McLaren announces carbon fibre milestone

McLaren has declared a significant milestone in carbon fibre, delivered at its new £50m innovation and production centre in Yorkshire.

It has announced that the first prototype carbon fibre Monocell, the tub that forms the main structure of McLaren’s car, has been shipped from Sheffield to the McLaren Production Centre (MPC) in Woking, Surrey, where it will undergo stringent crash tests.

This is part of McLaren’s Track25 business plan, which includes a focus on lightweighting. Lightweighting will become ever more important as cars move towards hybrid powertrains which are generally heavier than their traditional petrol counterparts. All McLaren’s sportscars and supercars will be hybrid by 2024.

The MCTC currently employs around 60 people which will rise to over 200 when full production commences in 2020.

Wes Jacklin, plant director, MCTC, McLaren Automotive, said, ‘The delivery of the first prototype carbon fibre tub by the new MCTC to McLaren HQ is not only an exciting day for everyone who has directly worked on the project but also a significant milestone for McLaren Automotive’s ambition to be world-beaters in lightweight and composites technology which goes hand-in-hand with our move to hybrid powertrains as part of our Track25 business plan.

‘We never innovate for the sake of it; we innovate to continually fulfil our promise to create iconic sportscars. It’s increasingly clear that with future heavier powertrain requirements, exploiting innovative lightweighting techniques and technologies is going to be a significant key to unlocking all the handling and agility characteristics that our customers demand.’
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