McLaren Tandem-Turbine 8-B Concept (Technical Cutaway)
Supercar makers are exploring new ways of capturing the 'supercar magic'. In the oncoming environmental age, adding cylinders and cubic capacity is no longer the recipe for producing supercar power output, while still meeting ever more challenging CO2 targets.
Enter the Gas-Turbine. Light, efficient, and capable of running on almost any gaseous or liquid fuel. The Gas-Turbine's extreme operating temperatures ensure complete combustion, minimising particulate emission, along with optimising Oxygen and fuel transformation to tractive power.
The method of extracting turbine power into variable drive torque is a high-current electric Hybrid generation and drive system. The short term peaks of generation, or Kenetic recovery re-generation is via electrical super-capacitors mounted ahead of the rear wheels in the outboard pontoons. Medium-term storage at start-up and for zero-emissions drive profiles is provided by high-density nano-carbon structure batteries mounted in front axle cradle assembly.
Main Electric drive unit is located under the gas-turbine as a gen/regen unit, driving an epicyclic high/low speed gear set. Additional gen/regen units are fitted in hub motors in the front wheels.
The McLaren Tandem-Turbine 8-B seats the driver centrally, maximising their view of the road ahead. The single passenger is seated tandem-style behind the driver, reducing the polar yaw moment-of-inertia. A clear polycarbonate canopy provides all-round vision, and also acts as opening through which driver and co-pilot enter the vehicle - lifting forward, out of the way, and taking the upper aerodynamic structure with it.
Mounting the driver and passenger down the centreline of the car allows for two deep-section venturi tunnels to run the length of the car, minimising the frontal area, and proving a low-drag shape for increased performance. A variable pitch rear aerodynamic surface provide additional downforce on the rear axle, when required, for heavy braking and high-speed directional changes.
Small active winglets are also mounted ahead of the rear wheels, and in the rear diffuser aerodynamic assembly to fine-tune air flow across heat exchangers, and to optimise the flow of the air as it exists the venturi system.
Stylistically, the McLaren Tandem-Turbine 8-B exhibits classic supercar proportions. Long, Low and Wide. Harking back to the origins of the McLaren racing legend with Can-Am Sportscars, the Tandem-Turbine 8-B recreates the Shell/South African Airways livery used on a McLaren M8 B Low Wing race car.
The Lego model features front and rear wheels suspended by independent wishbones, sprung by longitudinal torsion bars.
This Lego miniland-scale McLaren Tandem-Turbine 8-B concept has been created for LEGO® Speed Champions & ReBrick “Celebrate the Future of McLaren Automotive” Competition to design a future McLaren Automotive road supercar.
McLaren Tandem-Turbine 8-B Concept (Technical Cutaway)
Supercar makers are exploring new ways of capturing the 'supercar magic'. In the oncoming environmental age, adding cylinders and cubic capacity is no longer the recipe for producing supercar power output, while still meeting ever more challenging CO2 targets.
Enter the Gas-Turbine. Light, efficient, and capable of running on almost any gaseous or liquid fuel. The Gas-Turbine's extreme operating temperatures ensure complete combustion, minimising particulate emission, along with optimising Oxygen and fuel transformation to tractive power.
The method of extracting turbine power into variable drive torque is a high-current electric Hybrid generation and drive system. The short term peaks of generation, or Kenetic recovery re-generation is via electrical super-capacitors mounted ahead of the rear wheels in the outboard pontoons. Medium-term storage at start-up and for zero-emissions drive profiles is provided by high-density nano-carbon structure batteries mounted in front axle cradle assembly.
Main Electric drive unit is located under the gas-turbine as a gen/regen unit, driving an epicyclic high/low speed gear set. Additional gen/regen units are fitted in hub motors in the front wheels.
The McLaren Tandem-Turbine 8-B seats the driver centrally, maximising their view of the road ahead. The single passenger is seated tandem-style behind the driver, reducing the polar yaw moment-of-inertia. A clear polycarbonate canopy provides all-round vision, and also acts as opening through which driver and co-pilot enter the vehicle - lifting forward, out of the way, and taking the upper aerodynamic structure with it.
Mounting the driver and passenger down the centreline of the car allows for two deep-section venturi tunnels to run the length of the car, minimising the frontal area, and proving a low-drag shape for increased performance. A variable pitch rear aerodynamic surface provide additional downforce on the rear axle, when required, for heavy braking and high-speed directional changes.
Small active winglets are also mounted ahead of the rear wheels, and in the rear diffuser aerodynamic assembly to fine-tune air flow across heat exchangers, and to optimise the flow of the air as it exists the venturi system.
Stylistically, the McLaren Tandem-Turbine 8-B exhibits classic supercar proportions. Long, Low and Wide. Harking back to the origins of the McLaren racing legend with Can-Am Sportscars, the Tandem-Turbine 8-B recreates the Shell/South African Airways livery used on a McLaren M8 B Low Wing race car.
The Lego model features front and rear wheels suspended by independent wishbones, sprung by longitudinal torsion bars.
This Lego miniland-scale McLaren Tandem-Turbine 8-B concept has been created for LEGO® Speed Champions & ReBrick “Celebrate the Future of McLaren Automotive” Competition to design a future McLaren Automotive road supercar.