2015 Mclaren 650s on 2040-cars

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Gordon Murray's flat-pack truck is a long way from the McLaren F1

A team of crack British automotive engineers went out to the shed and put together a new vehicle that promises to be the envy of IKEA store managers the world over – a flat-pack truck. According to The Telegraph, two prototypes of a plucky little truck called The Ox were unveiled at an event at the Roundhouse, a performing arts and concert venue in London's Chalk Farm neighborhood on September 6. The event was organized by the Global Vehicle Trust, a charity founded by Sir Torquil Norman to address transportation-related issues in the developing world. Designed by a distinguished team of British automotive engineers, including famed engineer and father of the McLaren F1 Gordon Murray, the Ox is a barebones transporter with a simple, three-position cab, a sturdy chassis, and a surprisingly spacious cargo area. Powered by a small diesel mill out of a Ford Transit, the Ox can carry just over two tons of cargo or up to thirteen passengers in its versatile covered cargo bay. While it is only rear-wheel drive, the Ox was designed to tackle the kinds of rough terrain found in the developing world. It is also, as claimed by the design team, rugged, easy to maintain, and built to thrive in areas where parts and dealer support are a rarity. The Ox's biggest selling point is that it can be packaged and shipped in a crate and assembled at its destination without a workshop. An entire truck can be assembled by three people in just under 12 hours. All the tools necessary for its construction, about forty different wrenches and a single Allen key, are included in the kit. It remains to be seen whether the Ox can make inroads in places like rural Africa or Southeast Asia where second-hand Toyotas and Chinese vehicles currently rule. The designers have high hopes for it however, and with its ease of use and rugged, versatile design The Ox may very well find some success carting people and cargo throughout the world's developing rural areas. Related Video: News Source: The Telegraph Auto News Design/Style Weird Car News McLaren Truck Videos Gordon Murray ikea

McLaren Special Operations showing limited-edition 650S at Goodwood

When things get under way at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, McLaren will be among the automakers revealing new metal. The F1-team-turned-automaker is expected to reveal the GT3 racing version of the new 650S, but will also have a new special edition of the same to show off to prospective buyers and supercar enthusiasts alike. Previewed in concept form just a couple of months ago, the 650S by McLaren Special Operations offers a number of upgrades over the existing supercar. Supervised by Woking's design director Frank Stephenson, the MSO 650S features satin-finish carbon-fiber exterior components, a three-piece rear bumper, a more aggressive rear diffuser, 10-spoke lightweight diamond-cut alloys and an interior decked out in black leather, Alcantara, glossy trim and more satin-finish carbon. Buyers will be able to choose between coupe and Spider in one of three special metallic paint finishes: Agrigan Black (with a ruby red flake) as previewed on the concept, Papaya Spark that reinterprets McLaren's signature orange and the above-pictured Sarigan Quartz silver with "a subtle gold infusion." Regardless of the color or body style, however, only 50 examples of the MSO 650S will be offered, starting at GBP252,500 in fixed-roof form. That represents a premium of more than GBP50,000 ($85k) over the stock 650S, for an approximate US sticker of $350,000. McLAREN SPECIAL OPERATIONS CONFIRMS BESPOKE 650S MODEL TO PREMIERE AT GOODWOOD - Bespoke design inspired by the recent MSO Concept with design collaboration with McLaren Automotive Design Director, Frank Stephenson - Just 50 examples to be available globally - MSO 650S Spider to debut in the Supercar Paddock and on the Hill run at the Goodwood Festival of Speed McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has confirmed production plans for a run of bespoke examples of the McLaren 650S following the strong reaction to the MSO 650S Coupe Concept shown in China earlier this year. Just 50 examples of the MSO 650S will be available globally, available in either a Coupe or Spider bodystyle. The production car will make its global debut, in Spider form, at this summer's Goodwood Festival of Speed in the Supercar Paddock, and will be seen in action taking part in the famous Hill run. The bespoke McLaren Special Operations division was launched in 2011, and offers a full personalisation service for McLaren owners.

America gets its first McLaren P1 GTR

McLaren won't be making a lot of P1 GTRs. Only 35, to be precise. And most of them will likely remain under the company's care, to be transported to specially organized track days. That means you're not likely to see many of them here in the United States, but one fortunate customer recently took delivery of one such track-bound supercar in Northern California. Decked out in a shade of British Racing Green so deep it looks almost black, with trim in McLaren's signature shade of orange, this particular McLaren P1 GTR was captured while being offloaded from a truck in San Jose a little over a week ago. Given the location, we'd imagine the vehicle belongs to some Silicon Valley billionaire – which only makes sense, considering that it costs a good $3 million or so. But the location also means local fans should soon see it lapping around Sonoma Raceway and Laguna Seca in due course. The GTR is the track-focused counterpart to the road-going P1. It packs the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain as the P1, but tuned to deliver nearly 1,000 horsepower, unburdened of excess weight, and fitted with equipment designed specifically for the racing circuit. Like the LaFerrari-based FXX K and the Aston Martin Vulcan, it's designed neither for the road nor for any racing series, but just as a plaything that the uber-wealthy can toy around with on track days. With production of the P1 now complete, the craftsmen at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking are building the last few GTRs before the Ultimate Series of which this car is part closes its books. Related Video: