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Like-new McLaren F1 for sale with just 2,800 miles

If seeing a McLaren F1 for sale is a rarity, seeing one on sale in "Concours condition" with 2,800 miles on the clock is perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime event. But that's what's we have here. This is McLaren F1 number 69 – make your jokes, you children – and if its excellent condition and low miles weren't enough to make you raid your Swiss bank accounts, the fact that McLaren Special Operations' Heritage Division is selling it should. It's also one of the last McLaren F1s ever built, if that wets your whistle. According to the British automaker, chassis 69 was the 60th F1 built in Woking, near the end of the vehicle's production run in 1998. It's a sinister looking car, too. McLaren painted the body Carbon Black with matching 17-inch, magnesium wheels. The cabin doubles down on the devilish looks, with a black-and-red leather driver's seat. We know there's something to be said for McLaren's traditional orange, but we just love the look of this black-on-black beauty. Because these things matter, McLaren is selling this particular F1 with all the goodies the original owner received when they took delivery. That means fitted luggage, a lightweight titanium toolkit and box, all the books and papers (including a "correct numbered LM Edition of the "Driving Ambition" McLaren F1 book"), and of course, the numbered Tag Heuer watch. Essentially, it sounds like whoever purchases this F1 is essentially getting a brand new 18-year-old car. Pricing? Well, the old adage is as true here as it is with any other exotic – if you have to ask, you can't afford it. If, however, you're the lucky sort that has the disposable income to drop seven-figures on this rarity, you can contact McLaren's Special Operations Division for details. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Is Fernando Alonso preparing to sit out 2016?

Things have not been going well for Fernando Alonso since moving to McLaren. In fact they've been going so poorly that the Spanish driver may end up sitting out next season if things don't improve. At least those are the rumors presently occupying the Formula One paddock. The notion was first raised by McLaren chief Ron Dennis. When asked by reporters about Alonso's near-term future with the team, Dennis said, "I have an open mind to anything, and some of the ideas have involved those sorts of considerations, yes, sabbatical years etcetera." Though far from confirmed, the basic idea would be to see how next year's car performs in pre-season testing, and if it's not up to spec, Alonso could end up sitting out a season while McLaren and Honda get their partnership up to speed, so to speak. Alonso appeared to be puzzled by the prospect his boss raised, but couldn't rule it out, either. It would be a rather unprecedented move, but could end up avoiding some frustrations as the Anglo-Japanese teething process works itself out with time. Alonso has been a constant on the grid since 2003, missing only two grands prix in thirteen seasons: the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis when all the Michelin-equipped teams sat out the race in protest, and the Australian Grand Prix at the beginning of this year, when Alonso was still recovering from a crash in pre-season testing. Out of 254 grands prix contested to date, Fernando has landed on the podium 97 times, including 32 wins and two world championships. This season, however, he's only finished in the points once, with his fifth-place finish in Hungary. Of the eighteen races he contested this year, his car failed to get him to the finish line altogether at seven. His seventeenth place in the final standings for the season are the worst he's done since his debut in 2001 with Minardi (the team now known as Toro Rosso). News Source: Autosport (1), (2), (3)Image Credit: Clive Mason/Getty Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Motorsports Honda McLaren F1 mclaren-honda

Seat hatches hot little Ibiza Cupra Concept in Beijing [w/video]

Just about every brand under the Volkswagen Group umbrella has its own performance line these days. Marques like Lamborghini, Bugatti and Porsche may not need them, but Volkswagen has the R line, Audi has the RS range, Skoda offers the vRS models, and Seat badges its under the Cupra name.
It's a nameplate that's become synonymous with Latin-flavored hot hatches in markets around the world, and one of those vital markets is China. Little wonder, then, that Seat chose the Beijing Motor Show to launch its latest Cupra model.
Technically billed as a "concept," even Seat admits the vehicle you see here is pretty darn close to the production model that is scheduled to debut later this year. It starts out with the latest Ibiza hatchback (which itself shares its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Polo) and upgrades it with VW's celebrated 1.4 TSI engine that packs a turbocharger, supercharger and direct injection to produce a solid 180 horsepower. All that juice is driven to the front wheels through an electronic differential and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.