Ricardo and McLaren announce partnership
Sussex-based Ricardo and Surrey’s McLaren Automotive have announced a multi-year partnership for the continued supply of high-performance engines.
The partnership will see the environmental and engineering consulting company manufacturing Mclaren’s next-generation V8 power unit, which has been designed in-house by the supercar company’s powertrain team.
This is the third extension and fourth generation of the engine supply agreement between the two companies. Ricardo has built both the V6 and V8 engines that will power McLaren’s existing and future high-performance hybrid supercars.
Since the introduction of McLaren’s first series production supercar, the 12C in 2011, Ricardo has produced over 34,000 McLaren powertrains at its purpose-built assembly facility at Shoreham-by-Sea, before delivering them to the McLaren Production Centre in Woking where McLaren designs and hand builds its supercars.
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The agreement will see Ricardo supplying both hybrid and non-hybrid variants, with the two companies planning to further invest in the Shoreham facility.
Graham Ritchie, Chief Executive Officer, Ricardo plc, said: “We are extremely pleased to have concluded this long-term multi-year engine supply agreement with McLaren Automotive, for its next generation high-performance V8 powertrain, which extends the long-term relationship between both companies into the next decade.
“Like McLaren, Ricardo has a proven track record of engineering excellence, delivering high performance technology and the highest standards of product quality supported by the upstream supply chain. With this agreement, we look forward to continuing our established and highly successful relationship with McLaren into its third decade.”
Michael Leiters, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive said: “Our new high-performance, hybrid V8 powertrain will form an integral part of McLaren’s next generation product line-up delivering best-in-class performance and thrilling driver engagement.”
“This new agreement with Ricardo is, therefore, an important part of our ‘Future of Performance’ strategy and builds on the enduring relationship between the two British companies, providing a boost for jobs and ensuring increased investment in what is a vitally important domestic engineering supply chain for future technologies.”
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