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McLaren reveals 675LT concept with JVCKenwood tech at CES

Thu, Jan 7 2016 McLaren and Japanese electronics giant JVCKenwood are drawing on a quarter-century of collaboration with this technological concept at CES this year. It's based on the limited-edition 675LT, but packs more advanced tech. For starters, it has a head-up display that projects vital information right into the driver's line of sight – including the presence of other vehicles in its vicinity through the on-board Advanced Driver Assistance System.

To go with it, McLaren replaced the steering wheel with that of the P1 GTR, and fitted controls for the HUD where the IPAS boost and DRS adaptive rear wing buttons would be. While they were at it, McLaren and JVCKenwood also pulled out all the mirrors and replaced them with digital cameras. There's one on each door to streamline the side mirrors, and another digital rear view mirror inside feeding from a third camera below the Airbrake rear wing. If only such systems were certified for use on the road.

The one-off concept also features a unique treatment inside and out. It's done up in Onyx Black with silver racing stripes outside. And the interior features a mix of leather and technical fabrics. With the air conditioning system deleted, vital controls moved to the steering wheel, and gauges integrated into the HUD, McLaren also removed the center console and instrument binnacle altogether, giving the cockpit a more airy feel. The finished product looks pretty cool, but even without all the cool tech, the 675LT is all sold out in both coupe and Spyder forms.
McLAREN 675LT JVCKENWOOD CONCEPT DEBUTS AT CES

Woking, UK (January 6, 2016) – McLaren Automotive and JVCKENWOOD unveiled today an innovative design study, the McLaren 675LT JVCKENWOOD Concept, created for the CES® 2016 consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Concept is based on the new McLaren 675LT Coupe and features a host of new technologies and celebrates the 25th anniversary of their Formula 1™ partnership.

McLAREN 675LT DESIGN CONCEPT
For its collaboration with JVCKENWOOD, McLaren began with a 675LT Coupe prototype vehicle. The 675LT Coupe, which recently went into production at the start-of-the-art McLaren Production Centre in Woking, England, is the most driver-focused, lightweight and aerodynamically optimized model in the McLaren Super Series family. Strictly limited to 500 units, all sold out within a matter of months.

The McLaren design team, led by Designer Peter Wilkins, was tasked with incorporating the JVCKENWOOD CAROPTRONICS system into the 675LT Coupe. Working closely with JVCKENWOOD's Japan-based team, they focused their attention on the interior of the 675LT. The interiors of McLaren's road cars are purposeful, minimalist environments and the 675LT's, with its emphasis on weight savings, is the most extreme of all. This made it the ideal starting point for the McLaren 675LT JVCKENWOOD Concept.

To incorporate JVCKENWOOD's technology, the team created a layered and panoramic yet purposeful interior using a mix of classic McLaren materials and innovative new fabrics. The result is still recognizable as McLaren, but takes interior design a step forward. Carbon Black Nappa Leather is used to finish the top of the bespoke dashboard, upper beltline and forward portion of the central floor tunnel. A new Geometric Black Technical Fabric with a waxy grained finish to prevent reflections is applied to the area in front of the driver. This is then positioned to appear as if it's floating by a strip of Satellite Grey Technical Fabric across the dash area and into the doors. The usual center console is removed altogether with the air conditioning system, a delete option on the 675LT, to offer an even more spacious feel. The steering wheel is borrowed from McLaren's most exclusive model, the track-devoted McLaren P1™ GTR, with the IPAS and DRS buttons replaced by positioning controls for the Head-Up Display (HUD) with fighter plane inspired graphics. The HUD makes conventional instruments redundant, replaced by a vent framed by satin carbon fiber to provide cooling air directly to the driver. A flash of color is provided by Calypso Orange anodized vertical strakes, a color and material that also surrounds the steering wheel-mounted start/stop button.

Calypso Orange Nappa Leather is applied to the bolsters of the 675LT racing seats and to the armrests around the hip point. These disappear out of sight once the driver is seated to give a focus on driving. The orange accent chases the eye down through to the tunnel-mounted leg restraints. Further flashes of orange appear on the seat shoulders for the seat belt guides. For the seat backs, center of the tunnel and armrests, more Satellite Grey Technical Fabric is employed. The seat center and floormats, complete with 675LT logo, are covered in hard wearing Strata Ribbed Textile, a new material for this Concept. Above the driver sits the monitor for the Digital Rear View Mirror (DRVM). It has been integrated into the Carbon Black Nappa Leather headliner and framed with Deep Cobalt Blue stitching that continues back across above the driver and passenger.

The already dramatic exterior of the 675LT Coupe is little changed. Key functional differences are the door-mounted rear view camera blades and third camera mounted above the rear number plate with its housing painted Palladium Grey. More visible are JVCKENWOOD silver racing stripes that start from the front hood-mounted McLaren badge and continue over the car's roof to finish ahead of the Longtail Airbrake. The stripes are also applied to each side of the 675LT where they disappear into the air intakes. The silver contrasts against the Onyx Black bodywork and provides a visual link to the gloss black machined Super-Lightweight 675LT alloy wheels, as well as the part-grey theme of the interior.

JVCKENWOOD TECH OVERVIEW
The technologies incorporated by JVCKENWOOD into the 675LT are staggering. Offering a fully digital cockpit experience, it demonstrates the best of JVCKENWOOD's CAROPTRONICS sensing device systems. JVCKENWOOD's all-in-one Head-Up Display (HUD) system combines with its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to communicate information to the driver. The system has three components as follows:

1. The HUD system replaces the vehicle's conventional instrument cluster, and the driver receives all necessary information from the HUD with very little eye movement necessary, especially compared to a traditional display, which requires glancing downward for vehicle information. The advantage for the driver is concentration on the road is optimal, contributing to control, safety and security. The ADAS detect the presence of vehicles, and the display interface devices communicates information collected to drivers.

2. In addition to the HUD, aerodynamic digital cameras replace the optical side mirrors of the 675LT Coupe. The design of these electronic mirrors reduce weight and drag resistance, while also aiding downforce at high speed.

3. The third component of the CAROPTRONICS system in the McLaren 675LT JVCKENWOOD Concept is DRVM, which replaces a conventional rear view mirror. The combination of three cameras, one on each side and one at the rear of the vehicle, offers a wider rear field of view. DRVM is effective at reducing blind spots thanks to high resolution imagery and optimization of the driver's control.

The McLaren 675LT JVCKENWOOD Concept will be on display at the JVCKENWOOD stand (1702), January 6-9 at CES in Las Vegas. A press conference with an overview of the car and its capabilities will be held on January 7 at 6 p.m. PST at the JVCKENWOOD stand in North Hall.

By Noah Joseph


See also: McLaren recalls P1 for faulty backup hood latch, Lease a McLaren for the low, low price of..., McLaren sold out of the 675LT Spider in two weeks.