McLaren F1 sports car designed and built by Gordon Murray and McLaren Automotive. 31. March 1998, a record for the fastest car in the world, 240 mph (391 km / h). As in April 2009, the McLaren F1 has managed just three fastest cars top speed, but it is still the fastest naturally aspirated production car.

The car has many new designs and patented technologies. It is lighter and has a simpler structure than even the most modern of its rivals and competitors, although one more seat than most sports cars alike, with the driver’s seat is located in the center. It has a powerful motor and it’s aimed at the track, but not to the extent it affects everyday use and comfort. It was designed as an exercise in creating what its creators hoped it would be considered the ultimate road car. Although not designed as a machine to follow a revised edition of the race car has won several races as the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995, which was purpose-built prototype cars racing. Production began in 1992 and ended in 1998. In total, 106 cars were manufactured, with some variations in design.

Chief engineer Gordon Murray’s design concept was very popular among designers of high performance cars: low weight and high power. This was achieved by using high-tech and expensive materials like carbon fiber, titanium, gold, magnesium, and kevlar. McLaren F1 was the first car to use carbon fiber monocoque chassis.

The idea was conceived when Murray was waiting for a flight back from the fateful Italian Grand Prix 1988, Murray drew a three-seater sports car, and proposed that Ron Dennis, launched the idea of ​​ultimate road car, a concept which would greatly affect the Formula One experience and technology company, and then take account of this skill and knowledge of the McLaren F1.

Quote from Gordon (Article translated from Japanese): “Meanwhile, we were able to visit with Ayrton Senna (the late F1 Champion) and Honda’s Tochigi Research Center Visit with the fact that the. Time, McLaren F1 Grand Prix ​​cars used Honda engines. Although I thought I would have preferred a more powerful engine, the timing of driving the Honda NSX, all markers of cars from Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini had been using as a reference in development of my car vanished from my mind. Of course, we could create the car, the McLaren F1, it would be faster than the NSX, but the NSX’s ride quality and handling would become our new design target. Being a fan Honda engine, which then went to the Honda Research Center of Tochigi, on two occasions and asked to consider the construction of the McLaren F1 a 4.5 liter V10 or V12.

I asked, I tried to persuade them, but ultimately failed to persuade them to do, and McLaren F1 finished with a BMW engine. “

Later, a couple of kit cars Ultima MK3 chassis numbers 12 and 13, “Albert” and “Edward”, the last two MK3s, were used as “mules” to test various components and concepts before the first cars built. The number 12 was used to test the gearbox with a V8 engine of 7.4 liter Chevrolet to mimic the torque of the BMW V12 engine, and several other components such as seats and brakes. Number 13 was the test of the V12, plus exhaust and cooling system. When McLaren was done with the cars they destroyed two of them to scare and magazines, he did not want the car to be associated with “car game.”

The car was unveiled at a launch show on 28 May 1991 at the Sporting Club of Monaco. The production version remained the same as the original prototype (XP1) except for the mirror in the XP1, was mounted on the pillar. This car is not considered legal way, as he had no indicators on the front, McLaren was forced to make changes to the car as a result (some cars, such as Ralph Lauren, were returned to McLaren and fitted with the prototype mirrors). The original mirrors also incorporated a couple of indicators of other manufacturers to adopt several years later.

safety first car was shown when, during testing in Namibia in April 1993, a test driver wearing just shorts and a t-shirt hit a rock, and rolled the first prototype car several times. The driver escaped unharmed. In the same year, the second prototype (XP2) was especially built crashtesting and ignore the front wheel arch untouched.

Engine

Gordon Murray insisted that the driver of this car is naturally aspirated to increase reliability and driver control. Turbochargers and superchargers increase power but can increase complexity and decrease reliability as well as the introduction of an aspect of the latency and loss of the reaction, the pilot’s ability to maintain maximum control of the motor is reduced. Murray initially approached Honda for an NA engine 550 hp (410 kW, 560 hp), 600 mm (23.6 inches) of block length and total weight of 250 kg (551 pounds), must be derived engine Formula One in the then dominant McLaren / Honda.

When Honda refused, Isuzu, then planning an entry into Formula One, had a 3.5 V12 engine tested in a Lotus chassis. The company was very interested in getting the engine fitted to the McLaren F1. However, the designers wanted an engine with a proven design and a racing pedigree.

Ultimately, BMW has taken an interest and division of BMW M Motorsports driven by engine expert Paul Roscher designed and built a custom designed 6.1 L Murray (6064 cc) V12 engine to 60 degrees, which was 14% higher than indicated and 16 kg (35 lb) heavier – although it is based on the initial specifications of 550 hp (410 kW, 560 hp), 600 mm (23.6 inches) of block length and total weight of 250 kg (550 lb).

