RE: McLaren's shocking one-off X1
Discussion
Whilst I haven't fallen in love with this price of design you do have to applaud both the owner and McLaren for having the vision to produce this.
Seems there was more than one choice of design and the owner was given the end decision so you can't criticise McLaren for the end product. And if this is what floats the owner's boat then fair play, beauty is in the eye of the beholder... I still find Zoe Wanamaker incredibly attractive, go figure.
Seems there was more than one choice of design and the owner was given the end decision so you can't criticise McLaren for the end product. And if this is what floats the owner's boat then fair play, beauty is in the eye of the beholder... I still find Zoe Wanamaker incredibly attractive, go figure.
HighwayStar said:
Why would Mclaren refuse the money/work?
Do they need the money then? Are they struggling to shift units? Why allow their product / brand to be de-valued for the sake of someone's indulgence? Having made such a song & dance over making the best driver's car in the sector, above all other considerations, now they're saying that for money they'll do anthing the customer wants. It's an odd turn of events.By keeping their special vehicles dept to projects that keep to the brand's core principals and enhance their products in line with their ethos, I'd suggest they'd earn more respect and possibly custom. Assuming we car-loving mortals were potential customers, would you prefer to be associated with the company that produces specials like the Zonda 760RS, or this? I respect Horacio's work & principals in only taking on commissions that fit his ideals and wish that Ron had done the same. Just my humble.
356Speedster said:
Do they need the money then? Are they struggling to shift units? Why allow their product / brand to be de-valued for the sake of someone's indulgence? Having made such a song & dance over making the best driver's car in the sector, above all other considerations, now they're saying that for money they'll do anthing the customer wants. It's an odd turn of events.
1st McLaren is a business, needing money is irrelevant, more money is better than less money on your balance sheet.2nd I personally don't think this devalues the McLaren brand, ok it's a real Marmite car (and I'm not a fan) but the styling is unique and more importantly is sounds like the engineering of this bespoke car is pretty special (e.g the quote about the hinges for the rear wheel cover panels).
What company, in it's right mind, would turn down a vast amount of cash for something that has, in this instance, created such a statement and talking point....
This harks back to the days of bespoke coachbuilding. Any number of streamlined specials from the 30's and 40's can be seen in the design when automotive design and aero design were close relations. As for the commissioner, Jay Leno has all the above (F1, SLR and MP4). McLaren is also his favourite company. He has also had a string of specials coming through the Big Dog garage and is a judge at Pebble Beach. This might just be something to do with him. If it is we will get a much closer look at it some time soon.
Presumably this is just the equivalent to Maranello being willing to do whatever the customer waving a cheque book wants. If someone wants it then it is their choice no matter that I think it has no elegance at all.
Presumably the next Ferrari "special" will be welcomed as an individual expression of what someone wants and not derided as the factory being motivated by filthy lucre only? No? I thought not.
Presumably the next Ferrari "special" will be welcomed as an individual expression of what someone wants and not derided as the factory being motivated by filthy lucre only? No? I thought not.
356Speedster said:
HighwayStar said:
Why would Mclaren refuse the money/work?
Do they need the money then? Are they struggling to shift units? Why allow their product / brand to be de-valued for the sake of someone's indulgence? Having made such a song & dance over making the best driver's car in the sector, above all other considerations, now they're saying that for money they'll do anthing the customer wants. It's an odd turn of events.By keeping their special vehicles dept to projects that keep to the brand's core principals and enhance their products in line with their ethos, I'd suggest they'd earn more respect and possibly custom. Assuming we car-loving mortals were potential customers, would you prefer to be associated with the company that produces specials like the Zonda 760RS, or this? I respect Horacio's work & principals in only taking on commissions that fit his ideals and wish that Ron had done the same. Just my humble.
I can't believe how some people lose their minds because a manufacturer takes a left turn. As others have said... The 12C and Mclaren got a big slagging for being clinical, boring, unemotional... Now bespoke work is the wrong way to go too. Mclaren know what they are doing. There will be other minted, wealthy petrolheads seeing what they've done and some won't be able to contain their egos at the though of their very own one and only Mclaren.
356Speedster said:
Do they need the money then? Are they struggling to shift units? Why allow their product / brand to be de-valued for the sake of someone's indulgence? Having made such a song & dance over making the best driver's car in the sector, above all other considerations, now they're saying that for money they'll do anthing the customer wants. It's an odd turn of events.
By keeping their special vehicles dept to projects that keep to the brand's core principals and enhance their products in line with their ethos, I'd suggest they'd earn more respect and possibly custom. Assuming we car-loving mortals were potential customers, would you prefer to be associated with the company that produces specials like the Zonda 760RS, or this? I respect Horacio's work & principals in only taking on commissions that fit his ideals and wish that Ron had done the same. Just my humble.
I don't think they are struggling to shift units, they are reporting over 1000 sold so far which I think is in line with the projections they made initially, and even if they are, this one car doesn't make much difference to the number of units sold. With the description given the driving characteristics would appear to not have been compromised, it certainly doesn't sound like much weight has been added. McLaren certainly have the ability to make very low numbers of very lightweight parts as shown by the F1 cars which employ those very skills.By keeping their special vehicles dept to projects that keep to the brand's core principals and enhance their products in line with their ethos, I'd suggest they'd earn more respect and possibly custom. Assuming we car-loving mortals were potential customers, would you prefer to be associated with the company that produces specials like the Zonda 760RS, or this? I respect Horacio's work & principals in only taking on commissions that fit his ideals and wish that Ron had done the same. Just my humble.
I think the important thing to consider here is that both McLaren and the owner/specifier have approved the public showing of the car and that is not always the case with one off specials. Ferrari did it recently with the 512BB alike they produced for Eric Clapton and said it was one of many they have made, what do the other look like? And I suspect that if you went to Pagani with a cheque the size of the one that produced this McLaren or the one Eric gave to Ferrari I suspect they would be quite happy to discuss something with you, but probably don't have the resource capability to actually carry it out in house as McLaren, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, Bentley and possibly others do. The ideal would be to make money to be able to invest in other products which will be profitable I would imagine. And if that happens and the customer is happy, why should the manufacturer be too concerned what it looks like?
Certainly a challenging design, but very much in keeping with/in tribute to a lot of the more avant garde automotive design you tend to see at Pebble anyway. All sorts of weird coachbuilt shapes at that show, and many of the class wins are not beautiful by my definition.
You've got to applaud the guy who commissioned it though, whoever he is. Well done to you sir for having the courage of your convictions to stick your money into it. It is only you that needs to love it, thankfully!
You've got to applaud the guy who commissioned it though, whoever he is. Well done to you sir for having the courage of your convictions to stick your money into it. It is only you that needs to love it, thankfully!
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