Yahoo Autos McLaren Didn't Upgrade the F1 To Go 251
We're a bit crazy about the McLaren F1 around here. But it's for a reason: the F1 is a monumental achievement and the greatest car ever built. Legendary designer Gordon Murray created the ultimate road car, something that could go 243 mph flat out and could comfortably seat three people. It was an uncompromising car with the only goal of being the greatest ever.
But the greatest wasn't necessarily good enough. Over the years, McLaren has modified cars to the tastes of various owners, with outlandish modifications, more modern features, and more power thanks to an LM upgrade.
However, there's a document from 2009 that just resurfaced and have been ciruclating around the internet about an upgrade in 2010 that did more than just give the F1 new headlights or a power upgrade. This upgrade was comprehensive, essentially building a whole new car.
What did that entail? The BMW V12 engine was now 6.2 liters and had a power increase to 691. Carbon ceramic brakes were added. It had adaptive engine mounts. There were aero changes to reduce the coefficient of drag. All of this resulted in a top speed of more than 250, a 10.1 second quarter mile run, 2.9 to 60, and an improved power to weight ratio.
It all sounds great. The problem? It never happened.
The document may look very official at a glance, but it should be apparent once you read it that this is not even close to real. The document repeatedly cites former McLaren designer Frank Stephenson, except it spells his last name incorrectly every time. Also, why would the chief designer be talking about performance modifications like the engine and brakes? Why not an engineer? There are numerous grammatical errors, which a company as exacting and precise as McLaren would never allow out of the doors of the MTC. Why would BMW update that engine for McLaren in 2010 when the company was attached at the hip to Mercedes?
Plus, if McLaren did this, don't you think you'd have heard about it in 2010? Don't you think you'd have known that the F1 was being upgraded with way more power and could top out at more than 250?
We sent the document to McLaren, just to make sure. The response? "This is a fake, with no substance whatsoever."
There you have it.
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