The end result is a custom built 6.1 L (6064 cc) 60 degree V12 with aluminum alloy block and head, 86 mm (3.4 inches) x 87 mm (3.4 in) bore / stroke, quad overhead camshafts for maximum flexibility in controlling four valves per cylinder and a chain drive for camshafts for maximum reliability, the engine is dry sump. At 266 kg (586 lb), was the engine resulting slightly heavier than the weight Murray Original specification maximum of 250 kg (551 lb) but was also considerably stronger than he stated. The engine custom built for the McLaren F1 is called BMW S70 / 2

carbon fiber monocoque body and the significant demand for thermal insulation in the engine compartment, so Murray’s solution was a line in the engine compartment is very efficient heat-reflector: gold foil. About 25 grams (0.8 ounces) of gold were used for each car.

The road version used a compression ratio of 11:01 to produce 627 hp (468 kW, 636 hp) at 7400 rpm-considerably more than the specifications Murray 550 horsepower (404 kW). Torque of 480 lb-ft (651 N • m) at 5600 rpm. The engine has a redline rev limiter set at 7500 rpm.

Unlike the first engine power, car power to weight ratio is a better method than the peak volume acceleration of the vehicle power source. The standard McLaren F1 achieves 550 hp / tonne (403 kW / t), or only 3.6 pounds / hp. Compare Ferrari Enzo 434 hp / tonne (314 kW / t) (4.6 lb / hp), Bugatti Veyron is 530.2 hp / tonne (395 kW / t) (4.1 lb / hp), and the SSC Ultimate Aero TT with a claimed 1,003 hp / tonne (747.9 kW / t) (2 kg / hp).

Carriers of the cam covers, oil pan, dry sump and housing for the camshaft control of cast magnesium. admission control is composed of twelve individual butterfly valves and exhaust system with four catalysts Lambda Sond Inconel individual controls. The continuously variable camshafts for increased performance, thanks to a system closely based on system timing BMW VANOS variable valve for the BMW M3 is powered by a hydraulic mechanism that slows the progressive acceptance cam compared to the exhaust cam at low revs, which reduces valve overlap and ensures greater stability and slowed more torque at low speed. A high speed valve overlap is increased by the computer control to 42 degrees (25 degrees compared with the M3) increased airflow into the cylinders and therefore higher performance.

To allow fuel to spray the entire engine uses two injectors per cylinder Lucas, with the first injector located near the entrance – operating at low speed – while the other is placed above the inlet tube – which operate at high speed. The dynamics of transition between the two devices is controlled by the engine computer.

Each cylinder has its own miniature ignition coil. closed loop is a sequential injection. The engine is not as expected beat combustion sensor does not cause this is a problem. Pistons are forged aluminum.

Each cylinder is coated Nikasil giving a high degree of wear resistance.

From 1998 to 2000, winning BMW V12 LMR Le Mans sports car used a similar S70 / 2 engine.

The engine was given a development time, leading the design team to use only trusted the BMW design and implementation experience before. The engine does not use titanium valves and connecting rods. variable intake geometry was considered but rejected due to unnecessary complication.

As for fuel, the engine uses an average of 15.2 miles per gallon, mpg 9.3 in the worst and best of 23.4 miles per gallon.

Chassis and body

McLaren F1 was the first road car to use a complete carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque chassis structure. Aluminum and magnesium have been used for attachment points for the suspension system directly in CFRP.

A central driving position in the car – the driver’s seat is in the middle before the fuel tank and before the engine, the passenger seat slightly behind and on both sides. The doors of the vehicle in motion and when he opened up, and are, therefore, a type of butterfly doors.

The engine produces high temperatures during the full and thus cause a variation in temperature in the engine compartment of the absence of normal surgery and fully operational. CFRP mechanical stress over time of strong effects of heat transfer and therefore the engine compartment was decided not to CFRP.

Aerodynamics

The resistance coefficient is the global standard McLaren F1 is 0.32, and 0.36 faster than Bugatti Veyron, and 0.357 of the current owner of record fastest car in the world (since 2008) – SSC Ultimate Aero TT (measured at high speed) . Vehicle frontal area is 1.79 square meters and the size of Cd is 0.57. Given the fact that the machine is active aerodynamics, these figures are shown in more streamlined configuration.

