McLaren Sabre (BC-03) - Ultimate Series

15,307
Antarctica
TRAPPIST-1g
ProjectWHaT
Leaked images of the new BC-03. Only 5 will be made and it is based on the McLaren Vision GT

70630812_215613132763297_7067460412584785887_n.jpg


69182094_192642405080155_8426498919429038183_n.jpg


69702571_163643251420081_592816242299802737_n.jpg



It'll allegedly have 1150 hp.

https://jalopnik.com/okay-nobody-look-at-these-mclaren-bc-03-pictures-becaus-1838660130
 
Wow look, the 20th McLaren model this month!

Joking aside, you can obviously see the VGT in this model, which is fulfilling as a Gran Turismo player to see those concepts pass on their design elements to actual road cars.

Aside from that, it's probably just a Senna underneath with some different aero bits. The windows have convinced me of that.
 
I dig it. The McLaren BC-03 has some pretty fierce and futuristic styling cues that I think looks great. So I think this car is quite cool.
 
I swear they don't have a design department. All hideous since the 12C imo.
I have to assume it's due to the chassis development restricting Stephenson & Melville from designing something radically different.
 
I have to assume it's due to the chassis development restricting Stephenson & Melville from designing something radically different.

Are they still using essentially the same tub as the 12c for all of their cars?

I feel like this one should have been called the Senna...

I feel like this is why naming your cars with superlatives is a bad idea - how can you top Senna? And if you do what does that make Senna? Ferrari fell into this trap with Enzo and then LaFerrari. It's like each one is striving to be the most mostest. Again, it's like Dragonball Z where they kept having to make things more and more extreme because "____ intensifies" was the entire concept.
 
Last edited:
Are they still using essentially the same tub as the 12c for all of their cars?
Yes, I believe they still use the MonoCell, just modifying it when necessary.

The new tub will launch next year with the new model, which my guess, is probably the upcoming hybrid model since the new tub is built to accommodate hybrid powertrains.
 
Last edited:
I don't believe this is true. I think they moved on from the 12C tub since the 720S which uses the MonoCage II. The 570S, 720S, and the Ultimate Series cars all use this new monocoque.

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1108135_mclaren-teases-monocage-ii-structure-of-650s-replacement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_720S
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_570S

Ah yes, looking at photos of the tubs, the newer ones look pretty different.

12C tub:
120224_008_mclaren-640x353.jpg


720s tub:
McLaren-720S-Carbon-Fibre-Monocage-II.jpg


I'm sure there are similarities in terms of hard points, but yeah pretty different.
 
I don't believe this is true. I think they moved on from the 12C tub since the 720S which uses the MonoCage II. The 570S, 720S, and the Ultimate Series cars all use this new monocoque.

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1108135_mclaren-teases-monocage-ii-structure-of-650s-replacement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_720S
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_570S
My info came from this article.
Unveiled on Tuesday, the new tub is lighter and more flexible than the MonoCell it replaces, according to Mike Flewitt, head of McLaren's road car division. The MonoCell made its debut a decade ago in the 12C and was modified for special models like the P1 and Speedtail.
https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1103795_mclaren-unveils-next-gen-carbon-fiber-tub

The implication I have read is that the MonoCell II & MonoCage II/III are all newer generations of that same MonoCell debuted in the MP4-12C. They are new tubs, but McLaren has not changed the overall blueprint which is why the cars' designs throughout the model range have a distinctive familiarity among them.

Edit* It's listed here as well in the P1's Wiki entry, though it has what McLaren calls the MonoCage II.
The P1 has a mid-engine, rear wheel drive design that used a carbon fibre monocoque and roof structure safety cage concept called MonoCage, which is a development of the MonoCell first used in the MP4-12C and then in subsequent models
 
Last edited:
Ah yes, looking at photos of the tubs, the newer ones look pretty different.

12C tub:
120224_008_mclaren-640x353.jpg


720s tub:
McLaren-720S-Carbon-Fibre-Monocage-II.jpg


I'm sure there are similarities in terms of hard points, but yeah pretty different.

I remember Autocar did a supplement with design and development details of the MP4-12C (jesus, it seems absurd they launched with a name like a router or office printer) and the chassis as it is there in the picture looked way more appealing than the actual body around it.
 
Last edited:
Are they still using essentially the same tub as the 12c for all of their cars?



I feel like this is why naming your cars with superlatives is a bad idea - how can you top Senna? And if you do what does that make Senna? Ferrari fell into this trap with Enzo and then LaFerrari. It's like each one is striving to be the most mostest. Again, it's like Dragonball Z where they kept having to make things more and more extreme because "____ intensifies" was the entire concept.
Maybe call it the Mclaren Prost....
 
Are there really enough people out there willing to buy all these non-road-legal cars that don't meet any existing series' regulations? How are these cars used?
 
Are they still using essentially the same tub as the 12c for all of their cars?



I feel like this is why naming your cars with superlatives is a bad idea - how can you top Senna? And if you do what does that make Senna? Ferrari fell into this trap with Enzo and then LaFerrari. It's like each one is striving to be the most mostest. Again, it's like Dragonball Z where they kept having to make things more and more extreme because "____ intensifies" was the entire concept.

Yes, I believe they still use the MonoCell, just modifying it when necessary.

The new tub will launch next year with the new model, which my guess, is probably the upcoming hybrid model since the new tub is built to accommodate hybrid powertrains.

I don't believe this is true. I think they moved on from the 12C tub since the 720S which uses the MonoCage II. The 570S, 720S, and the Ultimate Series cars all use this new monocoque.

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1108135_mclaren-teases-monocage-ii-structure-of-650s-replacement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_720S
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_570S

Ah yes, looking at photos of the tubs, the newer ones look pretty different.

12C tub:
120224_008_mclaren-640x353.jpg


720s tub:
McLaren-720S-Carbon-Fibre-Monocage-II.jpg


I'm sure there are similarities in terms of hard points, but yeah pretty different.

My info came from this article.

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1103795_mclaren-unveils-next-gen-carbon-fiber-tub

The implication I have read is that the MonoCell II & MonoCage II/III are all newer generations of that same MonoCell debuted in the MP4-12C. They are new tubs, but McLaren has not changed the overall blueprint which is why the cars' designs throughout the model range have a distinctive familiarity among them.

Edit* It's listed here as well in the P1's Wiki entry, though it has what McLaren calls the MonoCage II.
If it helps at all, MonoCage is a full carbon-fibre cell, but MonoCell is just the tub. MonoCell cars - Sports/Super Series - have an aluminium roof.
 
Are there really enough people out there willing to buy all these non-road-legal cars that don't meet any existing series' regulations? How are these cars used?
A lot of people do it to remain in good faith with the manufacturer & just keep the car as an investment/"art piece". For McLaren, it helps that Lanzante will road-convert the cars so owners have ended up using them that way.

In the past decade, manufacturers have gone as far as offering owner events & programs to help drivers learn/use their cars. I know with the P1 GTR (& I'm sure the Senna as well), owners could buy into the Driver Development Program (which included the cost of the car) where McLaren would basically train the owners how to drive the cars with maintenance & transport for the cars covered around the world. Bruno Senna was once revealed to be an instructor in the program.
 
Last edited:
Back