Re: McLaren goes back to Le Mans
Wednesday 21st January 2015
Some manufacturers play on their history too much. Audi wheels out a Quattro S1 rally car with a grizzled Swedish veteran pretty much every time it launches a new four-wheel drive model; this despite having been away from front-line rallying for three decades.
Reverential without going over the topBy contrast, new-era McLaren has - until now - done surprisingly little to reference the original F1. But now the company is launching a special edition that does reverential to just the right degree: the 650S Le Mans. As its name suggests it's been built to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the McLaren F1 GTR's stunning victory at the 24 Hours race, and includes a modern take on the original F1's 'snorkel' air intake.
Cabin gets some orange trim as wellOnly 50 Le Mans will be produced, and it doesn't come cheap at £244,500. But buyers will also receive "an exclusive invitation for the owner plus a guest to join McLaren at a 20th anniversary celebration of the famous victory."
McLaren goes back to Le Mans
Although sadly only with the creation of an F1-alike 650S special edition
Reverential without going over the top
The Le Mans has been designed 'in consultation' with Peter Stevens according to the official release, the man who styled the original F1, and although it's mechanically unchanged from the standard 650S it gets unique lightweight wheels - also inspired by the motorsport rims of the 1995 race cars - and the front bumper and rear splitter are made from carbon. The 'Sarthe Grey' paint is the same shade as that of the GTR, too.
Cabin gets some orange trim as well
Discussion
Needs a good sized spoiler to be truly imitating of the Lemans cars..
Looks nice though
Mclaren says "The Le Mans has been designed 'in consultation' with Peter Stevens according to the official release"
Which means, "Pete, here's a cheque for £Xk, what do you think of this ? Yeah, it's fine"
Looks nice though
Mclaren says "The Le Mans has been designed 'in consultation' with Peter Stevens according to the official release"
Which means, "Pete, here's a cheque for £Xk, what do you think of this ? Yeah, it's fine"
graeme4130 said:
Needs a good sized spoiler to be truly imitating of the Lemans cars..
Looks nice though
Mclaren says "The Le Mans has been designed 'in consultation' with Peter Stevens according to the official release"
Which means, "Pete, here's a cheque for £Xk, what do you think of this ? Yeah, it's fine"
Looks nice though
Mclaren says "The Le Mans has been designed 'in consultation' with Peter Stevens according to the official release"
Which means, "Pete, here's a cheque for £Xk, what do you think of this ? Yeah, it's fine"
, and probably true!
LaurasOtherHalf said:
First mclaren since the F1 that I'd actually want, as I said n flemke's thread, it's amazing the subtle differences the wheels make to the look. Proper motorsports looking wheels rather than he usual chintzy things the cars usually come on 
Stunning, the details like the vents over the front wheels as well, a cool nod to motorsport heritage.This is my idea of a perfect "special edition" subtle improvements on an already excellent product.
I dare say these should hold their value rather better than the standard items, hence negating their inflated price in the long run!! Punching the man maths into my bank account still says no!!
Full press release here:
McLaren Reveals the new 650S LE
Limited edition model launched to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the McLaren F1 GTR victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Design and styling inspired by the race-winning chassis #01R McLaren F1 GTR including iconic roof-mounted ‘snorkel’ air intake
Only 50 models, all coupés, to be made available globally
Collaboration with Peter Stevens, famed designer of the McLaren F1
Every one of the 106 models of the McLaren F1 built has a story to tell, with those wearing a ‘GTR’ badge boasting a lineage back to one of the most famous results in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As the chequered flag fell at the end of the 1995 race, five McLaren F1 GTRs crossed the line to finish 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 13th. In honour of this achievement, five special editions of the McLaren F1, badged the McLaren F1 LM, were commissioned – one for each of the cars that finished. 20 years on, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has released the first details of a special edition 650S, built to celebrate the anniversary of this result. Only 50 McLaren 650S Le Mans will be available globally, with a design inspired by the race-winning #59 McLaren F1 GTR. Deliveries will commence later this year.
Designed by MSO in consultation with Peter Stevens, the designer of the iconic McLaren F1, the McLaren 650S Le Mans will be offered as a coupé only, and will borrow a number of styling enhancements from the iconic race-winner, most notably the roof-mounted ‘snorkel’ air intake. This fully-integrated ‘snorkel’ channels airflow to the familiar 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine, while also providing enhanced aural drama within the cabin, while the front wings feature subtle louvres to reduce pressure over the front wheels, increasing downforce. The unique ‘Le Mans Edition’ lightweight wheels – 19-inch at the front, 20-inch at the rear – are styled around the design of the motorsport rims fitted to the 1995 racers. The rims wear the McLaren-developed Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyres and are mounted in front of carbon ceramic brakes as standard, with McLaren Orange callipers.
Commenting on the McLaren 650S Le Mans, Stevens explains: “The design of the McLaren F1 rewrote the rulebook. It was intended to offer the ultimate, no compromise road driving experience. The fact that it was transformed into a racer, and a race winner, was true testament to the strength and integrity of the original design, which is something I am very proud of.
“With a mix of subtle design traits, the 650S Le Mans adds a modern twist by blending the iconic lines of the McLaren F1, and heritage features such as the wing louvres and the roof-mounted air intake, with groundbreaking technologies. It is a fantastic homage to that original design, and to the incredible race result achieved by the team in 1995 at one of the most difficult, and most challenging races in the world.”
Power and torque figures for the McLaren 650S Le Mans remain unchanged from the standard production model, producing 650PS (641 bhp) and 678 Nm (500 lb ft) of torque. This sprint from zero to 62 mph is achieved in three seconds and the top speed is 207 mph.
Visual carbon fibre features throughout the limited edition model, including the front splitter and rear bumper. The limited edition coupés also feature MSO-developed extended side blades and the distinctive MSO rear diffuser. The unique look of the McLaren 650S Le Mans exterior is further enhanced by the metallic Sarthe Grey exterior paint colour, inspired by the colour of the race-winning McLaren F1 GTR. A splash of the famous McLaren Orange in the form of the ‘Le Mans’ logo adorns the wheels and the trailing edge of the extended MSO door blades, while an internal dedication plate on the door card identifies the limited nature of the model.
The interior is swathed in black leather and Alcantara®, while a pair of sports seats are finished in black with contrasting McLaren Orange Alcantara® in the centre. A Le Mans logo is embossed on the headrest of each seat, and on the unique floor mats, paying further homage to the anniversary.
The McLaren 650S Le Mans is available globally, priced at £244,500, and deliveries will commence in mid-2015. Owners of the McLaren 650S Le Mans will receive an exclusive invitation for the owner plus a guest to join McLaren at a 20th anniversary celebration of the famous victory at the historic Le Mans circuit courtesy of McLaren.
Source [McLaren]
I wonder if those wheels will be available as an option from MSO as I thing all the other options are, but at a heavy price
McLaren Reveals the new 650S LE
Limited edition model launched to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the McLaren F1 GTR victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Design and styling inspired by the race-winning chassis #01R McLaren F1 GTR including iconic roof-mounted ‘snorkel’ air intake
Only 50 models, all coupés, to be made available globally
Collaboration with Peter Stevens, famed designer of the McLaren F1
Every one of the 106 models of the McLaren F1 built has a story to tell, with those wearing a ‘GTR’ badge boasting a lineage back to one of the most famous results in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As the chequered flag fell at the end of the 1995 race, five McLaren F1 GTRs crossed the line to finish 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 13th. In honour of this achievement, five special editions of the McLaren F1, badged the McLaren F1 LM, were commissioned – one for each of the cars that finished. 20 years on, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has released the first details of a special edition 650S, built to celebrate the anniversary of this result. Only 50 McLaren 650S Le Mans will be available globally, with a design inspired by the race-winning #59 McLaren F1 GTR. Deliveries will commence later this year.
Designed by MSO in consultation with Peter Stevens, the designer of the iconic McLaren F1, the McLaren 650S Le Mans will be offered as a coupé only, and will borrow a number of styling enhancements from the iconic race-winner, most notably the roof-mounted ‘snorkel’ air intake. This fully-integrated ‘snorkel’ channels airflow to the familiar 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine, while also providing enhanced aural drama within the cabin, while the front wings feature subtle louvres to reduce pressure over the front wheels, increasing downforce. The unique ‘Le Mans Edition’ lightweight wheels – 19-inch at the front, 20-inch at the rear – are styled around the design of the motorsport rims fitted to the 1995 racers. The rims wear the McLaren-developed Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyres and are mounted in front of carbon ceramic brakes as standard, with McLaren Orange callipers.
Commenting on the McLaren 650S Le Mans, Stevens explains: “The design of the McLaren F1 rewrote the rulebook. It was intended to offer the ultimate, no compromise road driving experience. The fact that it was transformed into a racer, and a race winner, was true testament to the strength and integrity of the original design, which is something I am very proud of.
“With a mix of subtle design traits, the 650S Le Mans adds a modern twist by blending the iconic lines of the McLaren F1, and heritage features such as the wing louvres and the roof-mounted air intake, with groundbreaking technologies. It is a fantastic homage to that original design, and to the incredible race result achieved by the team in 1995 at one of the most difficult, and most challenging races in the world.”
Power and torque figures for the McLaren 650S Le Mans remain unchanged from the standard production model, producing 650PS (641 bhp) and 678 Nm (500 lb ft) of torque. This sprint from zero to 62 mph is achieved in three seconds and the top speed is 207 mph.
Visual carbon fibre features throughout the limited edition model, including the front splitter and rear bumper. The limited edition coupés also feature MSO-developed extended side blades and the distinctive MSO rear diffuser. The unique look of the McLaren 650S Le Mans exterior is further enhanced by the metallic Sarthe Grey exterior paint colour, inspired by the colour of the race-winning McLaren F1 GTR. A splash of the famous McLaren Orange in the form of the ‘Le Mans’ logo adorns the wheels and the trailing edge of the extended MSO door blades, while an internal dedication plate on the door card identifies the limited nature of the model.
The interior is swathed in black leather and Alcantara®, while a pair of sports seats are finished in black with contrasting McLaren Orange Alcantara® in the centre. A Le Mans logo is embossed on the headrest of each seat, and on the unique floor mats, paying further homage to the anniversary.
The McLaren 650S Le Mans is available globally, priced at £244,500, and deliveries will commence in mid-2015. Owners of the McLaren 650S Le Mans will receive an exclusive invitation for the owner plus a guest to join McLaren at a 20th anniversary celebration of the famous victory at the historic Le Mans circuit courtesy of McLaren.
Source [McLaren]
I wonder if those wheels will be available as an option from MSO as I thing all the other options are, but at a heavy price
LaurasOtherHalf said:
First mclaren since the F1 that I'd actually want, as I said n flemke's thread, it's amazing the subtle differences the wheels make to the look. Proper motorsports looking wheels rather than he usual chintzy things the cars usually come on
Yes looks so much better, and grey probably disguises the over styled front somewhat.danp said:
LaurasOtherHalf said:
First mclaren since the F1 that I'd actually want, as I said n flemke's thread, it's amazing the subtle differences the wheels make to the look. Proper motorsports looking wheels rather than he usual chintzy things the cars usually come on
Yes looks so much better, and grey probably disguises the over styled front somewhat.I wish they'd left that for the P1. If they had to tweak the 12C front (and they probably did), they could've done something unique without aping it so obviously.
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