Is the end of the LHD only supercar in sight
Discussion
If you go back a few years, then the main markets for your ferrari range toppers and various other hypercars would've been mainland Europe and North America, both of which are LHD markets, so producing just LHD for these manufacturers is a no brainer
We all know tooling up for LHD and RHD for limited run cars is very expensive, but is the recent commercial growth of some of the emerging markets generating enough customers to kick start these manufacturers (ie in recent times Ferrari, Bugatti and mclaren) investigating lost sales versus manufacturing costs for their range toppers
You only have to look at the uptake of customers in RHD HK and India to understand the market sector growth, and that's before we talk about the Japanese and of course British markets
This question is based, of course, on the assumption that RHD markets are not overly keen on LHD cars ? I've driven LHD sports cars, and for quick driving in the uk, it was an absolute pain in the backside, not to mention how dangerous having to pull 2/3 of your car into oncoming traffic to see an overtaking gap is
What do people think ?
We all know tooling up for LHD and RHD for limited run cars is very expensive, but is the recent commercial growth of some of the emerging markets generating enough customers to kick start these manufacturers (ie in recent times Ferrari, Bugatti and mclaren) investigating lost sales versus manufacturing costs for their range toppers
You only have to look at the uptake of customers in RHD HK and India to understand the market sector growth, and that's before we talk about the Japanese and of course British markets
This question is based, of course, on the assumption that RHD markets are not overly keen on LHD cars ? I've driven LHD sports cars, and for quick driving in the uk, it was an absolute pain in the backside, not to mention how dangerous having to pull 2/3 of your car into oncoming traffic to see an overtaking gap is
What do people think ?
Let's just say hypertheticly, that I'm in the market for a £1m hypercar, then I'd genuinely be put off by the mclaren or the Ferrari as my experience of LHD sports cars has been not great (read as 'dangerous at times')
If it was my money, as much as I probably prefer the previously mentioned offerings, I'd be knocking at Pagani or Koenigsegg for a RHD car
If it was my money, as much as I probably prefer the previously mentioned offerings, I'd be knocking at Pagani or Koenigsegg for a RHD car
GC8 said:
I suspect that there are more LHD Prosches in Japan than there are RHD ones. The Japanese enjoy the cachet that comes with a LHD car and Porsche has a construction code for both RHD and LHD cars for the Japanese market.
Yeah, I agreeI spent quite a bit if time in Japan, and I know the 'old money' like to show they can afford to import a car, hence cruise around in LHD range rovers and Sclasses
Not sure the 'newer money' Japanese are so embracing of such impracticalities though ?
Ozzie Osmond said:
Engineering a car to be built in both LHD and RHD is awkward with sleek sportscar packaging. It's not like some clumpy saloon with loads of space under the bonnet.
Also it's much easier for rear engined cars (Lambo, Ferrari, Lotus) than for front engined cars (Viper, Corvette).
Very true... Also, I believe it is sometimes seen as exclusive/ high status in some markets to have a car in the 'wrong' drive - partly as it means the driver is able to step out straight onto the curb...Also it's much easier for rear engined cars (Lambo, Ferrari, Lotus) than for front engined cars (Viper, Corvette).
I'd expect the LHD nature of China probably offsets the effect of other emerging markets - ultimately, I'd think it will always depend on the business-case of each model and as to where it's 'worth' designing for!
ETA: Beaten to it on the cachet of wrong drive thing - it was JP I mainly had in mind!
Edited by Ultuous on Friday 4th October 23:49
pilchardthecat said:
I wouldnt have a lhd drive car on my commute - loads of overtaking large things that are difficult to see past on single carriageway roads. It's hard enough with the wheel on the correct side
Try it, you'll be surprised 
[hint:hang back and look down the inside at every opportunity, whether town or country]. Town driving behind buses (and approaching parked lorries) needs a greater modicum of forward planning and (again) hanging back, otherwise it's a piece of pi, err, cake
!If I can do it...
aw51 121565 said:
pilchardthecat said:
I wouldnt have a lhd drive car on my commute - loads of overtaking large things that are difficult to see past on single carriageway roads. It's hard enough with the wheel on the correct side
Try it, you'll be surprised [hint:hang back and look down the inside at every opportunity, whether town or country]. Town driving behind buses (and approaching parked lorries) needs a greater modicum of forward planning and (again) hanging back, otherwise it's a piece of pi, err, cake
!If I can do it...
Since that moment, I simply wouldn't consider a LHD car for using in the UK
Roo said:
graeme4130 said:
Since that moment, I simply wouldn't consider a LHD car for using in the UK
And yet, many other people don't find it a problem.graeme4130 said:
Roo said:
graeme4130 said:
Since that moment, I simply wouldn't consider a LHD car for using in the UK
And yet, many other people don't find it a problem.Surely the point is that in terms of supercars, and particularly hypercars such as the the P1 and LaFerrari, they are not daily drivers so some element of compromise is required. For the UK it is quite likely that these cars will get occasional use in mainland Europe so a RHD car is immediately compromised.
It does beg the question about where a McLaren F1 is suitable for - it would always be compromised for overtaking visibility over a car with the wheel at one side or the other, yet whenever anyone comments about the driving position they say how good it always feels.
I do about 5 trips to France each year and find hanging back allows plenty of chances to get past in the gaps available - it isn't something I have ever had an issue with, just that the overtaking opportunities are less when sat on the wrong side, particularly in the Citroen Berlingo we sometimes use, but that is just plain slow!
It does beg the question about where a McLaren F1 is suitable for - it would always be compromised for overtaking visibility over a car with the wheel at one side or the other, yet whenever anyone comments about the driving position they say how good it always feels.
I do about 5 trips to France each year and find hanging back allows plenty of chances to get past in the gaps available - it isn't something I have ever had an issue with, just that the overtaking opportunities are less when sat on the wrong side, particularly in the Citroen Berlingo we sometimes use, but that is just plain slow!
BrownBottle said:
Troubleatmill said:
If I ever find myself fortunate enough ( lottery win needed ) to be in the Hypercar market. I'd be buying a LHD.
Far more prospects to sell it on the mainland than on the island.
Yeah, as a lottery winner that's the first thing I would be thinking...Far more prospects to sell it on the mainland than on the island.
Didn't realise the mac was LHD only. Pretty sad that they'd neglect their home market like that.
But once you've discounted all the cars that'll spend their life either as exquisitely engineered trophies, or doing little more than cruising up the kings road, the number of people who want one for a proper A-road blat is probably a very small minority.
But once you've discounted all the cars that'll spend their life either as exquisitely engineered trophies, or doing little more than cruising up the kings road, the number of people who want one for a proper A-road blat is probably a very small minority.
pilchardthecat said:
I wouldnt have a lhd drive car on my commute - loads of overtaking large things that are difficult to see past on single carriageway roads. It's hard enough with the wheel on the correct side
Simple solution a mate of mine came up with for his Mustang. He mounted a bullet cam on the right hand side of the dash and had it wired into the SatNav screen.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff