British sports-car specialist McLaren has enlisted its long-time engine builder Ricardo to develop and manufacture a hybrid V8 for future performance models.
British sports-car specialist McLaren will continue to produce V8-powered models into the foreseeable future after signing a new deal with its long-time engine builder to adapt hybrid technology to its next generation of supercars.
In a media statement, McLaren announced it had signed a ‘multi-year partnership’ with UK-based engine manufacturing firm Ricardo, which will develop a “new high-performance, hybrid V8 powertrain” for its next-generation vehicles.
Ricardo has developed and built engines for McLaren since the MP4-12C supercar launched in 2011, though it has recently expanded production from its twin-turbo V8s to an all-new twin-turbo V6 for the Artura.
While McLaren’s previous high-end ‘Ultimate Series’ models – such as the P1 and Speedtail hypercars – have been powered by hybrid V8 engines, the UK brand’s less expensive sports and supercars have so far missed out on electrified technology.
The joint media statement did not say whether the next-generation V8 engines would be plug-in hybrids – following on from the P1 and Artura – or less powerful mild-hybrids.
As previously reported, the recently-revealed McLaren 750S is believed to be the brand’s last new, series-production model without hybrid or electric power – launching with a tweaked version of the 720S’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8.
McLaren is one of the few car-makers which is yet to announce its plans for a supercar, though a patent filed by the brand earlier this year has pointed to plans for an battery-powered supercar with three electric motors.
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