January 31, 2013

F1 Pr0n: McLaren MP4-28

Before I get into the details of the new McLaren, I have a complaint.  See, the little team from Woking used to do great "glamour shots" of their cars... indeed, I believe I got my "nose-3/4-side" format for F1 Pr0n from them.  But in recent years, they've gone away from that to putting the car on an angled plinth under nice warm lights... which is HORRIBLE for my purposes.  This year they've only released TWO studio shots: one from the side, and the annual McLaren Centerfold.  *siiiiiiiiiiigh*  Well, let's work with what we've got.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the McLaren MP4-28.

For all intents and purposes, there's only two differences between this and the MP4-27.  One, the sidepods have a steeper slope front-to-back, though they didn't copy the Red Bull exhaust thing like Lotus did.  The other obvious difference is the nose.  Last year's rollout had a very low, long nose; the MP4-28, on the other hand, has something more like the nose run at the end of the 2012 season, when the McLaren was the fastest, though least reliable, car on the track.  It looks shorter, though that's probably an optical illusion, maybe because of the installed modesty panel covering the step.

Other than those differences, there's one other oddball thing... the two sidepod inlets have completely different shapes, and each one has a different style/shape of mirror.  I can only assume that this is temporary, and one will be decided upon before the first race.  Though I wouldn't put it past McLaren to go full wacko on us... it's an odd-numbered year, after all. 

Under the skin, there's reportedly a number of changes.  They've copied the Ferrari pull-rod suspension for the front, and improved the rear pull-rod suspension by putting all the pieces into one housing, thereby cutting down on drag.  Reportedly.  For the life of me, I can't see it.  That, however, is why they have people who get paid to spot things like that and I work in a bookstore.  Okay, we've seen the rest of it, but now it's time for moment we've all been waiting for... and no staples, either!


Miss January!

Damn, that's pretty... and you can see the modesty panel, too, I think!  "Dafon" seems to be where the panel is located, and is partially translucent, maybe?  Either way, geez, that's a good looking car.

Ferrari and Force India both debut their cars on February 1st... see ya then!

Posted by: Wonderduck at 09:36 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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1 Just inside the front wheels, mounted forward of the suspension, what are those things?

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at February 01, 2013 02:57 AM (+rSRq)

2 Steven, those are cooling ducts for the brakes.

Posted by: Wonderduck at February 01, 2013 07:21 AM (41uEd)

3 It is my opinion that sidepod intakes are in fact symmetrical. Try to change contrast curves, you'll see the structure paining through.

Posted by: Pete at February 01, 2013 12:38 PM (RqRa5)

4 Well, Pete, people who were actually at Woking disagree with you.  But you might be right; optical illusions occur, after all!

Posted by: Wonderduck at February 01, 2013 06:54 PM (41uEd)

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