Mclaren retains award for best engine in the 3L - 4L catagory, can they make it three years next year ?

The 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 petrol engine has upheld the honour for McLaren Automotive, having won the ‘3-litre to 4-litre’ category at the 2014 Engine of the Year awards. The success marks the second consecutive year McLaren has claimed the prestigious title, having been named the first new winner of the accolade for five years in 2013.

The M838T engine, designed and developed by McLaren in collaboration with Ricardo, has recently undergone significant changes to produce a class-leading 650PS and 678Nm of torque in the McLaren 650S Coupe and Spider. Acceleration from a standstill to 62mph (100 km/h) takes just 3.0 seconds, with no compromises to efficiency or emissions, returning 24.2 mpg (11.7 l/100km) on the combined cycle, emissions of just 275g/km, and no gas guzzler tax in North America.

The International Engine of the Year awards were presented at Engine Expo 2014, and voted for by an independent panel of leading automotive journalists from around the world. 

Commenting on the engine, co-chairman of the Awards and one of the international judges, Dean Slavnich explained: ‘Supercar trailblazing in every sense: lightweight, twin turbocharging, reduced displacement and so very flexible with a wide power output – the M838T V8 is just a wonderful piece of powertrain engineering.’

Richard Farquhar, Head of Powertrain and Graham Langham, Engine Manager from McLaren Automotive received the award at a ceremony in Stuttgart, Germany.

On collecting the award, Richard Farquhar explained: ‘It is a real honour to collect this award for the second year in a row, and is credit to all at McLaren Automotive for the hard work and dedication to the continued progress and development that McLaren is famous for. The M838T engine has been extremely successful since it was first introduced, and redefined the benchmark in terms of performance, refinement, weight and efficiency. It has recently been further enhanced with the launch of the 650S, with the power and torque figures both increased to optimise driving engagement and further enhance performance. Despite these updates, the class-leading efficiency has been maintained and emissions levels have actually improved.’

GENEVA - McLaren 650 Spider joins coupe at Geneva

• New McLaren 650S Spider just as engaging on road and track as fixed-roof Coupé
• 0-100km/h (62 mph) takes 3.0 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in 8.6 seconds
• No reduction in torsional strength due to unique carbon fibre MonoCell chassis; similar weight, too
• Two piece roof can be raised or lowered in less than 17 seconds on the move at speeds up to 30 km/h (19 mph)

McLaren Automotive has now released images and full information for the convertible version of its latest model, the McLaren 650S, unveiled at the 84^th International Geneva Motor Show. The McLaren 650S Spider is a no compromise open-top high performance sports car offering the same performance, handling and driver enjoyment, with the addition of a two-piece retractable hard top. The latest model is shown in Tarocco Orange, a new addition to the McLaren colour collection, developed with technology partner AkzoNobel.

The McLaren 650S Spider is mechanically identical to the 650S Coupé and is fitted with the unique McLaren M838T twin turbo V8 engine, producing 650PS (641 bhp) and 678 Nm (500 lb ft). This means a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint of 3.0 seconds, identical to the Coupé, and 200 km/h (124 mph) is reached in 8.6 seconds, only 0.2 seconds shy of the fixed-head model. Maximum speed is 329 km/h mph (204 mph). Fuel consumption and emissions remain the same for the 650S Spider, returning 24.2 mpg (11.7 l/100km) on the EU combined cycle and 275 g/km.

Most competitors do not offer high performance iterations as convertibles due to the compromises that invariably plague open-roof cars. These models will be heavier and have substantially less torsional rigidity, to the detriment of handling and ride.

The carbon fibre MonoCell chassis at the heart of the McLaren 650S requires no additional strengthening or reinforcing in open-top guise, and gives the 650S Spider identical handling and ride, and virtually identical straight-line performance figures. The overall weight of the 650S Spider is 1,370 kg (dry), an increase of only 40 kg over the Coupé, with this additional mass coming from the Retractable Hard Top and roof mechanism, and is less than any other car in its class.

The two-piece Retractable Hard Top can be automatically raised or lower in less than 17 seconds, and can be activated while stationary or at any speed up to 30km/h (19mph).

