EXPLORER CAR: McLaren F1 new 2010

Way back in the early 90′s, I was an absolutely huge fan of Formula 1 (zeolot is the more accurate term, but I’ve grown up a bit since then), religiously staying up until the early hours of the morning to watch the entire F1 race season broadcast live from its respective country. The fascination went far beyond a bunch of cars doing laps around a track under the control of a bunch of very highly paid (and skilled) drivers. It extended to the vehicles themselves, the engines, the computational telemetry, the pit crews, the team structure and most of all the psychology behind it all. I loved (and still do) the technology, the fanatical focus on process and relentless drive to develop faster, better, more effective and more efficient ways of being more reliable, more competitive and ultimately more justifiable to the sponsors which shell out tens of millions of dollars in sponsorship money in the expectation of high profile media coverage.
Back in June, Top Gear – one of the best shows on television – pitted a Bugatti Veyron against a McLaren F1 in a one-mile race. For the car nuts, this is about as good as it gets. For those who aren’t hip to the car scene, allow me to educate you a bit before you watch the clip…
Bugatti VeyronThe Bugatti Veyron is the fastest production car ever built. It features a 16-cylinder engine with 4 turbochargers that produces 1001 horsepower. This amazing power plant propels the car from 0 to 60 MPH in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 253 miles per hour. That’s one third the speed of sound at sea level in a car that you can drive every day. The car is price, and you can have one of your very own.The McLaren F1 was built in the late 90′s, and was – at the time – the world’s fastest production car. Unlike the more lavishly appointed Veyron, the McLaren was a lightweight, no-frills machine. It was McLaren F1powered by a naturally aspirated, BMW-built V12 making 627 horsepower which helped the car reach 60 MPH in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 240 MPH. When new, the McLaren F1 had a base price of $970,000. A total of 71 road versions were built, and the few which have been resold have
Leave it to the folks at Top Gear to arrange a mile-long drag race between these two amazing automobiles. While probably not the best gauge of any car’s true performance, it’s fun to see three and a half million dollars worth of supercars flying down a straightaway.What’s more amazing is the sleek front engine frame with its dashing headlight that gives the car the look of mischief. With its doors opening vertically you can just step into the interior of the car without
McLaren F1

McLaren F1