The McLaren F1 team will be switching from Mercedes to Honda as engine supplier come the new Formula One season, and it would only be a logical assumption to think that this partnership will find its way to the McLaren road cars.
But alas, this does not seem to be the case. Asked recently about such prospects, McLaren’s global sales director, Jolyon Nash, put a firm stop to any such ideas.
According to him, “there’s no intention for a partnership with Honda. It won’t happen. I mean that in the nicest way, as we are an independent company – we produce pure McLarens.”
This means that McLaren plans to continue building its own engines – as the company is currently doing – and has no intention to collaborate with any other automaker when it comes to their road cars.
This is interesting, because McLaren never refused a powerful engine in the past. The McLaren F1, the outfit’s most recognisable product, utilised a BMW-developed V12, and the McLaren-Mercedes SLR featured a supercharged V8 derived from Mercedes.
Neither of these two mentioned-engines were developed in-house by McLaren.
Asked about expanding the McLaren model range to other segments of the market, Nash was adamant that it would not happen.
“We’re a sports car company. I don’t think we’d ever do an SUV, I just can’t conceive an SUV. I don’t imagine that McLaren would produce such a car, or a four door car or even a three door car.”
Yes, that’s what Porsche also said, Mr Nash…