Normal McLaren F1 features no wings to generate support (cf. GTR LM and versions), but the overall design of the underbody of the McLaren F1 plus a rear diffuser uses ground effect to improve the strength of support, which is reinforced by the use of two electric fans to further decrease the pressure under the car. A “high downforce mode” can be disabled by the driver. The roof of the car has an air inlet direct high pressure air to the engine with a low pressure outlet at the top of the very late. Over each door is a small inlet for cooling oil and some electronics. The air flow created by the electric fans not only to increase support, but the airflow that is created exploited through the design, being led by the engine compartment to provide additional cooling for the engine and ECU. On the front, he channels assisted by an electric fan for cooling the front brakes.

There is a small rear spoiler on the tail of the vehicle, which is dynamic, the camera adjusts dynamically to try to balance the center of gravity of the car under braking – is going to move forward when the brakes are applied. After activation of the fin area of ​​high pressure is clearly established before the flap, the area of ​​high pressure is used, two vents were found in the application to the flow of high pressure air to enter the air ducts that the road to the rear brake cooling. The spoiler increases the overall drag coefficient from 0.32 to 0.39 and is activated at speeds equal to or above 40 mph (64 kph) by pressing the brake line.

Suspension

Steve Randle was dynamicist car was appointed head of the suspension design of the McLaren F1 engine. It was decided that the flight would be comfortable yet performance oriented, but not so stiff and like a true track machine that would imply a reduction in convenience and comfort and increase noise and vibration that would be a contradiction in design choices relative to the previous case series – to create the ultimate road car.

The basic design of the McLaren F1 car had a strong emphasis on the balance of weight of the car as close as possible to the center by an extensive manipulation of the location of the particular engine, fuel and driver, allowing a low polar moment of inertia in yaw. McLaren F1 has 42% of its weight on the front and 58% on the back, this number changes by less than 1% of fuel volume.

The distance between the center of mass of the gravity of the car and the roll center of the suspension is designed to be the same front and rear to prevent adverse effects on weight transfer. Computer-controlled dynamic suspension was considered but not used because of the inherent weight gain, increased complexity and loss of predictability of the vehicle.

Specifications damper and spring: 90 mm (3.5 inch) bump, 80 mm (3.1 inches) rebounded with hopping frequency of 1.43 Hz and 1.80 Hz to stern, despite sports facing these figures mean rather the smooth ride and inherently reduce performance, but again, the McLaren F1 is not in the design or implementation of a trail machine. As seen from the McLaren F1 LM, McLaren F1 GTR et al. performance potential of the track is much higher than the stock McLaren F1 because the car should be comfortable and usable in everyday situations.

The suspension is double wishbone system an interesting project, among other things, that the wheel compared with a loss of longitudinal control, which allows the bike to travel backwards when it hits a bump – to increase the comfort of the journey.

Castor wind front during braking is provided by McLaren landowners cutting plane Centre – triangles on each side of the frame is fixed at the rigid plane bearings and connected to the body for four independent rings that are 25 times more rigid axial radial . This solution provides a castor-off wind measured at 1.02 degrees per G of the slowdown. Compare Honda NSX of 2.91 degrees per G, the Porsche 928 S at 3.60 degrees per G and the Jaguar XJ6 to 4.30 degrees per G, respectively. The difference between the foot and rope are also very low in the lateral force. Inclined to cut the shaft is used in the rear of the machine provides measurements of 0.04 degrees per G of the change in finger braking and 0.08 degrees per G of toe-in tension.

In developing the suspension system of the installation of electro-hydraulic kinematics and compliance with best dynamics Anthony has been used to measure the performance of the suspension of a XL16 Jaguar, Porsche and a Honda NSX 928S used as a reference.

steering joints and the upper triangle / elbow is specially manufactured in an aluminum alloy. The triangles are made of solid aluminum with CNC machines.

Tires

McLaren F1 uses 235/45ZR17 front tires and 315/45ZR17 rear. These are specially designed and developed exclusively for the McLaren F1 is a Goodyear and Michelin. The tires are mounted on 17 x 9 cm and 17 x 11.5 inch cast magnesium wheels, protected by a hard protective coating. five-spoke wheel rims are protected by pin retention of magnesium.

The turning radius curb to curb is 13 m (42.7 ft), which allows the driver to two turns lock to lock.

Brakes

McLaren F1 functions without assistance, and ventilated disc brakes made by Brembo crossdrilled. Face is 332 mm (13.1 inches) and rear 305 mm (12.0 inches). The calipers are four-pot opposed piston types, and are constructed of aluminum. The rear calipers do not feature the handbrake, but there is a mechanical action, fist-type caliper, which is computer controlled and thus acts as a brake.

To increase the rigidity of the caliper brackets are machined from one solid piece (as opposed to more common ones are bolted together by two halves). Travel on foot is a little more than an inch. The activation of the rear wing will air pressure generated at the rear of the vehicle to force air into the cooling circuits located at each end of the fin that appears to demand it.

