me the MP4-12C is the most desirable car in the world today.
Great article boys.
As for the LSD, I suspect Ron wouldn't have signed off the car if he thought it was a compromise to put in the Electronic type
Mikeyboy said:
leon9191 said:
From and engineers point of view I think you cant help but admire and respect McLaren as they clearly drive and strive for excellence in every aspect of their organisation.
It really is refreshing to see such attention to detail were compromise really doesn’t seam to be an option (apart from maybe an LSD? But maybe McLaren have the electronic diff thing tied down). I have no doubt this car will be a class leader out the box which is a huge achievement I think.
For me the MP4-12C is the most desirable car in the world today.
Great article boys.
Absolutely agree. It really is refreshing to see such attention to detail were compromise really doesn’t seam to be an option (apart from maybe an LSD? But maybe McLaren have the electronic diff thing tied down). I have no doubt this car will be a class leader out the box which is a huge achievement I think.
For me the MP4-12C is the most desirable car in the world today.
Great article boys.
As for the LSD, I suspect Ron wouldn't have signed off the car if he thought it was a compromise to put in the Electronic type
I think its really quite an exciting time for this level of super car with the obvious competition between this and the 458, they have both been stated to be “game changers”, and its just nice that for once there's a British car at the forefront.
I think its much nicer looking than the 458 as well.
I know people tend to disagree.I'm amazed at how frequently they change the cars about in the McLaren foyer area. I was there a few weeks back and they did indeed have 3 versions of the SLR (SLR, 722 & S/Moss) and the 12C was on the round plinth as oposed to the GTR.
The F1's are always a marvel when seen in the flesh and I have to say so is the 12C, as I too think it looks better than the 458 when seen together in the flesh.
Really good to see McLaren back producing road cars and looking forward to reading the magazine reports on how it actually drives.
The F1's are always a marvel when seen in the flesh and I have to say so is the 12C, as I too think it looks better than the 458 when seen together in the flesh.
Really good to see McLaren back producing road cars and looking forward to reading the magazine reports on how it actually drives.
Article says:
"But if you really want to get a handle on how much thought has gone into the MP4-12C, muse on this: McLaren has developed an entirely bespoke air conditioning system for the car, because the narrowest existing system is 2cm too wide. This would have meant a wider centre console, a compromised driving position, and a wider and heavier car. So McLaren built its own air-con."
Well, judging as a Mechanical Engineer, Business Economist and former head of a racing car development team I wouldn't be too proud of that to be honest. For me it sounds more like bad packaging in the first place. This solution causes immense costs for the price of a 2 cm narrower centre console that no one will notice.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still quite sure that the car will be great to drive. It's more an economic issue.
"But if you really want to get a handle on how much thought has gone into the MP4-12C, muse on this: McLaren has developed an entirely bespoke air conditioning system for the car, because the narrowest existing system is 2cm too wide. This would have meant a wider centre console, a compromised driving position, and a wider and heavier car. So McLaren built its own air-con."
Well, judging as a Mechanical Engineer, Business Economist and former head of a racing car development team I wouldn't be too proud of that to be honest. For me it sounds more like bad packaging in the first place. This solution causes immense costs for the price of a 2 cm narrower centre console that no one will notice.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still quite sure that the car will be great to drive. It's more an economic issue.
Sure its a nice factory, but sounds like you've been taken in by the PR a bit.. sizing the assembly hall for the floor tile dimensions?? For a start shirly the bricks the building is made of is more of a concern than the floor tiles and secondly would cutting a few tiles have made much difference to the MILLIONS OF POUNDS it must have cost to build the thing?!
TheRoadWarrior said:
Sure its a nice factory, but sounds like you've been taken in by the PR a bit.. sizing the assembly hall for the floor tile dimensions?? For a start shirly the bricks the building is made of is more of a concern than the floor tiles and secondly would cutting a few tiles have made much difference to the MILLIONS OF POUNDS it must have cost to build the thing?!
I'm not so sure. I tried cutting a floor tile once and made a mistake. I had to throw away the entire tile!Mikeyboy said:
leon9191 said:
From and engineers point of view I think you cant help but admire and respect McLaren as they clearly drive and strive for excellence in every aspect of their organisation.
It really is refreshing to see such attention to detail were compromise really doesn’t seam to be an option (apart from maybe an LSD? But maybe McLaren have the electronic diff thing tied down). I have no doubt this car will be a class leader out the box which is a huge achievement I think.
For me the MP4-12C is the most desirable car in the world today.
Great article boys.
Absolutely agree. It really is refreshing to see such attention to detail were compromise really doesn’t seam to be an option (apart from maybe an LSD? But maybe McLaren have the electronic diff thing tied down). I have no doubt this car will be a class leader out the box which is a huge achievement I think.
For me the MP4-12C is the most desirable car in the world today.
Great article boys.
As for the LSD, I suspect Ron wouldn't have signed off the car if he thought it was a compromise to put in the Electronic type
I'm sure it'll be an amazing car.Jason Plato (who's usually refreshingly critical of cars) said that the 458 was the best road car he'd ever driven. If the Mclaren is better then the game's going to be moving on considerably
RobM77 said:
TheRoadWarrior said:
Sure its a nice factory, but sounds like you've been taken in by the PR a bit.. sizing the assembly hall for the floor tile dimensions?? For a start shirly the bricks the building is made of is more of a concern than the floor tiles and secondly would cutting a few tiles have made much difference to the MILLIONS OF POUNDS it must have cost to build the thing?!
I'm not so sure. I tried cutting a floor tile once and made a mistake. I had to throw away the entire tile!They should just not say anything if there is nothing better they can think of.
It's like me saying I built my room dimensions for the new build house around the carpet roll size, so I didn't have to cut them
RobM77 said:
TheRoadWarrior said:
Sure its a nice factory, but sounds like you've been taken in by the PR a bit.. sizing the assembly hall for the floor tile dimensions?? For a start shirly the bricks the building is made of is more of a concern than the floor tiles and secondly would cutting a few tiles have made much difference to the MILLIONS OF POUNDS it must have cost to build the thing?!
I'm not so sure. I tried cutting a floor tile once and made a mistake. I had to throw away the entire tile!
nonuts said:
RobM77 said:
TheRoadWarrior said:
Sure its a nice factory, but sounds like you've been taken in by the PR a bit.. sizing the assembly hall for the floor tile dimensions?? For a start shirly the bricks the building is made of is more of a concern than the floor tiles and secondly would cutting a few tiles have made much difference to the MILLIONS OF POUNDS it must have cost to build the thing?!
I'm not so sure. I tried cutting a floor tile once and made a mistake. I had to throw away the entire tile!williamp said:
I think the tile story is nonsense, and they know nobody will measure it but it shows their "attention to detail". It doesnt take into account the thickness of the grout between the tiles, for example
Of course it does.As previously stated, it's an example of McLaren's, and big Ron's, attention to detail in every aspect of the company that makes McLaren special.
Do you think in years to come the early cars built in the Iconic McLaren technology centre will end up commanding a premium over the later cars which are to be built in the (As yet to be finished) purpose built factory.
The later cars will now doubt get better but it could be the early cars that hold there values?
The later cars will now doubt get better but it could be the early cars that hold there values?
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