news

McLaren unveils all-new carbon-fibre tub for electrified supercars

The Surrey-based performance car manufacturer has unveiled its all-new carbon fibre monocoque architecture for upcoming hybrid and electric models.


McLaren is set to introduce an all-new carbon-fibre architecture, revealed today, to underpin the company's next generation of electrified supercars.

The chassis is designed specifically to accommodate hybrid powertrains.

It was developed at McLaren’s $91 million Composites Technology Centre in Sheffield, and will also be manufactured onsite.

McLaren previously reported that the factory's workforce would increase by more than 140 staff when the new-generation chassis enters production.

Above: The McLaren Composites Technology Centre in Sheffield

“The new groundbreaking vehicle architecture is every bit as revolutionary as the MonoCell chassis we introduced with the company’s first car, the 12C, when we first embarked on making production vehicles a decade ago,” CEO Mike Flewitt said.

Mr Flewitt added that he believes the new architecture will enable McLaren to transition to 100 per cent electrified supercars in the future.

The McLaren company has long been a pioneer of carbon fibre technologies.

It introduced the first carbon-fibre monocoque to Formula One in 1981, with the MP4/1. The MP4/1 was used in the 1981, 1982, and 1983 seasons, and won a total of six Grand Prix.

The design concept is now ubiquitous in Formula One.

In 1993, McLaren designed and built the now-iconic F1 road car, which was one of the first street-legal vehicles to incorporate a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis.

All McLarens built since, for both race tracks and the road, have been built around a carbon-fibre tub.

The first hybrid vehicle to be based on the all-new architecture will likely launch in 2021, and is expected to join the expanding Sports Series line-up.

The brand has previously dabbled in hybrid supercar production, with the P1, P1 GTR, and, more recently, the 773kW Speedtail.


MORE:McLaren Showroom
MORE:McLaren News
MORE:McLaren Reviews
MORE:Search Used McLaren Cars for Sale
MORE:McLaren Showroom
MORE:McLaren News
MORE:McLaren Reviews
MORE:Search Used McLaren Cars for Sale
William Davis

William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.

Read more about William DavisLinkIcon
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent