McLaren Automotive has announced a strategic project to design and establish innovation for the next generation of powertrains. Working with a number of partners including BMW Group, the project will develop new combustion innovation that will provide a greater output per capability than presently possible. It also intends to even more help with CO2 decreases while concurrently increasing engine output. The technology is predestined for application in future McLaren engines.
The task, supported and part-funded by UK Federal government through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), will also improve the UK’s development and production abilities of low-CO2 internal combustion engine innovation. The task will be led by McLaren Automotive however includes a total of six partners. McLaren Automotive will work with its existing engine production partner, Ricardo, and BMW Group while Grainger and Worrall will provide complex, lightweight casting innovation. Lentus Composites will contribute understanding in specialist composite structures. Completing the syndicate is the University of Bath who bring their advanced research and development capabilities in internal combustion engine systems efficiency.
Discussing the collaboration, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automotive, Mike Flewitt, said: “This is an interesting project that plays to the strengths of all partners. McLaren Automotive has an extraordinary reputation for constructing the world’s finest engines, as showcased by our M838T and its previous category wins in the International Engine of the Year awards. We will continue to separately create and develop our own engines, and the advantages of this project will help us speed up the development of our next generation of powertrain, as verified in our recently-announced Track22 business plan.”
