McLaren Spider, page #7

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All the crazy stuff we saw at McCall's Motorworks Revival

Every year, Gordon McCall puts on a lavish event packed with rare cars and planes (and the type of people that can afford rare cars and planes). And every year, more ridiculous stuff shows up. It's the good kind of machine overload. It's likely the only place in the world where you'll see a line of BMW 3.0s next to some Paganis next to a Porsche 911 by Singer Design next to a Ferrari salt racer next to a custom Olds Riviera next to the latest from Koenigsegg next to he coolest stuff Shelby ever made next to a hangar filled with McLarens, including a few P1 GTRs. And then all of that is surrounded by private jets, fighters, and planes that could have flown in directly from WWII. In a word, it's insane. Walk through the gallery above to get a taste for what was there this year for the event's 25th anniversary. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2016 McCall's Motorworks Revival View 29 Photos Image Credit: Copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / Autoblog Motorsports Misc. Auto Shows BMW Ferrari McLaren Porsche Koenigsegg

McLaren has an electrochromic glass roof to fix the 570GT's solar issue

The McLaren 570GT has a huge glass roof. It looks cool, but it can let a lot of light in, which is not so cool. To solve this (and to show off the latest in custom pieces and paint), McLaren Special Operations has gone to work on the car, in the process making it a little more special. In traditional MSO fashion, the 570GT by MSO Concept isn't an all-new car, but more of a makeover for the road-friendly sports car. McLaren released details on its latest concept ahead of the car's official debut at Pebble Beach. While the majority of the bespoke touches amount to special paint and badging, the niftiest feature is an electrochromic roof that's being developed for production. McLaren added an electrochromic interlayer within the 570GT's standard glass roof that uses electric current to adjust the amount of light coming in through the roof, with five different settings that range from clear to dark. The roof should be a welcome touch for drivers in warmer, sunnier climates, and it should help reduce the occurrence of reflections on the car's display screens, an issue we found on our first drive. This isn't the first time an electrochromic glass roof has made its way to a high-end vehicle, as Mercedes-Benz offers similar tech, dubbed Magic Sky Control, on its roadsters and the Maybach. The touch-sensitive headliner used to control it, though, is new technology. Plus it just sounds cool. Besides the roof, the 570GT by MSO Concept is fitted with a richer-sounding titanium exhaust system that is lighter than the standard stainless steel system and features heat shields that are finished in a golden titanium nitride tint, a nod to the McLaren F1's gold-lined engine bay. The system also acts as a built-in rainbow, changing colors from blue to purple and back as it gets hot and cools down. Other unique touches include a pearl white paint job with gloss-lacquered carbon-fiber sill panels and gloss black on the side skirts, wheels, and door inserts. The "By McLaren" interior has saddle tan leather and more bits of carbon fiber. Those items aren't the most exciting, even by MSO standards, but we can totally get behind the trick roof and gold-tinted exhaust. Related Video: Featured Gallery McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept View 9 Photos News Source: McLarenImage Credit: McLaren McLaren Coupe Luxury Performance Pebble Beach mclaren special operations mclaren 570gt

The new 679-hp McLaren 688HS leaks online

McLaren, since returning to the road car business a few years back, has refused to let up. Every year the company has released a new model or a new variation of a previous one, and they've all been pretty damn good. Now that the limited production P1 and 675LT are all sold out, the company has been working on a fast new track-focused model to replace it. Thanks to a user on the forum McLaren Life, we now have our first glimpse of the upcoming 688HS, F1-inspired roof scoop and all. The 688 High Sport was commissioned by McLaren Special Operations, the group that builds small-batch bespoke vehicles like the 650S Le Mans or the 650S Can-Am. Carscoops reports the new car will be limited to just 25 models, making it one of the most exclusive road cars on the planet. Like the 675LT, the 688HS will be a faster and leaner version of already fantastic 650S. The number 688 refers to the 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8's output in metric horsepower, or about 679 in American ponies. It is set to lose weight over the 650S and will be fitted with a number of carbon fiber aero modifications. The photos show a large scoop on the roof and out back two uprights for what appears to be a fixed rear wing. Expect a zero to 60 mph time of less than three seconds and a price tag of more than $350,000, although all 25 models are presumably spoken for. Those itching for a rare car from MSO can hold their breaths for the rumored F1 successor. Related Video: News Source: CarscoopsImage Credit: McLaren Life McLaren Coupe Special and Limited Editions Supercars mclaren 650s

