McLaren Supercar: The Real Deal?

Motoring Channel Staff - 19/August/2008

Woking, England — New images have emerged that purport to be a next generation McLaren super car. 

These images are likely to be not of the McLaren F1's successor, currently codenamed F12, but of a smaller, more affordable model that would rival the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo.

Expected to be around the size of a Ferrari F430, this would be McLaren's 'baby' super car.

The successor to the legendary McLaren F1 is expected to arrive in 2012, while the smaller and more affordable model is set for a 2010 release.

Mercedes and McLaren have parted ways and will not build a new super car together, as was the case the Mercedes SLR McLaren.

Instead Mercedes is handing its new 'gullwing' super car project over to its performance division AMG, while McLaren is forging ahead with its own plans for the above mentioned two new supercars.

The images you see here, from European website avtomanija.com, appear from some angles to be a little dated, but from others could well be a new super car.

It's very low, very sleek, though some shots make it look like a throwback to the Lotus Esprit. 

The vehicle in the photos does have a number of design cues that are reminiscent of the McLaren F1, particularly from the rear.

It's not yet known what engine will power McLaren's entry-level supercar, but a high revving mid-mounted V8 engine is rumoured to be the weapon of choice.

Should Ferrari, Lamborghini and others be worried about the impending launch of two new McLarens? Most definitely.

Unlike the Mercedes McLaren SLR, the new sports cars from McLaren are expected to be much lighter and more agile vehicles, and the McLaren name is highly revered which alone should bring hundreds of cashed-up customers.

The exotic and supercar markets have grown in size considerably in the last two decades, with customers in emerging markets such as Russia and oil-rich nations in the Middle East accounting for much of the boom.

The McLaren F1's successor, a challenging supercar that is expected to rival the world's fastest and best-handling exotics, is rumoured to be powered by a 10-cylinder engine that the company is developing.

McLaren is busy at work on both cars, and we'll keep you posted of any other news on what could be the biggest things in the supercar market since the Bugatti Veyron reared its bulbous head.

Are these images the real deal? Has McLaren finalised the aerodynamics and body shape? We'll find out soon enough.

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- Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 GT (2007)