McLaren introduces its new lightweight vehicle architecture

25 August 2020 | David Young

Mike Flewitt, CEO of luxury supercar maker McLaren Automotive, today confirmed the introduction of the brand's all-new, flexible, lightweight vehicle architecture which will underpin its next generation of electrified supercars

McLaren introduces its new lightweight vehicle architecture

The new architecture, designed specifically to accommodate new hybrid powertrains, has been entirely engineered, developed and produced in-house in the UK at McLaren's £50m state-of-the-art McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) in the Sheffield region.

The new flexible vehicle architecture utilises innovative, processes and techniques to strip out excess mass, reduce overall vehicle weight, while also further improving safety attributes.

It will underpin the next generation of McLaren hybrid models as the supercar company enters its second decade of series vehicle production.

"The new ground-breaking 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.

"This new, ultra-lightweight carbon fibre chassis boasts greater structural integrity and higher levels of quality than ever before with our new MCTC facility quickly becoming recognised as a global centre of excellence in composite materials science and manufacturing.

Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive.

Mr Flewitt said the new architecture would enable McLaren to transition to 100 per cent electrified supercars.

Source: McLaren