RE: McLaren's shocking one-off X1
Discussion
I think that is actually pretty cool.
I looks like the sort of car people thought we would drive in the 21st Century, in the 50's.
I reckon it's great that you can still go to a manufacturer and tell them what you want and they will coach build it. Much like in the early days of car manufacture.
OK, it may not be to everybody's taste, but the fact you can have a coach built car is awesome.
I looks like the sort of car people thought we would drive in the 21st Century, in the 50's.
I reckon it's great that you can still go to a manufacturer and tell them what you want and they will coach build it. Much like in the early days of car manufacture.
OK, it may not be to everybody's taste, but the fact you can have a coach built car is awesome.
k is that ! 
I'm astounded anyone can enjoy this car's "original" looks.
Jackie Stallone looks original... that doesn't make her a looker!
It's like someone has got a picture of an MP4-12C, got a picture of a Citroen DS, and stopped half way through the blend process. You could cut the top half off an Austin Allegro and stick the top of an Audi R8 on it, but the two cars don't share any common design.
This car terrifies my eyes.
Jackie Stallone looks original... that doesn't make her a looker!
It's like someone has got a picture of an MP4-12C, got a picture of a Citroen DS, and stopped half way through the blend process. You could cut the top half off an Austin Allegro and stick the top of an Audi R8 on it, but the two cars don't share any common design.
This car terrifies my eyes.
Looking at the responses above, you either love these things or loathe them. But, this isn't the real issue. What disturbs me about this car is the process and thinking behind its creation.
In design and in life, integrity matters. That means staying true to core principles even when tempted by large amounts of cash. Integrity is retained by sometimes saying 'no'. Giving out the message that ultimately everything is for sale is humiliating to all concerned. This is what Ron and Co have done.
One of McLaren's core beliefs is that form follows function. If you design a car that quotes a Mont Blanc pen, the Citroen SM and a whole plethora of pop culture references, you have jettisoned a a key tenet of your design philosophy in favour of kitsch. This is anti-design. Not good.
Frank Stephenson is one of the most highly regarded designers of the last 20 years. In spite of what he has said in public, it must have been awful to work on a vanity project such as this, for a wealthy tycoon. He's been forced to 'dance' with the richest guy in the room. He'll surely regret it in the morning.
Imagine if your favourite band allowed a wealthy fan to write and perform with them in exchange for oodles of cash? Exactly - this is no different.
Terrible really, but we will see much more of this kind of thing.
In design and in life, integrity matters. That means staying true to core principles even when tempted by large amounts of cash. Integrity is retained by sometimes saying 'no'. Giving out the message that ultimately everything is for sale is humiliating to all concerned. This is what Ron and Co have done.
One of McLaren's core beliefs is that form follows function. If you design a car that quotes a Mont Blanc pen, the Citroen SM and a whole plethora of pop culture references, you have jettisoned a a key tenet of your design philosophy in favour of kitsch. This is anti-design. Not good.
Frank Stephenson is one of the most highly regarded designers of the last 20 years. In spite of what he has said in public, it must have been awful to work on a vanity project such as this, for a wealthy tycoon. He's been forced to 'dance' with the richest guy in the room. He'll surely regret it in the morning.
Imagine if your favourite band allowed a wealthy fan to write and perform with them in exchange for oodles of cash? Exactly - this is no different.
Terrible really, but we will see much more of this kind of thing.
^^^ Did McLaren do it soley for the money? I'd be surprised if they did. I think what this car actually says, is McLaren are are capable of producing unique cars thanks in part to using their carbon tub design & of course along with their in-house engineering skills.
Overall a good move by McLaren, it will generate plenty media coverage and just might generate enough interest from other potential customers if's that's their intention, out of which may come a specialist car design studio & associated spin offs or something of that ilk.
To sum up, I think it's a statement as much by McLaren as the punter who commissioned it. Still this particular car, is a questionable looking design. Interesting to actually see in the flesh.
Overall a good move by McLaren, it will generate plenty media coverage and just might generate enough interest from other potential customers if's that's their intention, out of which may come a specialist car design studio & associated spin offs or something of that ilk.
To sum up, I think it's a statement as much by McLaren as the punter who commissioned it. Still this particular car, is a questionable looking design. Interesting to actually see in the flesh.
Edited by Johnboy Mac on Sunday 19th August 16:47
Johnboy Mac said:
^^^ Did McLaren do it soley for the money? I'd be surprised if they did. I think what this car actually says, is McLaren are are capable of producing unique cars thanks in part to using their carbon tub design & of course along with their in-house engineering skills.
I would have been rather shocked if they couldn't tbh.What it says to me is that at McLaren style and taste went <- that-a-way ->
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