New superlight McLaren may herald greener cars

The latest offering from McLaren claims to have lower carbon emissions per horsepower than any other car on the market, including hybrids.

The fact that the new car, which is currently referred to as the MP4-12C, produces 600 horsepower means it remains a high polluter, but the formula 1-derived engineering that enables it to be relatively efficient may one day bring fuel savings to the cars driven by the average motorist.

The McLaren car uses a hollow carbon fibre frame to provide the car’s rigidity, protection for its occupants and a dramatic saving in weight over conventional materials such as steel and even aluminium.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Mass-market, ultra-fuel-efficient cars of the future may well rely on materials that were once the preserve of exclusive vehicles like the Mclaren.”

Supercar designer goes green

Gordon Murray, the car designer responsible for some of the most exotic supercars and F1 designs of recent times, is convinced that the day of the big car is passing and is turning his hand to the design of a super-efficient green city car.

Murray is best known for his McClaren Mercedes, but that could be about to change if his T.25 city car gets the go ahead.

In a return to a method of construction not seen in mainstream vehicles for many decades, the Murray car would feature a separate chassis and body.

The materials used and will mix steel and plastics to save weight and power units would include an electric option.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Smaller cars are already doing well, but a new class of super-lightweight and highly efficient vehicles is just around the corner – cars for the iPod generation.”