CarWale
    AD

    McLaren MP4-X : the Formula One future concept explained

    Authors Image

    Omkar Thakur

    5,323 Views
    McLaren MP4-X : the Formula One future concept explained

    Engineers at McLaren teamed up with their designers and technologists to conceptualise what a Formula One car would be like in future and what they have come up with is not just stunning to look at but quite mindboggling. The McLaren MP4-X Concept takes cues from the way the sport is progressing, the scope of real-world technology and driver safety to keep the concept feasible.

    The plinth of any new concept is technology and McLaren claims that all technologies proposed to be applied to the MP4-X, exist, but are still in the early stages of conceptualisation. A new approach towards the powertrain could radically redistribute the chassis layout with learnings from the existing technology used in McLaren Honda Formula One car. McLaren says that rather than having a big centralised storage for electricity, if thin battery cells are created to integrate into the chassis or the body then they can be aesthetically packaged for aerodynamics

    Energy management is the gist for modern formula racing and McLaren has explored all options under the sun – yes – solar panels embedded in the body panels. The solar energy will supplement the energy recovery systems to use even less amount of fuel than ever before. And if that is too mainstream, McLaren believes the car could receive additional electric recharging by using inductive coupling built into the racetrack – something like wireless charging for smartphones.

    Formula One cars have been traditionally open-cockpit, open-wheel racers but there have been calls of better driver safety from drivers as well as from the organisers. McLaren has responded with a closed-cockpit design with a transparent and hydrophobic high-strength canopy. To ensure peripheral vision for the driver, McLaren wants to bring in the fighter-jet technology that uses helmet integrated HUD fed by external cameras to create a see-through wall.

    With cars going faster than ever before, aerodynamics are playing a huge part in keeping the cars on course. Take a look at the 2016 Audi Le Mans race car to see how designers are rethinking body panels as aero-props. McLaren goes a step further with the concept of Active Aero. Like the Drag Reduction System (DRS) deployed in F1 cars, McLaren suggests the use of active aerodynamic body components that will sense the amount of downforce needed in any situation to provide maximum grip and speed. McLaren also talks about adaptive shape-memory alloys that can change form when an electric charge is passed through.

    McLaren has gone a step ahead in ensuring driver safety. Along with active real-time bio-telemetry to check vitals and fatigue levels, McLaren also suggests use of advanced fabric for racing overalls that can indicate the exact areas of trauma in case of mishaps. The chassis structure can be built of components that should be able not only to absorb impact but also have enough resilience to regain its original form to ease extrication of driver in case of crash.

    McLaren has thought beyond the Formula One rule book, or any rule book for that matter, to come up with a concept that excites us with a futuristic vision of the sport and probably occupant safety for future cars as well. It will be interesting to see how these proposed technologies pan out.

     

    Gallery

    Featured Cars

    • Popular
    • JUST LAUNCHED
    • Upcoming
    Skoda Kylaq
    Skoda Kylaq
    Rs. 7.89 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    JUST LAUNCHED
    6th NOV
    Tata Curvv
    Tata Curvv
    Rs. 9.99 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Mahindra Thar Roxx
    Mahindra Thar Roxx
    Rs. 12.99 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Tata Nexon
    Tata Nexon
    Rs. 8.00 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Maruti Suzuki Fronx
    Maruti Fronx
    Rs. 7.51 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Hyundai Creta
    Hyundai Creta
    Rs. 11.00 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
    Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
    Rs. 11.14 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Mahindra XUV 3XO
    Mahindra XUV 3XO
    Rs. 7.79 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Skoda Kylaq
    Skoda Kylaq
    Rs. 7.89 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    JUST LAUNCHED
    6th NOV
    Mercedes-Benz AMG G-Class
    Mercedes-Benz AMG G-Class
    Rs. 3.60 Croreonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    JUST LAUNCHED
    22nd OCT
    Volvo EX40
    Volvo EX40
    Rs. 56.10 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Mercedes-Benz E-Class
    Mercedes-Benz E-Class
    Rs. 78.50 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    BYD eMax 7
    BYD eMax 7
    Rs. 26.90 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Nissan Magnite
    Nissan Magnite
    Rs. 6.00 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Kia Carnival
    Kia Carnival
    Rs. 63.90 Lakhonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Kia EV9
    Kia EV9
    Rs. 1.30 Croreonwards
    Avg. Ex-Showroom price
    Show price in my city
    Maruti Suzuki Dzire 2024
    LAUNCHING SOON
    Nov 2024
    Maruti Dzire 2024

    Rs. 7.00 - 10.00 LakhEstimated Price

    11th Nov 2024Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 S E-Performance
    LAUNCHING SOON
    Nov 2024
    Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 S E-Performance

    Rs. 2.00 - 2.10 CroreEstimated Price

    12th Nov 2024Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Mahindra BE 6e
    Mahindra BE 6e

    Rs. 17.00 - 21.00 LakhEstimated Price

    26th Nov 2024Unveil Date

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Mahindra XEV 9e
    Mahindra XEV 9e

    Rs. 50.00 - 52.00 LakhEstimated Price

    26th Nov 2024Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Audi Q6 e-tron
    Audi Q6 e-tron

    Rs. 1.00 - 1.10 CroreEstimated Price

    Dec 2024 (Tentative)Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Mercedes-Benz G-Class with EQ Power
    Mercedes-Benz G-Class with EQ Power

    Rs. 3.04 - 5.00 CroreEstimated Price

    Dec 2024 (Tentative)Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Honda New Amaze
    Honda New Amaze

    Rs. 7.50 - 10.00 LakhEstimated Price

    Dec 2024 (Tentative)Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Mahindra XUV.e8
    Mahindra XUV.e8

    Rs. 21.00 - 30.00 LakhEstimated Price

    Dec 2024 (Tentative)Expected Launch

    Get Launch Alert on WhatsApp

    Popular Videos

    Mail Image
    Sign up for our Newsletter
    Get all the latest updates from the automobile universe
    • Home
    • News
    • McLaren MP4-X : the Formula One future concept explained