Very excited to see how this car turns out. All 106 are spoken for and MSO will work with each customer to ensure that every car has an individual touch. The values of these things will go through the roof.

So we know it's going to be a 'Hyper GT', so we can expect the interior to be very luxury. It's going to be a hybrid. Any word on the engine yet? I do hope they use something bespoke for and special for this model.

Anyone placed an order on here?

 

They will not be offering me 107 this time....... ive told them that's fine as I already have a ride in one confirmed !!

 

Can I be in the third seat?

 

We knew it was coming but it's always fantastic to get official confirmation! Looking forward to it.

Next question: will it be named the F1???

 

Sounds like an exciting car. I like the idea of a hyper car that is aimed at the road. Should have exquisite detailing for that kind of money and if it really can recreate the F1 then that will really be something. I think the only way to buy one of these (not that I would be able to anyway) is to buy it to use it. Because at that money, in two or three years time, it might not be an automatic appreciater.

 

unless they put a mclaren built na v12 in it with hybrid power...

 

Money waiting and ideas of individuality are brimming! I so hope i get one!

 

106 to be made apparently, seen everday usability mentioned in relation to this so where's it going to be road legal? Have they found a way around crash regs?

It will be road legal everywhere. The only place crash regs should pose an issue will be in the USA where our ridiculously outdated, unbelted occupant crash test poses the biggest challenge. Instead of trying to modify the design to conform to that specific requirement, my understanding is that these cars will instead be entered into the USA under 'Show or Display', thus eliminating the need to comply. This will limit the car's use to 2,500 miles per year here, but I think that would hardly be a concern for most customers.

>8^)
ER

 

Show or Display would only be granted after the entire production run of cars has completed though...US customers would therefore need to buy an EU spec car and privately import them I suppose.

 

Congrats to all the lucky 106 souls who made the cut. Did ownership of a F1 and a P1 give the owner an automatic build slot with the rest going to select P1 owners? I'm guessing anyone who got a build slot had to sign a NDA?

 

McLaren selected all the owners. They didn't even contacted the dealers.

 

Should be a fun car!

 

I'm licking this image.

 

How did it taste lol!

 

So.. how is this different from a very limited edition Ferrari/Porsche that's instantly sold out once before being officially announced - something that most people here I think have tended to take a fairly dim view of....?

 

Apparently McLaren feels they can only get away with burning 106 customers this time around, when the BP23 Spider or LM is announced? Ok I'm kidding!

Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk

 

Hopefully this is a spark for a future normal, 3-seater configuration.

I'm can't be alone in thinking a middle, 3-seater is what everyone on hear would love to have.

 

That won't happen. As someone pointed out earlier legalizing a car like this for the "Federal" (I.e. USA & Canada) market is likely impossible due to some silly regulations. Also it's not going to be the most practical car with the driver in the middle. How are you going to get your coffee at the drive-up Starbucks when you're seated in the middle of the car?

Maybe with Mr. Anti-Regulation Trump in power they might be able to convince the US government to find a compromise but that's a longshot at best.

So I think making this car a bespoke project makes lots of sense but putting it into series production doesn't.

As great as the original F1 was they could only sell a small fraction of the cars they intended to. It wasn't a successful business venture for them. Of course given how spectacular that car was they're showing amazing restraint in only making 106 BP23s because, even with the very high price tag, I'm certain they could easily sell 3x that number.

 

BP23 Hypercar

I love the existence of this car. Regardless of me ever having one or not, that this rare beast is being made should lift us all as, presumably, aficionados. Sounds like it will be amazing. Wonder what "series" it will be sure seems beyond "Ultimate".

One could deduce this step by carefully plotting out the "22" plan or if you were told.. It was almost self evident. In any event, interesting the RD announcement timing with this "announcement". There maybe a bigger battle for the soul of automotive business than we, at least me, thought.

Big changes afoot.

I could be wrong, and frequently am.

 

I did note the coincidence of the timing but suspected it was a way to deflect somewhat from the RD news. I could, of course, be wrong too. Maybe those in the know would be able to chip in?

It is worth noting that this is 'Bespoke Project 2' indicating that it would likely be considered to be an MSO variant of the Ultimate Series, or outwith the 'Series' framwork altogether, rather than a new 'Series'. Bespoke Project 1 is the X-1 which would be considered to be an MSO varient of the Super Series (although this would be retrospectively understood due to the lack of the current nomenclature at the time).

 

I did note the coincidence of the timing but suspected it was a way to deflect somewhat from the RD news. I could, of course, be wrong too. Maybe those in the know would be able to chip in?

No it was not.

 

Wonder if Ron will get one?

 

Oh oh Erik,

Development of the car, codenamed BP23, standing for Bespoke Project 2 and featuring three seats

:O

http://cars.mclaren.press/en-gb/releases/412

 

Well damn them...

Thanks for the correction on that point. I'll spread the word among others who also held my assumption.

>8^)
ER

 

It actually works as a pretty brilliant method for clearing the hurdle of an obviously outdated regulation. Aaron Robinson wrote an article about some of the unique impacts on vehicle design about 5 years ago for Car&Driver magazine that is worth a read:

http://www.caranddriver.com/columns...s/aaron-robinson-why-are-the-feds-bending-over-backward-for-the-unbelted-column

I wouldn't even be certain that production will need to have ceased before the first car is imported. The wording supplied by the NHTSA isn't entirely definitive - it says "you should not expect" - but if the initial application for approval makes it clear that the final number of production units will fall below the 500 vehicle maximum threshold, and if there is supporting documentation made available from the manufacturer which confirms this, that leaves the window open for some discretion on the part of regulators.

