Geneva Motor Show 2015: McLaren to revive the F1 GTR Longtail as the 675LT
The McLaren F1, originally designed to be just a road car with massive power, underwent significant modifications for the races over the years. These included the 1995 Le Mans where it managed to beat purpose-built racecars from the likes of Porsche and BMW. However, homologation requirements for the GT Championship in 1997 compelled McLaren to further sharpen its design and give it what is now called the Longtail treatment.
The name is derived from the extensive differences in the bodywork, when compared to the original road car to aid aerodynamic downforce, a wider rear wing, a longer nose and of course, a long tail were introduced. 18 years later, McLaren is now reviving the F1 GTR Longtail as a road legal supercar called the McLaren 675LT. Yes, its engine will be making close to a mammoth 675PS.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwkFqbGTNHY&feature=youtu.be&w=586&h=340]
More details regarding its engine and performance will be revealed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, where it's set to debut this March. For now, all we have is this teaser video with the rear wheel spraying through a very, very wet track. Stay tuned for more updates on this number.
A SECOND GENEVA DEBUT AND A NEW NAME: THE McLAREN 675LT
| Jan 28, 2015 LT model designation standing for 'Longtail' to join exisitng C and S range hierarchy LT to be the lightest, the quickest, and the purest version in the range Introduced by the 675LT which joins 650S and Asia-only 625C in the newly named McLaren Super Series Global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015 alongside the production-intent McLaren P1 GTR Modern day interpretation of the McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail' the evolution of a true world-beater Click here to watch the teaser: http://youtu.be/TwkFqbGTNHY McLaren will look to its heritage when it revives the legendary 'Longtail' name given to one of the purest GT sportscars of all time, the McLaren F1 GTR 'Longtail', for the launch of the new McLaren 675LT at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. This road legal supercar will embody the 'Longtail' ethos with a focus on performance optimised aerodynamics, increased downforce, driver engagement, power and reduced weight. The 675LT will join the core range of McLaren supercars alongside the existing 650S and Asia-only 625C to form the newly named McLaren Super Series which sits above the recently announced Sports Series in the range hierarchy. In line with the convention begun with the 650S, the number 675 denotes the power produced by the 675LT's engine in PS the output equating to a devilish 666bhp. This figure makes the 675LT the most powerful offering in the Super Series. It will be offered in coupé bodystyle only when deliveries start later this year. The iconic Longtail name made its debut during the 1997 season of sportscar racing, and saw a legendary model from McLaren on the grids around the world evolve into the most efficient race-focused version seen to-date. Rather than rest on the laurels of the highly-successful examples from the previous two seasons, which included a win on its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995, McLaren moved the benchmark on further an approach that echoes through the company to this very day. Formula 1 knowledge and experience, and the know-how gained from the pinnacle of the sport created the purest version of a true world-beater. The distinctive stretched silhouette of the McLaren F1 GTR became known during the season as the 'Longtail'. The nickname stuck, and the model demonstrated the ultimate example of one of motorsport's most successful GT cars. More details of the 675LT, including its startling performance figures, will be announced in the weeks running up to the Geneva Show. - See more at: http://www.media.mclarenautomotive.com/release/295/#sthash.d0B0rdix.dpuf | |
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