As with the 12C Spider, the 650S Spider uses a heated glass rear window, operating independently of the roof. With the roof down, the rear window acts as a wind deflector, reducing cabin buffeting. Roof up, the rear screen can be lowered to allow more engine noise – and driving drama – into the cabin, and for a semi-open top driving experience even when it is raining. When down, the roof is stowed beneath a body-coloured hard tonneau cover incorporated in the twin rear buttresses. With the roof raised, the area beneath the tonneau cover can be used as additional luggage space.

Rather than being a stripped out road racer, the 650S Coupé and 650 Spider models are fitted with a high level of luxury equipment as standard. Carbon ceramic brakes sit behind unique ‘650’ lightweight alloy wheels shod with Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyres, IRIS satellite navigation with Bluetooth telephony, DAB digital radio in Europe (SIRIUS satellite radio in North America), wireless tethering, audio streaming and voice control are all fitted as standard, and the cabin is fully trimmed in Alcantara.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION– McLaren 650S SPIDER

Drivetrain Layout	Longitudinal Mid-Engine, RWD	Track, F/R (mm)	1656 / 1583
Engine Configuration	V8 Twin Turbo / 3799cc	Length (mm)	4512
Engine PS / rpm	650 / 7250	Width (mm)	2093
Torque Nm / rpm	678 / 6000	Height (mm)	1203
Transmission	7 Speed SSG	Dry Weight (kg / lbs)	1370 / 3020
Body Structure	Carbon Fibre MonoCell with   Aluminium Front and Rear Frames	Active Aerodynamics	McLaren Airbrake
Wheelbase (mm)	2670	Suspension	ProActive Chassis Control
Brakes	Carbon Ceramic Discs with Forged Aluminium Hubs (F 394mm/R 380mm)	ProActive Chassis Control modes	Normal / Sport / Track
Tyres (F/R)	Pirelli P Zero Corsa 235/35 R19 / Pirelli P Zero Corsa 305/30 R20	Powertrain Modes	Winter / Normal / Sport / Track
Wheel Sizes (F/R)	19” x 8.5”J / 20” x 11” J

PERFORMANCE DATA – McLaren 650S SPIDER

Efficiency	CO2	275 g/km
	Fuel consumption (combined)	24.2 mpg
	Power to weight (with lightweight options)	485 PS (478 bhp) /tonne
	CO2/power	0.42 g/km per PS
Speed	Maximum speed	329 km/h (204 mph)
Acceleration	0-100 kph (62 mph)	3.0 s*
	0-200 kph (124 mph)	8.6 s*
	0-300 kph (186 mph)	26.5 s*
	0-400 m / ¼ mile	10.6 @ 222 km/h (138 mph)*
Braking	Braking	100-0 km/h     30.7 m (101 ft)
		200-0 km/h     124 m (407 ft)
		300-0 km/h     273 m (896 ft)

*with standard-fit Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyre

All figures apply to a European specification McLaren 6505 Spider

SCOOP 3 - McLaren 650 leaked online before Geneva debut

The upcoming McLaren 650S, a high-performance variant of the existing McLaren 12C, has leaked online ahead of the car's Geneva debut next month.

Previously, McLaren had confirmed to Autocar that the 650S would be a production model based on the current 12C. The company said that the car would feature myriad styling tweaks, including the nose design from the P1 - as confirmed in these leaked images.

Instead of the 616bhp offered by the 12C's 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, the new 650S is thought to feature - as the moniker suggests - a 650ps (641bhp) variant of the same engine.

Other upgrades are reputed to include improved aerodynamics, upgraded suspension, different brakes and adjustments to the car's seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

McLaren had previously indicated that the new 650S would be tuned specifically to increase its driver engagement, which may be bought about by changes to the steering and transmission.

New options are claimed to include the carbonfibre seats from the P1, which would serve to help cut the new 650S' kerb weight fractionally.

Official pricing has yet to be confirmed, but further leaked documents suggest a price tag that's some £20,000 more than the current £176,000 12C.

McLaren also told Autocar that two version of the 650S would be offered, one with a distinctive carbonfibre styling package.

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