Vodafone McLaren Mercedes today presented the MP4-23, the team's 2008 Formula 1 car, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart. The car was completed yesterday and left the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK at around 18:00 GMT on Sunday and was driven in a Mercedes-Benz Actros to the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, having covered approximately 1000kms, arriving around 10:00 this morning. Following today's event the car will be transported to the Circuito de Jerez in Southern Spain, where on Wednesday 9th January Heikki and Pedro will start the test programme with two MP4-23 chassis at a private test. The team will remain at the circuit for five track days, excluding the weekend. Lewis will drive the 2008 car for the first time on Thursday 10th January alongside Heikki. Equal treatment According to news agency GMM, McLaren will not abandon the policy of treating its race drivers equally in 2008.At the launch of the team's new car, the MP4-23, McLaren managing director Martin Whitmarsh addressed speculation that Heikki Kovalainen has been signed as an unofficial 'number two' driver to support championship contender Lewis Hamilton this season.But despite the turmoil of the warring teammates Hamilton and Fernando Alonso last year, Whitmarsh is adamant that the new lineup will also have equal billing in 2008."Last year we treated the drivers the same, and we will do so this season," Whitmarsh is quoted as saying. "We want to win the championship, we have no internal favourite. Both will have the same material and the same conditions." ENGINE Type Mercedes-Benz FO 108VCapacity2.4 litreNo. of cylinders 8 Max. rpm19,000 (FIA regulatory limit since 2007)Bank angle90° Piston bore maximum98 mm (FIA regulation)Number of valves32Fuel Mobil 1 Unleaded (5.75% bio fuel)LubricantsMobil 1Engine95kg (minimum FIA regulation weight) TRANSMISSION Gearbox Speeds Seven forward and one reverseSemi-autoYesDriveshaftsMcLarenClutchHand-operatedChassis McLaren moulded carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb composite incorporating front and side impact structures. Contains integral safety fuel cell Front Suspension Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement Rear Suspension Inboard torsion bar/damper system operated by pushrod and bell crank with a double wishbone arrangement Suspension Dampers KoniElectronics McLaren Electronic Systems control units incorporating electronics for chassis, engine and data acquisition. McLaren Electronic Systems also supplies the electronic dash board, alternator voltage control, sensors, data analysis and telemetry systems Bodywork Construction: One-piece engine cover; separate side pod covers. Separate floor section, structural nose with integral front wing. Tyres Bridgestone PotenzaRadiosKenwoodRace WheelsEnkeiBatteriesGS Yuasa CorporationSteeringMcLaren power-assistedInstrumentsMcLaren Electronic Systems
Specs of the new McLaren