Car Specifications: Make: McLaren Model: F1 Acceleration: 3.5 sec. Top speed: 370 km/h. Transmission: 6 - speed manual Design: 6.1 litre V12 engine Displacement: 6064 cc Maximum Bhp 680 hp / 7800 rmp Tires Front: 235/45ZR 17 Tires Back: 315/45ZR 17 Length: 4288 mm Width: 1821 mm Height: 1140 mm Weight: n/a
Gordon Murray insisted that the engine for this car be naturally aspirated to increase reliability and driver control. Turbochargers and superchargers increase power but they increase complexity and can decrease reliability as well as introducing an additional aspect of latency and loss of feedback, the ability of the driver to maintain maximum control of the engine is thus decreased.
Murray initially approached Honda for a powerplant with 550 bhp (410 kW; 560 PS), 600 mm (23.6 in) block length and a total weight of 250 kg (551 lb), it should be derived from the Formula One powerplant in the then-dominating McLaren/Honda cars. When Honda refused, Isuzu, then planning an entry into Formula One, had a 3.5 V12 engine being tested in a Lotus chassis. The company was very interested in having the engine fitted into the F1. However, the designers wanted an engine with a proven design and a racing pedigree.
