British supercar manufacturer McLaren announced on the 11th that it has signed a supply contract with global engineering design company Ricardo for the production of high-performance hybrid engines.
This partnership is part of a long-term investment plan for the production of next-generation powertrain V8 engines. The V8 engine will be used as the power source for McLaren's upcoming ultra-lightweight hybrid supercars. In addition, Ricardo will also participate in the design and supply of V6 and V8 engines for McLaren's high-performance hybrid supercars.
As a result of this long-term partnership, both companies announced plans to make significant investments in Ricardo's factory. This facility currently employs 100 engineering specialists and technicians dedicated exclusively to McLaren's high-performance powertrains.
This is not the first partnership between the two companies. Ricardo has been involved since the development of McLaren's first mass-produced supercar, the '12C', in 2011. Ricardo manufactured approximately 34,000 powertrain components for the McLaren 12C. The engines produced at the factory located in the British coastal town of Shorehambysea were transported 80 km to the McLaren Production Centre (MPC).
Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren Automotive, said, "The hybrid V8 powertrain with best-in-class performance will be a core element of McLaren supercars' next generation," adding, "This partnership will also contribute to investment and job creation to expand the engineering supply chain for future key technologies."
Graham Ritchie, CEO of Ricardo, responded, "We are very pleased to have signed the supply contract for McLaren's next-generation high-performance V8 powertrain," and added, "Ricardo, having built an excellent track record in engineering, will continue a successful relationship with McLaren with the highest quality."
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