2015 Mclaren 650s Spider Mantis Green & Carbon Fiber on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Seat officially unveils new Toledo

One week after leaked images appeared online and just a few days after its sister car, the Škoda Rapid, was revealed, the Seat Toledo has taken a bow. Expected to "write a whole new success story" for the Seat, the five-door and its "timeless personality" has a mission to be "a great car for a great price." All of which sounds like the Spanish marque really has very little to say about their new model, eh?
In contrast to the Škoda's seven powerplant options, three will be on the Seat menu at launch: two petrol-flavored offerings in the form of a 1.2-liter, 73-horsepower TSI and a 1.4-liter, 119-hp TSI, and an oil-burning 1.6-liter, 102-hp TDI. Next year, a less potent 1.6-liter, 88-hp diesel will be added to the range.
We'll have live shots of it from the Paris Auto Salon floor later this fall, after which it will appear in Spanish and Portuguese showrooms before exports expand to other parts of the world. Prices will be announced closer to launch, so scroll down for a presser with the other details on Seat's new baby.

McLaren intent on signing Vettel, Alonso

There are several world champions on the Formula One grid this year, but only two multiple world champions. And McLaren wants them both. In fact, the latest reports from pit lane indicate that the British team is undertaking a concerted effort to sign one or both for next year or beyond. According to Autosport, both team principals Ron Dennis and Eric Boullier are focused on signing Sebastian Vettel and/or Fernando Alonso, who have between them taken six of the past nine world championships (the other three belonging to Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, all of whom have driven for McLaren) and are prepared not only to pay handsomely, but also to wait: Vettel is currently signed with Red Bull through the end of 2015, and Alonso with Ferrari through 2016. But both have struggled this season with cars that can't keep up with the front-running Mercedes, and could welcome the opportunity to start afresh with a new team – and a highly successful one at that. Of course, McLaren hasn't been at the top of its game lately either, but the Woking outfit is at the dawn of a new era. Next year it's bringing Honda back to the grid with an all-new engine that may take some time to break in but stands a chance of threatening the Mercedes' dominance this season in a way that the Renault and Ferrari engines have not. It just needs the right drivers to pilot them. As of yet, it seems that McLaren has not received a firm "no" from either driver's camp, and appear to be eager to continue pursuing either or both until they're told otherwise. In the meantime, the team is leaving its current drivers Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen in limbo with the prospect of being signed for another year, another few or not at all. It all depends on what becomes of Alonso and Vettel. After winning his back-to-back titles with Renault, Alonso briefly drove for McLaren in 2007. That was the same in which Vettel made his race debut for Toro Rosso, two years before switching to the Red Bull team he's been ever since. News Source: AutosportImage Credit: Clive Mason/Getty Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Motorsports McLaren F1 Sebastian Vettel

McLaren honors Alain Prost with special P1 at Goodwood

McLaren is speeding off from Woking to Goodwood this year with an array of supercars specially outfitted by McLaren Special Operations. Each pays tribute to a legendary figure from the team's distinguished history. The assortment will include a number of different models from the company's lineup, but the key player featured here is based on the flagship McLaren P1. Done up in a white livery with blue and red details, this particular hybrid hypercar takes a decidedly different approach to the sinister red and black on the last one we saw. It borrows its livery from the iconic helmet design of Alain Prost, the world-famous French driver who won three of his four world championships driving for McLaren. (His fourth and final title was with Williams, in case you were wondering.) The Prost-inspired P1 will be joined by a 675LT that similarly borrows its livery from the Can-Am legend Denny Hulme's helmet design in white with twin black stripes and yellow headlamp lenses. Also on hand will be an orange 650S Spider in tribute to Bruce McLaren himself. The new 570S will be making its dynamic debut at the Festival of Speed, and there'll also be a P1 GTR and 650S Le Mans edition on site. History buffs, however, will likely be more intrigued by the silver F1 GT, one of only three road cars ever made to homologate the F1 GTR Longtail for racing. McLAREN MOMENTS TO HONOUR FAMOUS RACE-WINNERS AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED - McLaren 'Moments' honour a number of the iconic names to have raced for McLaren over the last 50 years - Comprehensive collection of McLaren models on display, statically and dynamically - Recently announced three tier model range all represented with commissions by McLaren Special Operations - To read more about the McLaren 'Moments' visit: cars.mclaren.com/featured-articles/flat-out-and-fearless.html This weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed will see a collection of McLaren models, displayed statically at McLaren House, adjacent to the famous Goodwood House, and in the Supercar Paddock prepared by McLaren Special Operations (MSO). The bespoke arm of McLaren Automotive has prepared models from the Sports Series, Super Series and Ultimate Series, the three newly-announced model tiers. Each of these celebrate this year's Festival of Speed 'Flat-out and Fearless' theme, highlighting a milestone or 'moment' from the history of McLaren, and honouring some of the legendary drivers who have driven for the team over the years.