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F1 Technology Provides Unique Driving Experience

Salvador González - McLaren Mexico City
General Manager
Home > Automotive > View from the Top

F1 Technology Provides Unique Driving Experience

Adam Gron - McLaren Automotive
Marketing and PR Manager for Middle East, Africa and Latin America
Salvador Gonzalez McLaren

STORY INLINE POST

Wed, 05/08/2019 - 11:42

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Q: Four years after opening its first dealership in Mexico, how has the Mexican exotic vehicle segment reacted to McLaren’s high-performance lineup?

A: McLaren began operations in Mexico in September 2015. The Mexican market has been really good to us as people in the country have really taken to the cars, especially those who love racing or exotic models. The McLaren brand has been successful in Mexico and the country is now one of our largest markets in terms of volume for the Middle East, Africa and Latin America regions. McLaren is an exclusive brand and seeing one on the road is an unforgettable sight. In 2018, McLaren sold over 4,800 cars globally and we expect a similar figure for 2019. These figures will allow us to be quite profitable and invest in new products, while maintaining the exclusivity that customers expect from us. 
Q: One of McLaren’s differentiators is its driving experience. What else makes the brand stand out in the luxury market?

A: McLaren focuses on technology to enhance the driving experience. We are a racing company at heart. We started in 1963 as a racing team but since 2010, we have set our sights on becoming an iconic supercar company. From that point on, we have been using many F1-derived technologies to enhance the performance of our vehicles. 
Design is very important for us and another big differentiator. We follow the “form-follows-function” design philosophy, in which the shape of the car is usually dictated by its aerodynamic performance. There is nothing in the car that does not serve a function. For instance, our McLaren 720s introduced a new headlight design that also makes them active air intakes to support the cooling system. It looks cool but it also has a real use. The 720s also incorporate another F1-derived technology that allows the spoiler to extend, reducing drag and improving performance.  
Carbon fiber is the most important technology we have translated from F1 to commercial cars. McLaren is a carbon fiber pioneer; in 1981, we became the first driving team to use this material. In the early 1990s, we produced the first road car with carbon fiber and every single racing car has used it since then. Our cars have carbon fiber tabs, including the carbon fiber Monocell Two, which is a light monocoque that provides structural rigidity. This has a massive impact on driver engagement and also provides safety thanks to the material’s physical properties. 
Q: What milestones has McLaren achieved in developing a 100 percent electric super-sports car?

A: In 2013, we became the first supercar company to introduce a performance-focused hybrid to the market. This vehicle incorporated a conventional powertrain coupled with an electric motor that filled the gaps in torque delivery, translating to phenomenal performance. We are not ruling out a fully electric vehicle but we will only launch it if a steep change in technology occurs that would allow us to develop an electric vehicle that provides the McLaren driving experience. 
There are many issues to address before launching a fully electric vehicle, including battery weight and composition. At this point, most technological developments for batteries focus either on power density or range; McLaren vehicles need both. We want to create a car that customers can drive to the track, take a few laps and then drive back from the track. So far, this technology does not exist. We recently announced our Track 25 business plan, which will hopefully lead us to such a development by the end of 2025. 

Q: As an independent OEM, what competitive advantages does McLaren have in terms of technology development and original design?

A: Being an independent company allows us to be nimble, react to the market and make decisions quickly. We can also develop new products quickly, which helps to introduce new technologies to the market faster. Moreover, as we are not partnered with another OEM, every single car component is 100 percent McLaren, granting a unique driving experience characteristic to the brand.
 

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