McLaren CEO Says It May Collaborate with Honda for Road Cars

McLarenMcLarenUnited Kingdom, 1963 > present92 models
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12 videos
CEO Martin Whitmarsh says that it and HondaHondaJapan, 1948 > present102 models
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may work on road cars in the future, but work will not start until the 2015 Formula 1 engine project in finished. 

“It’s a pure Formula 1 contract, but we’ve already been looking at automotive technology and we’re sharing that very openly. Our road car strategy at the moment has no other automotive partner and 
Honda would be a good place 
to collaborate,” said Whitmarsh.

Honda released a separate statement that said: "We both know how challenging it is to win in Formula 1, and we need to be 100 per cent committed to that task. Therefore, at this stage, all our focus is towards the development of the 2015 Formula 1 car and powertrain, and there are no plans for collaboration on other projects at this moment.”

Whatever car projects that Honda and McLaren work on will be well in the future.  

“If you look at our product range, 12CMcLaren MP4-12CUnited Kingdom, 2009 > present15 versions
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is running and will run for a few more years. P1McLaren P1 Gen.1United Kingdom, 2012 > present7 versions
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has just been launched and P13, which is the follow-up car, is relatively developed, so actually it is something that you would see in quite a few years to come,” said Whitmarsh.

That means that any McLaren/Honda automotive cooperation will not be before around 2018 at the earliest. 

In the meantime, Honda has been reaping its McLaren partnership by using a 12C as a benchmark for development of the new NSXAcura NSXJapan, 2013 > present22 photos
.

Source: Autocar