2016 German Grand Prix race recap: so-so racing, great questions

We can summarize the 2016 German Grand Prix in one sentence: Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver Lewis Hamilton started second on the grid, passed pole-sitter and teammate Nico Rosberg before the first corner, and dominate to the finish. In fact, Hamilton turned his engine power output down on Lap 3 and still took the checkered flag seven seconds ahead of Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo's teammate Max Verstappen crossed the line another six seconds back. Rosberg fell to fourth at the first corner and couldn't find the pace to reel in the Red Bulls. His questionable pass on Verstappen didn't help when the stewards penalized Rosberg five seconds; the overtake reminded us of Rosberg's move on teammate Hamilton in Austria. That penalty turned into eight seconds when the Mercedes-AMG Petronas stopwatch didn't work in the pits. Ferrari pilots Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen finished fifth and sixth. Those six drivers all started in the top six, too. Behind them, on Lap 28 of the 67-lap race the next four drivers were Valtteri Bottas in the Williams, Nico Hulkenberg in the Force India, and Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso in McLarens. Low fuel and old tires put the kibosh on Alonso's pace just four laps from the finish, allowing Force India's Sergio Perez to pass, rounding out the top ten. The issues up for debate during the four-week break are far more interesting than the weekend's race. As bad as Ferrari's day might have been – and we'll get to that – Rosberg probably took the biggest hit, losing the race before the first corner for the second weekend in a row and falling 19 points behind Hamilton. Rosberg won the first four races of the season, then the teammates tripped over one another in Spain. Hamilton's won six of the seven races since Spain, Rosberg's best result in that time is a second-place in Hungary. Hamilton turned his engine down on Lap 3 (!) because he's used his entire season's allotment of five turbochargers and five MGU-Ks. Those early-season gremlins now have him on edge of grid penalties. Unless Hamilton's momentum cools off in August, however, that reliability danger might be the only dent in his armor. Rosberg, who once led the Championship by 43 points, will surely drown in his thoughts – and maybe schnapps – over the summer break. Whatever the Italian word for "meditation" is, there'll be a lot of it at Ferrari during the F1 summer break.

That McLaren windshield smash video? It's a fake

The saying that you can't always believe what you see on the Internet continues to ring true. We reported on a video in which a skateboarder violently smashes the windshield of an orange McLaren, and apparently it was all staged. Jalopnik reported today that the people who uploaded the video came clean about the whole thing being made up. They say the windshield was already smashed and going to be replaced, so the owners, who run an exotic-car-rental company in Denver, decided to have some fun. (Note that the smash is heard but not seen in the video.) You can check out Jalopnik for the full story. So we've been fooled, but on the plus side, that skateboarding kid is safe and sound – and not in debt. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Race recap: 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix was the pits

The Hungarian Grand Prix hasn't seen a race this calculated since 2012, when Lewis Hamilton – driving for McLaren – led from pole position to the checkered flag. We don't expect massive action from the Hungaroring, but Hamilton's first win for Mercedes in 2013, the thrilling wet mess in 2014, and Ferrari's surprising dominance in 2015 made us hope for more on-track commotion this year. Hungary denied us that. Hamilton parked his Mercedes-AMG Petronas in second on the grid but stole the lead through Turn 1 and never looked back. Teammate Nico Rosberg yo-yoed behind him in second place, getting into DRS range on a few occasions but never close enough to pass. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo kept the leading duo honest, but the Aussie couldn't put genuine fear into the German team and finished third. This is the third year in a row for Ricciardo on the Hungary podium. The pits provided our few scraps of excitement. During a stretch when Ricciardo managed to close on Rosberg, Mercedes told Hamilton to speed up. When Hamilton said he couldn't go faster, Mercedes said they'd pit second-place Rosberg first instead. Suddenly, Hamilton found the extra pace. Ricciardo pitted in early, hoping that fresh tires and fast laps could allow him to pass one or both Mercedes drivers when they pitted, but once Hamilton hit the throttle the Red Bull couldn't respond. Further down the lineup, Jenson Button came in on Lap 5 so McLaren could fix his brake pedal problem. The radio exchange before the stop included one forbidden instruction to Button, though, so the Englishman had to return to the pits for a drive-through penalty. Renault's Jolyon Palmer beat Force India's Nico Hulkenberg in a straight-up pit stop battle on Lap 40, but threw the good work away on Lap 49 with a spin on track that cost him three places. A pit wall miscommunication meant the Force India pit crew wasn't ready for Sergio Perez when the Mexican arrived for his second stop on Lap 43. And Daniel Kvyat's regrettable run at Toro Rosso continued, first with car issues, then a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Sebastian Vettel brought his Ferrari home fourth, sniffing Ricciardo's gearbox at the flag but unable to get around the Red Bull. Max Verstappen enacted a replay of the final stages of the Spanish Grand Prix, finishing fifth by holding Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen behind for 19 laps.

Watch a skateboarder smash a McLaren's windshield

A skateboarder in Colorado took his revenge on the driver of a McLaren by using his board to shatter the $250,000 car's windshield. YouTube user Paul Gonzo was filming the exceedingly long line at Denver's popular Little Man Ice Cream when the attack occurred. An orange McLaren 570S rolled through a stop sign and into a cross walk, pushing down a skateboarder attempting to cross. The driver then added insult to injury by honking at the young man. Off camera, there's a quick pop, followed by the young man running down the street with his board under his arm. The McLaren's passenger ran after the skater, who left a huge gash in the middle of the supercar's windshield. The driver simply closed the passenger side door and took off down another street. Many people thought the skateboarder was in the right, according to CBS4 Denver. Denver police told CBS they have seen the video, but nothing illegal has happened since neither party reported the incident. The McLaren is owned by a car rental company. It's unknown who was driving the car during the attack. The video of the event is currently going viral, with over 4.1 million views as of this writing. Related Video: News Source: CBS4, YouTube Government/Legal Weird Car News McLaren Driving Videos rental car mclaren 570s denver skateboard

