[Murf the Surf]

McLaren to partner with Lockheed-Martin Skunk Works on future design?


https://driving.ca/auto-news/enterta...259.1661428529

[GuidoK]

The plan is to see how tech could be “employed commercially in the automotive design world”

What are they going to do? Build a car that has radar stealth technology?
That could have potential....

[M-technik-3]

Article makes no reference to SR-71 how does that oversight happen. That's like talking about Boeing and not mentioning the 707 or the 747 both Icon's!

Very cool that they would work to make some outrageous shaped vehicle but will it help save them and bring up sales?

[chassis]

VAG should buy McLaren. Small niche car companies don't have the financial resources to develop new vehicles while making long term sustainable profit.

If Ford or GM bought McLaren it would be the kiss of death. BMW doesn't have the wherewithal do buy another low volume niche player, they already have Mini and Rolls. MB can't get out of their own way and seem to have a growing relationship with AML.

VAG is king of the global automotive world at the moment.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

McLaren better come with BUCKETLOADS of cash. Lol.

I don't know if that is really going to be the case. They collaborated with the filmmakers of Top Gun Maverick in putting together the design for the SR72 Darkstar. I can't imagine them charging that much for their work. I can even think of them doing it for free for the publicity they got.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

The guys at Porsche might wince at that...?

Maybe. The CEO of VAG is a Porsche guy. VAG's lineup is pretty interesting:

Bugatti (with Rimac but significant ownership via Porsche)
Lambo
Bentley
Porsche
Audi
VW
Seat
Skoda

Because today Lambo and McLaren co-exist in the market, the brand strategies would need to target the existing clientele. McLaren can stay "British" with assembly in England, bespoke engines developed with Ricardo, Graziano transmission, carbon fiber-intensive construction and the like. VAG would bring the usual corporate synergies to the table, plus deep pockets to invest in new platforms.

A McLaren 720 could ride on the next gen R8 / Huracan platform with assembly in England and powertrain and suspension changes to make it "McLaren".

I think the 911 franchise is so well established that there would not be a second thought inside or outside VAG about brand conflict from McLaren. The two cars, McLaren and 911, exist in the market today, so VAG can just continue in the same direction, brand-wise.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by chassis

A McLaren 720 could ride on the next gen R8 / Huracan platform with assembly in England and powertrain and suspension changes to make it "McLaren".

Great, more of the same rebranding.
Next up is a mcLaren SUV on the Touareg platform. That would be the sixth? brand/model?

Big brands scooping up small exclusive manufacturers dilutes the identity of those brands imho. And VAG is the king of platform sharing.

[chassis]

And a McLaren four door hypersedan on the next gen Panamera/Continental/Spur platform.

Whether or not enthusiasts like it, is irrelevant. SUVs make money, and a broader product portfolio makes money.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by chassis

VAG should buy McLaren. Small niche car companies don't have the financial resources to develop new vehicles while making long term sustainable profit.

If Ford or GM bought McLaren it would be the kiss of death. BMW doesn't have the wherewithal do buy another low volume niche player, they already have Mini and Rolls. MB can't get out of their own way and seem to have a growing relationship with AML.

VAG is king of the global automotive world at the moment.

You guys are aware that VAG was already on the verge of selling Lambo recently as it was deemed too unprofitable? I am guessing the success of the Urus maybe turned some of those thoughts around...

If Aston were to get bought by VAG, you would get just more cross pollination of infotainment, engines and interiors from Audi... not that that is an issue, just more and more of the same in the auto world.... you already get a ton of complaints about the urus and rsq8 being the same car.

[chassis]

I think Aston is not different enough vs VAG’s current lineup to be interesting as an acquisition.

McLaren on the other hand is different. As is Panoz.

[NYG]

Hopefully McLaren won't be involved in any quality control with this collaboration.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by NYG

Hopefully McLaren won't be involved in any quality control with this collaboration.

Have you seen the boondoggle that is the F35? Lockheed isn't what it once was.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by chris719

Have you seen the boondoggle that is the F35? Lockheed isn't what it once was.

I'm an F-22 slut.

Other than that F4U Corsairs all day long.

[Humdizzle]

sounds like they are just using the name for publicity.

it'll be a 720s with some funky panels and new guage cluster. similar to the lambo reventon.