McLaren F1 - 1992

Marca - Auto Art Signature

Escala - 1:18
 

 
The McLaren F1 is a supercar designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. Originally a concept conceived by Gordon Murray, he convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and engaged Peter Stevens to design the exterior of the car. On 31 March 1998, it set the record for the fastest road car in the world, topping at 231 mph (372 km/h) with rev limiter on, and 242.95 mph (391 km/h) with rev limiter removed.
The car features numerous proprietary designs and technologies; it is lighter and has a more streamlined structure than even most of its modern rivals and competitors despite having one seat more than most similar sports cars, with the driver's seat located in the middle (and slightly forward of the passengers seating position providing excellent driving visibility). It features a powerful engine and is somewhat track oriented, but not to the degree that it compromises everyday usability and comfort. It was conceived as an exercise in creating what its designers hoped would be considered the ultimate road car. Despite not having been designed as a track machine, a modified race car edition of the vehicle won several races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995, where it faced purpose-built prototype race cars. Production began in 1992 and ended in 1998. In all, 106 cars were manufactured, with some variations in the design.
On the engine department, Murray wanted a naturally aspirated engine that allows it to be more reliable and easy to manipulate. After going through some candidates, the McLaren team settled on a BMW-designed 6.0 liter V12 engine that weighs in at 266 kilograms and yet generates 627 horsepower. Having a powerful engine means producing a lot of heat on the engine compartment that may damage the carbon fiber parts. McLaren’s solution? They had the compartment plated by gold foil for insulation. Combined with the frame’s light frame, the power to weight ratio of the McLaren F1 can only be described as amazing: 550 horsepower per ton.
For a very long time, the McLaren F1 had been the world’s fastest car, and even now, it is still very difficult to beat. Zero to 62 mph comes at 3.2 seconds, zero to 100 miles per hour comes at 6.3 seconds, and a top speed of almost 248 mph are some of its performance numbers. But this car is more than just that. The McLaren F1 has set a standard in the sports car industry. Featuring many innovative techniques that had been way ahead of its time, it is one of the greatest cars ever built. Indeed, it lived up to Gordon Murray’s dream of building the ultimate road car.