McLaren Automotive’s 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine has claimed victory at the 2013 International Engine of the Year awards. The lightweight and highly efficient unit won the ‘3-litre to 4-litre’ category, making it the first new winner of the accolade for five years.
The M838T engine, designed and developed in collaboration with Ricardo plc, is fitted to the 12C and 12C Spider and was recently upgraded to produce 620bhp at 7500rpm. Despite this, there were no compromises to efficiency or emissions. Acceleration from a standstill to 60mph takes just 3.0 seconds, while returning 24.2mpg on the combined cycle and emissions of 279g/km.
Now in its 15th year, the International Engine of the Year Awards were presented at Engine Expo 2013, and voted for by a panel of 87 automotive journalists from around the world.
Mark Vinnels, Programme Director – New Vehicle Projects and Richard Farquhar, Head of Powertrain Programmes from McLaren Automotive received the award at a ceremony in Stuttgart, Germany. Mark Vinnels commented: ‘We set ourselves ambitious targets with the M838T engine driven to produce a no compromise unit that was powerful yet refined, compact, lightweight, responsive and efficient.’
Ricardo plc added: ‘In addition to the collaboration on design and development, the McLaren V8 is assembled at a state-of-the-art engine production facility at Ricardo’s Shoreham Technical Centre. The facility provides a near clean-room production environment in which each and every process is carried out according to strict, best-in-class quality principles and within a comprehensive ‘no faults forward’ culture.’
Is the Editor of the Parkers website and price guide, formerly editor of Classic Car Weekly, and launch editor/creator of Modern Classics magazine. Has contributed to various motoring titles including Octane, Practical Classics, Evo, Honest John, CAR magazine, Autocar, Pistonheads, Diesel Car, Practical Performance Car, Performance French Car, Car Mechanics, Jaguar World Monthly, MG Enthusiast, Modern MINI, Practical Classics, Fifth Gear Website, Radio 4, and the the Motoring Independent...
Likes 'conditionally challenged' motors and taking them on unfeasible adventures all across Europe.
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looks a lot harder to work on than the old rover/buick v8…lol..!!
Does it not strike anyone as odd that in a world dominated by Mercedes and BMW performance engines, a British performance engine wins a prestigious prize and only garners a single comment on here?? Yet a defunct no hope Chinese brand producing below products attracts passionate debate and loads of comments? I despair. Well done McLaren; it would be fantastic if such technology was scalable and available in a more modest package/car.
@2, Carl,
I suppose you are right, but I guess most readers of this site are not particularly interested in exotica, into which this engine (and the car itself) belongs to.
So, FWIW, congrate McLaren and Ricardo.
@2,I think there are a lot of untold stories like this, Rochdales own engine design Guru ,Al Melling of MCD design has designed and made some materpieces, be it TVR,TWR Jags or his own engines for cars and bikes.
That is a ludicrous amount of power.
I bet that it won’t pull from tickover in 5th though!
Chris.
@ Chris – yes I agree that Mclaren are not too much of an interest on what is after-all a site dedicated to BMC/BLMC/AR etc…but then again why so many passions are aroused by Chinese MG average saloons is beyond me. More vehicle development stories please Keith 😉