THE F70 (LaFerrari) Thread

True, but Jim's point is more of a tribute to the road car than you think.

IIRC, the design team for the F1 never set out to break top speed records. They simply wanted to build a no-compromise automobile. Gordon Murray's original technical drawings for the bodywork only required one modification when the team began production.

The F1 was a crappy road car from a track perspective because the suspension was soft, but the underlying platform adapted to LeMans conditions quite well. Suspension components were upgraded, obviously, but I think that McLaren's win at LeMans can be credited partially to the incredible integrity of design that was behind the road car.

 

Have you ever driven an F1 or an F 40? I have driven both and can't say I agree with you.

Not sure what an F1 or an F 40 have to do with a P1 or F 70.

 

I've corrected you before, but you don't know what you are talking about... again.

Windscreen wiper removed, front license plate replaced with a decal, and rev limiter lifted 1,000 rpm to prevent the harsh fuel cut at 7,500 rpm. Everything else about the F1 that did 391 km/h was completely standard.

McLaren's claim for the F1s top speed from the start of production was 231 mph (or 371 kph) based on a lap of the Nardo ring with one of the prototypes in 1993. That car was running an early spec engine and still slightly down on power. The constant radius of the Nardo track also causes scrub as you are constantly turning. They never bothered to find the car's actual maximum speed until production had ceased unlike most manufacturers that use that sort of element as their primary marketing tool.

>8^)
ER

 

The F1 was tested, with Mario Andretti at the wheel, by R&T at a large bowl in Texas in the mid-90's. That car, a privately owned standard production F1, was redline limited to 217 MPH. The 231 mph claim was for a car that had its rev limiter disabled, not the car as sold to customers.

Mario also felt the car was underdeveloped from a dynamic point of view, saying it was aerodynamically "absolutely unstable." Hopefully, with 900-odd horsepower, McLaren have done better with the new P1.

Mario drove a 550 Maranello the same day, to 194 Mph, and commented that the car was absolutely stable at that speed, and that he could have run it near as fast in the rain....

 

I count myself as a huge Ferrari fan, and will continue to be. However, your post demands correction. The P1 looks spectacular in person, both inside and out. Have you even sat in one?

 

Are you getting an F70?

 

I'm curious, from the videos of the P1 I've seen it sounds glorious, almost like a big block V8. What do you dislike about it Johnny?

As for the F70, god dayum that V12 scream *drool*

 

I think you are probably right...I remember a picture of a standard f1 being pitched into a corner hard and the picture was so memorable to me since the car had an enormous amount of body roll...can anyone find that?

PS, this is coming from a huge McLaren fan (and owner!) My 12c is my favorite car I have ever driven.

PS, Ben...congrats on the FXX...wow! amazing!!!!!

 

That'll show them Prius drivers!!

-Gil

 

To suggest that this car was the fairest specimen of McLaren F1 for Road&Track to test is missing some crucial details. The car Andretti drove was one of the 7 Ameritech F1s, modified to conform to US EPA emissions standards and no doubt down on power as a result. This was the same F1 Road&Track had driven nearly a year earlier with severe cooling issues in hot temperatures, enough that they had to park it several times to avoid a meltdown. It's owner felt that having it maintained locally was just as effective and more economical than having McLaren's trained technicians in the USA look after the car. Even when his son snapped a gear shaft in the transmission doing a burnout the car sat for several months while they tried to find a local shop to remake the piece - finally giving in and spending the $75,000 McLaren wanted for a new transmission.

Mario is the only one to make the claim of such high speed instability with the F1, again raising questions about that particular F1. He also happens to be the only reviewer with a bone to pick against McLaren for the failed efforts of his son in Formula One behind the wheel of a McLaren in the 1993 season, when he was sacked after very poor results in 13 races. A detailed account of that history, if anyone cares to read it, is here - his father always blamed the team for not giving Michael equal equipment to Senna and that he was set up to fail.

The McLaren F1 that did 231 mph in 1993 at Nardo was a development prototype (XP3), not modified in any particular way to benefit the test, and as noted earlier was slightly down on power. AutoCar reported it was only making 585hp in prototype trim when it achieved the 231 mph figure.

The later F1 top speed test in 1998 at VW's Ehra Lessien circuit in Germany used the final prototype (XP5) which was modified with the raised rev limiter and was the one that went nearly 10 mph faster, at 240.1 mph / 386.7 kph - certified by VW's own timing equipment at a speed slightly slower than the on-board Datron speed acquisition equipment had captured at 391 kph or approximately 242 mph.

>8^)
ER

 

So many passionate McLaren fans/drivers on FChat.

 

And it gets very heated, doesn't it?

 

Did someone say heated?

That said, it seems mindless drivel is preferred here over actual facts. Why is that?
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Most definitely getting one - I'm looking forward to actually seeing the car, but from what I've picked up so far Ferrari looks to have outdone themselves with the F150. The most recent renders and the "fiorano drift" video's sound are pure heaven.

Like I said, huge Ferrari fan, ever since I was a kid.

 

None of this Mclaren stuff, should be in this thread. There are thread(s) comparing both cars, granted they are going to compared Ad nauseam so there is bound to be some cross pollination in these threads however, the Mclaren F1 while an awesome car, has nothing to do with the F150. What do burning Ferraris, Mclarens, and Lamborghinis (etc) have to do with the F150? Back on topic: it's quiet amusing that the Fiorano Wikipedia page lists a time for the F150, when the final production version hasn't even turned a lap there. It's also interesting that the listed time is slower than what I know a mule has turned there.

 

Treynor, ditto; just waiting for the details...

I've grown to be respectful for all makes, enthusiastic about one (guess which...)

 

Ben, have Ferrari talked to you about getting the second version of the F150? It seems like something that would be right up your alley. Are you going to see the car before March?

 

Ferrari F150 to have 950hp - new details emerge after a private preview

It says that it has a rear wing

 

This wing matter has got into my nerves, can anyone solve this for god’s sake.

 

Old news and rear wing is like type on P1

 

So it’s like an active rear wing.

Any evidence on that because the track photos don't show a wing coming out.

 

The statement "maximum torque will be available from only 1,000 rpm" is puzzling. If true it would likely be a result of sychronizing the KERS to the IC engine output. But what use is it? Such low RPMs would not be encountered in either street or track use. Why not engineer the KERS to dump more of its energy at higher RPM? What am I missing?

 

My money is on the rear wing being far more like the one found on the Aventador, not the P1.

>8^)
ER

 

Hmmmmm people who have seen the car.. its a mule remember heavy cameo its not about the aero package at this point once the car has been seen the cameo will come off and full open running will begin...

 

Same basic idea i.e. a active wing is what i mean