McLaren F1
McLaren F1 | |
Car information | |
Model Family | McLaren F1 |
Year | 1993 |
Make | McLaren |
Origin | United Kingdom |
Type | Limited Production |
Engine | 6.1 L Naturally Aspirated V12 (BMW S70/2) |
Power | 618 hp (461 kW) |
Torque | 479 ft⋅lb (650 N·m) |
Weight | 2,840 lb (1,288 kg) |
Layout | Mid-Engine, RWD |
Front Distr. | 41% |
Transmission | 6-speed Manual |
Related |
|
The McLaren F1 is a 3-seater mid-engined supercar designed and manufactured by McLaren Cars from 1993 to 1998.
Designed by Gordon Murray, the F1 is famous for being the fastest naturally aspirated car in existence, with a top speed of 386.4 km/h (240.1 mph) achieved in 1998.[1] In 2012, the F1 received a spiritual successor, the McLaren P1.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Only 106 units were produced: 5 prototypes (XP1, XP2, XP3, XP4, XP5), 64 road versions (F1), 1 tuned prototype (XP1 LM), 5 tuned versions (LM), 1 longtail prototype (XPGT), 2 longtail versions (GT), and 28 racecars (GTR). Production began in 1992 and ended in 1998.[2]
Design / Chassis[edit | edit source]
The McLaren F1 uses a unique three-seat design, taking the original two-seat design, turning both front seats into passenger seats, and adding a driver seat inbetween them. The driver seat is located in front of the fuel tank and engine. The doors on the vehicle move up and out when opened, and are thus of the butterfly type, also called Dihedral doors. Gordon Murray's design for the doors was inspired by a Toyota Sera.[3]
It was also the first production road car to make use of a complete carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) monocoque chassis structure.[4] Aluminium and magnesium were used for attachment points for the suspension system, inserted directly into the CFRP.[5]
The F1 has a weight of 2,840 lb (1,288 kg).
Engine[edit | edit source]
Murray insisted on the F1 being a naturally aspirated supercar for increased reliability and driver control. He initially approached Honda for a powerplant with 558 PS (550 hp; 410 kW) of power and 600 mm (23.6 in) in block length and a total weight of 551 lb (250 kg); it should be derived from the Formula One powerplant in the then-dominating McLaren/Honda cars. When Honda refused, Isuzu, then planning an entry into Formula One, had a 3.5 L V12 engine being tested in a Lotus chassis. The company was very interested in having the engine fitted into the F1. However, the designers wanted an engine with a proven design and a racing pedigree.[6]
Murray then approached BMW, who took interest, and the BMW M motorsport division designed and built Murray a 6,064 cc (6.1 L; 370 in3) 60° V12 engine known as the BMW S70/2.[1] In the F1, the S70/2 is rated at 627 PS (618 hp; 461 kW) at 7,400 rpm, 650 N·m (479 ft·lb) of torque at 5,600 rpm, and 586 lb (266 kg), being 14% more powerful and 35 lb (16 kg) heavier than Murray's original specifications, with the same block length.[1] The S70/2 in the F1 has a redline rev limiter set at 7,500 rpm.
Drivetrain[edit | edit source]
The F1 is a rear-wheel-drive supercar equipped with a 6-speed transverse manual transmission with an AP carbon triple-plate clutch[1] contained in an aluminum housing. It has the following gear ratios:
- Final Drive: 2.37
- 1st: 3.23
- 2nd: 2.19
- 3rd: 1.71
- 4th: 1.39
- 5th: 1.16
- 6th: 0.93
The final gear is offset from the clutch's side.[1] The transmission is proprietary and was developed by Weismann.[7] The Torsen LSD (Limited Slip Differential) has a 40% lock.[1]
Performance[edit | edit source]
- 0 - 60 mph (0 - 97 km/h): 3.4 seconds
- 0 - 100 mph (0 - 161 km/h): 7.7 seconds
- 0 - 200 mph (0 - 322 km/h): 28 seconds
- Top speed: 386.4 km/h (240.1 mph)
Currently, the McLaren F1 remains the fastest naturally aspirated car by top speed. There are cars that have a higher top speed than it, including the McLaren P1 (assuming this car is delimited), Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, Bugatti Chiron, Koenigsegg Agera RS, and Hennessey Venom GT, although all of these use forced induction.
Gameplay[edit | edit source]
Advantages[edit | edit source]
The F1's acceleration may not be fast by modern standards, but it is certainly not slow, as it can reach 100 mph (161 km/h) faster than most cars. True to real life, it remains the fastest purely naturally aspirated production car by top speed in the Forza series, with a top speed of 244 mph (393 km/h). In addition, its handling outperforms that of many cars in its decade except the McLaren F1 GT, Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR, and Lotus Elise GT1.
In Forza Horizon 4, the F1 is regarded as one of the seven fastest cars in the game that can break through 450 km/h (280 mph). It is capable of hitting 464 km/h (288 mph), making it the fastest Retro Supercar in the game by speed alone.
Disadvantages[edit | edit source]
The F1 exhibits some minor understeer, which can be corrected with upgrades. Players looking to upgrade this car for handling should not upgrade it past S Class (Forza Motorsport) or S1 Class (Forza Horizon).
Prior to Forza Horizon 4, the F1 could not make more than 1,200 hp (895 kW) even with a fully upgraded engine. In addition, in Forza Horizon 3 and Forza Horizon 4, the TVR Sagaris Forza Edition can pull off a higher top speed of 438 km/h (272 mph), assuming the F1 is stock and the Sagaris FE uses its upgrade preset.
Conversions[edit | edit source]
- Drivetrain
- AWD
- Aspiration
- Twin Turbo
Official Turn 10 remarks[edit | edit source]
- “The engine compartment is lined with gold. The driver’s seat is located in the center of the car. More than twenty years after it was first introduced, it’s still the fastest naturally aspirated car in the world. That’s why when most people are asked to name the greatest road car ever built, the McLaren F1 is what instantly springs to mind. It should; the F1 was designed and built to be just that, with no expense spared and no compromises made. The brainchild of Gordon Murray, a renowned designer of innovative racecars, the McLaren F1 defied conventional thinking by pioneering such technologies as a full carbon fiber monocoque chassis weighing just 220 lbs., a first for a road car. Backed up by a highly modified BMW V12 making 627 horsepower, the F1 is as fast as it was expensive—nearly a million dollars when new. While being fast would have been enough to drop jaws, the F1 is also an eminently drivable car—so much so that the F1, which was never intended to race at all, was modified slightly and went on to win the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans race outright. Only 64 were made, so don’t expect to see one in your nearest used car lot.”
Trivia[edit | edit source]
Mistakes[edit | edit source]
- In all games, the F1's power output is wrongly displayed as 627 hp (468 kW), despite that 627 is the F1's power output in metric horsepower (PS).
- Also, the F1's in-game torque output is 1 ft·lb (1 N·m) more than it should be, at 480 ft·lb (651 N·m).
- While the F1 GT actually has the correct 618 hp (461 kW) power output, it still has the same wrong torque output.
- Also, the F1's in-game torque output is 1 ft·lb (1 N·m) more than it should be, at 480 ft·lb (651 N·m).
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Forza Motorsport 4
- Forza Horizon
- Forza Motorsport 5
- Forza Horizon 2
- Forza Motorsport 6
- Forza Horizon 3
- Forza Motorsport 7
- Forza Horizon 4
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Supercars.net - McLaren F1 Pics & Information
- ↑ McLaren Automotive - Cars - McLaren F1 - Production (archived)
- ↑ CAR Magazine - Twelve things you may not know about the McLaren F1, Author: Tim Pollard, Date: 7/6/2012
- ↑ conceptcars - 1994 McLaren F1 History, Pictures, Value, Auction Sales, Research and News
- ↑ AntiqueCar.com - Great Classic Cars - McLaren F1, Author: Jack Nerad (archived)
- ↑ Jalopnik, Jalopnik Fantasy Garage - McLaren F1, Author: Jonny Lieberman, Date: 11/28/2007
- ↑ Jay Leno's Garage - Weismann Transmissions (archived)