McLaren F1 may be resurrected as a three-seat, 700-hp GT car

Nearly 25 years ago, the McLaren F1 was unrivaled on the streets. A screaming BMW V12 pushed that three-seat car to a record-breaking 243 mph. The F1 was faster, more expensive, and more exclusive than any other production car of the era. Even today, few cars have eclipsed it. Now, McLaren is rumored to be working on a successor to what some consider the greatest road car ever built. According to Autocar, McLaren Special Operations, or MSO, is working on building the fastest GT car in the world. The car will draw influence and some cues from the original F1, but it won't be an exact recreation or retro-styled version of that car. The goal is to build the fastest vehicle in the world with three or more seats. It won't be P1 fast, but it also isn't meant to be. The MSO division works on bespoke vehicles for customers. It deals with custom designs, from unique paint colors to one-off models. Autocar reports that a number of customers have requested something a little softer and more luxurious than what McLaren currently offers, and some have asked after a three-setup like the on the original F1. While McLaren's current offerings are fast, they lack some of the more premium touches of some competitors. Since returning to the road-car business, McLaren has been met with both critical and commercial success. All of its vehicles use a shared carbon-fiber crash structure, modified slightly for each vehicle. All are powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8, tuned differently for each vehicle. All of their current cars have traditional a two-seat layout. The new F1 will make use the same 3.8-liter V8, without the hybrid system of the P1, cranking out more than 700 horsepower. That would make it McLaren's second most powerful vehicle. MSO has reportedly been tasked with adapting McLaren's basic carbon-fiber monocage/monocoque for use on a three-seater, with the driver placed directly in the middle. The suspension would be a shared McLaren system, though set a little softer than in other models. The interior, Autocar claims, will be unique to this car. Dihedral doors, bespoke switchgear, and a custom set of luggage will all be present. Every car is expected to be tailored to each owner's preferences. It's not clear when the vehicle would go on sale, though Autocar believes it will be before the end of the decade. Supercars take years to design, and McLaren has an ambitious plan for its future.

Question of the Day: What's the greatest British car ever?

The British automotive industry has produced everything from high-production econo-commuters to staggeringly luxurious oligarch-wagons, along the way winning plenty of races and building plenty of beautiful machines. The original Mini led directly to the past half-century of transverse-engine, front-wheel-drive cars built everywhere, the MGB put the sporty little convertible into everyone's reach, and the Morris Oxford became the most beloved motor vehicle in India. So many to choose from, but we want you to pick one. What will it be? Related Video:

2016 British Grand Prix kept mostly calm and carried on

Three bursts of chaos decided the course of the British Grand Prix. The first was a literal cloudburst a dozen minutes before the race, which poured water on the Silverstone Circuit while drivers sat on the grid. Six minutes before the lights-out, the race director decided to start the race behind the Safety Car. The field loped around the wet track for five laps. When the Safety Car pulled off, the three leaders – Mercedes-AMG Petronas' Lewis Hamilton, followed by teammate Nico Rosberg and Red Bull's Max Verstappen – stayed out. Behind them, the second chaotic moment occurred: a big group of drivers made pit stops for intermediate tires. When Manor's Pascal Wehrlein spun at Turn 1 on Lap 7, officials issued a Virtual Safety Car. With the rest of the field slowed down, the three leaders ducked into the pits on Lap 8 for intermediates. The fortuitous timing meant all three drivers rejoined the track in their original positions. By Lap 9, with racing resumed, Hamilton had a 4.9-second lead on Rosberg. From that point, even as the track dried, no one bothered Hamilton during what one commentator called "a measured drive." The Brit won his home grand prix, taking the checkered flag seven seconds ahead of Rosberg. Rosberg had to earn second place on track. The German's car didn't respond well to the intermediate tires, so Verstappen excecuted an outstanding pass on Rosberg on the outside through Chapel on Lap 16. After everyone switched to slicks, Rosberg's Mercedes reclaimed its mojo and the German hunted Verstappen down, passing the Dutchman on Lap 38. The final touch of chaos happened when Rosberg's gearbox threw a tantrum on Lap 47 of the 52-lap race. Rosberg radioed his engineer, "Gearbox problem!" His engineer replied, "Affirm. Chassis default zero one. Avoid seventh gear, Nico." The race stewards allowed the engineer's first two statements, but stewards said the instruction about seventh gear contravened the rule that "the driver must drive the car alone and unaided." After the race, officials added ten seconds to Rosberg's time, demoting him to third behind Verstappen. Rosberg's is the first penalty arising from radio communication restrictions. Unsurprisingly, Mercedes will appeal. At this year's Baku race the radio controversy stemmed from engineers refusing to tell drivers what to do. Now we know what happens when the pit wall gets loose lips.