Servo-assisted ABS brakes were excluded because they require a greater mass, complexity, and reduce brake feel, but it increases the skills required for the driver.

Gordon Murray has tried to use carbon brakes for the McLaren F1, but found the technology is not mature enough yet with one of the main culprits is that a proportional relationship between the temperature of the disc brake and friction, ie the stopping power resulting in relatively poor braking performance without a minimum of heat on the brakes before using. As carbon brakes have a budget of more simplified application environments pure racing, allowing the racing version of the machine, McLaren F1 GTR which include carbon ceramic brakes.

Gearbox and several

The standard McLaren F1 has a 6-speed manual transmission with a clutch AP carbon triple cross platinum in an aluminum housing. The issue of second generation GTR has a magnesium case. The two standard editions “McLaren F1 LM, the following proportions: 3,23:1, 2.19:1, 1.71:1, 1.39:1, 1.16:1, 0.93:1, with a 2.37 final drive: 1 The final gear moves the clutch. The gearbox is owned and was developed by Weismann LSD. Torsen differential (limited slip) have a blockage of 40%.

McLaren F1 has an aluminum wheel with only the dimensions and the mass absolutely necessary for the motor torque to be transmitted. This reduces the rotational inertia and a larger system, accelerating the development and better feedback gas. This is possible because of the McLaren F1 engine lacks torque and provides secondary vibration damper vridningsvibrationerne BMW.

Interior and equipment

Standard reviews car audio equipment in stock McLaren F1 includes full cabin air conditioning, a rarity on most sports cars and a system design, as Murray again credited Honda NSX, a car, he was the owner and himself a period of 7 years without it, the official McLaren F1 website you will ever need to change the automatic AC. Additional comfort features Sekurit electric defrost / window defroster windshield and side, electric windows, remote central locking, Kenwood CD stereo 10-disc, car reviews, release access by car to the panels opening, interior storage unit, four lamp high performance headlight system, rear fog and reversing lights, courtesy lights in all compartments, map reading lights and a gold-plated kit Facom titanium tool kit and first aid (the Both are stored in the car). In addition, customized, proprietary luggage compartment specially designed for car storage carpeting, including a custom golf bag was standard equipment.

Airbags are not present in the car.

All features of the McLaren F1 has been obsessed by Gordon Murray, which included the interior. The metal plates mounted to improve the aesthetics of the passenger allegedly 20/1000 of an inch thick in order to save weight. The driver’s seat of the McLaren F1 is equipped with custom specifications desired by the customer for fit and comfort, the seats are hand made from carbon fiber and leather covered Connolly light. In designing the steering column F1 is not adjustable, but before the production of each customer the exact location of the preferred wheel and therefore the steering column is designed as a standard for these ownership options, the same thing for the pedals, which are not adjusted after the car left the factory, but as the column direction pedals are also adapted to each customer.

During his pre-production, McLaren commissioned to create a system of Kenwood car audio Kenwood car light, between 1992 and 1998 McLaren F1 used to promote their products in print ads, calendars and catalog covers. audio system of each vehicle has been specially designed to suit the taste of an individual plays, but the radio has been omitted because Murray never heard of the radio.

Each standard McLaren F1 also has a modem that provides customer service to retrieve information remotely from the car unit to help in case of vehicle breakdown.

Purchase and maintenance

Only 106 cars were manufactured, 64 of which were the standard version of the street (F1), 5 were (LMS versions set), 3 were Roadcar Cute (GT), 5 prototypes (XP), racing cars 28 (GTR) , and LM prototype (XP LM). Production began in 1992 and ended in 1998. At the time of the production of machinery took about 3.5 months to do so.

Until 1998, when the McLaren produced and sold in standard models of the McLaren F1, had a price of about 970 000 dollars. Cars can be sold at almost double the original price, performance and exclusivity, since the machine. They are expected to continue to grow in value over time.

Although production ceased in 1998, McLaren still has broad support and service for the McLaren F1. There are eight authorized service centers worldwide, and McLaren will be an opportunity to steal a technician to the vehicle owner or service center. All technicians are trained dedicated to serving the McLaren F1. In cases in which there is major structural damage, the car can be sent directly to McLaren for the repair.

On October 29, 2008 was a McLaren F1 road car (chassis number 065) is sold at RM Auto Auction in London for £ 2.53 million (~ U.S. $ 4.1 million). It was the McLaren car showroom on Park Lane, London. With only 484 km on the meter, set the perfect example of a world record for the highest price ever paid for a McLaren F1 road car.