Also I believe there is a very healthy level of interest from North American buyers in spite of this added hurdle. There's even a guy who has in the past openly discriminated against the Show or Display import limitations who is now humping the legs of certain McLaren representatives in an effort to secure a BP23 build slot. This despite never having purchased a single McLaren product before -- I find that pretty amusing.

>8^)
ER

 

the cloak and dagger type information embargo is a very gray area for a company like McLaren, and although everyone always wants to know everything, all the time, it's not practical for them to release too much info. As the press release refers to 2019, there will be a lot of time to refine all aspects of the BP23 but it's definitely insanely exciting for those of us fans that don't have an F1 in the garage.

and tons of speculation in the mean time...

 

Hope you find one in your garage in 2019!

 

Cant wait to see this

 

I'm guessing McLaren will also work some official channels to making it easier and quicker to get the car in the US. They aren't going to sell them to US customers and just say, "You car is done, come pick it up when you're ready and good luck with everything."

I'm sure the process will be a lot easier than it would otherwise.

 

I hope the guys over at MSO don't get too upset with me spilling the beans on this one, I'll probably get a text message but I think that while they are happy that the car has received the reception it has so far, I am sure that they are just as disappointed as I am in regards to the whole story on this car.

BP23 was supposed to be called F1X. I know because I was there at the inception. When I ordered Project Kilo, I asked about potentially doing a three seat version as an homage to my all time favorite machine the F1. At the time there had been some initial studies but the cost was too rich for my blood, looking back I feel like a fool given the quoted price at the time.

I was approached to do a very limited run of F1X and I verbally agreed, on the agreement that we have a total of no more than 10 cars, and we all simultaneously pay deposits to pay for engineering and construction of an XP/VP car(s). Unfortunately we were delayed by difficulties within McLaren, desire by more senior staff to increase the run, upon hearing the idea and demand. The number went to 64 and I said no, I was offered one earlier this year and also turned it down.

Unfortunately McLaren's senior management team is desperate for cash. This is without a doubt going to be a brilliant car, McLaren keeps going from strength to strength, however it is not the car that I ordered. Of the original three F1X buyers, I believe only one is continuing.

It is understandable as to why this has happened, but disappointing nonetheless. I recognize that McLaren only restarted five years ago and they have really made a mark on the market and more importantly in the hearts' and minds' of enthusiasts. I hope that we can do some secret squirrel projects together one day and I have faith in some of the team there that it will be possible. I look at Ron's departure as a positive sign towards this and a new chapter for the brand.

Anyway, my two cents and a little legend to the car.

PS. Don't feel sorry, the reason that I didn't buy the car and sell it straight away, is because I don't want a reputation as a car flipper, I'd rather the car go to someone who really wants it, and will one day give me a ride in it, and .... I got an AMRB001 slot =)

 

always a balance between price and volume as we know.. who knows where the sweet spot is... I think it's wise that they lever the F1 road car heritage as much as possible as anything other than something spectacular would most likely be perceived as a small let down considering the heritage...

my own view is that they have followed the right path, but I can absolutely see why you consider that F1X would have been the way forward..

whatever the outcome, desperately looking forward to hearing about your Nebulus.. !

 

Thanks Shadow for sharing.

I have to say I'm happy that they're making more cars than just the 10. IMO it would have been a real shame if the heir to the F1 was only a handful of cars. Really it's a shame that there were only the ~64 original roadcars built in the first place.

Even at 106 (plus prototypes?) it still seems like they are building too few. It should be an instant classic, even more than the P1.

 

IMO it would have been a real shame if the heir to the F1 was only a handful of cars. Really it's a shame that there were only the ~64 original roadcars built in the first place.

But it's not really the 'heir to the F1' either is it? Apart from the 3 seater format, there's little to connect it to the F1, one being a lightweight, extremly driver focused car and the other purportedly being a hybrid hyper GT type car which in itself will be nothing at all like the other to drive. Gordon Murray might have originally wanted the car as a GT car but as I said on the thread when the 3 seater was being mooted, the central driving position is IMO very much one for a sports car than a GT car and the F1 is more than just about the driving position imo.

I do agree though it's a shame only 64 cars were built (as it might actually have been remotely possible to get one and think about actually use it if the original build run was completed!) but again no one was willing to buy one at the time of production and the last few sold iirc had to be discounted fairly substantially.

 

This sounds like a classic case of not 'managing expectations'.

Limiting this car to 10 units would have been a crazy decision.

 

Hey guys I'm not so good at doing the whole multi quote thing so I'll just get to each of you in turn.

MikeyB - I completely agree with you that they have to be careful with the F1 heritage, and I think it goes without saying that the team is well aware of that, however, it is a completely different generation of car that is solely linked through that 3 seat layout in this case. The interesting aspect of F1X would have been to fight to make it lightweight and as close as we could get to the F1 without having a beautiful NA V12. I'm disappointed because we had something that I felt I had a small creation stake in, not unlike BP1 the X1. I have faith that it will be great and if I was any other customer I think they would be doing the right thing, but in this case I'm not.

As for Nebula, I was lucky to get in early by promising that I would use it properly. Cannot wait. I am excited for both Aston Martin's and McLaren's futures, I think they are both getting better and better.

Craigy - I think my response to MikeyB can echo to you in terms of my sentiments on the number. As for the three seat configuration, I too believe that they should make more, the only thing off racetrack that I've driven in a central position was a BAC Mono which was a great experience but could be made much, much better with two people beside you.

ScottL - To each their own, but if you come to someone with an idea and it is presented to you as a bespoke project, you might think differently.

isv - I think a lot of people will view this as the heir to the F1 based on the seat config. alone. That said I agree to some extent, however it'll be something special and it will have to build its own reputation with a lot of expectation on its shoulders. As for the "Hyper GT" tagline, my girlfriend and I came up with that moniker while eating lunch with some of the MSO team.

My last contribution to the project.