McLaren, a company synonymous with Formula 1 and famous for the F1 supercar, is looking for a hybrid drivetrain engineer, fueling speculation that it is working on a gas-electric road car.
The British firm has posted a job listing on its website seeking a 'senior engineer - powertrain hybrid technology." More tantalizing is the fact the ad makes it clear whoever fills the position will "lead the technical assessment, integration and application of appropriate hybrid powertrain technology" and "manage the definition and execution of development & validation activities." That -- coupled with the fact that Formula 1 has essentially abandoned its experiment with kinetic energy recovery systems -- strongly suggests McLaren is looking to incorporate hybrid technology in a street car, not a race car.
McLaren isn't saying what it's up to, but a company spokesman told Autocar UK hybrid technology "is something we want as a forward-thinking, technology driven company. We have been considering it for future projects. All the advert means is we are looking for a senior engineer in powertrain hybrid technology. Read into it what you will."
Kinetic energy recovery systems are a regenerative braking and power boost system that was optional for F1 teams this year. Ferrari, BMW and McLaren ran their own versions without much noticeable effect beyond the occasional fire and zapped pit crewman. In a nutshell, the technology captured energy generated during braking and stored it in a battery or flywheel for use later in the lap for added power -- hence the name "push to pass." It didn't work as well as planned, and on top of that it was a bear to package and the added weight couldn't be dealt with effectively.
With KERS apparently poised to become a footnote in F1 history, what would McLaren want a hybrid engineer for? Autocar joins AutoBlogGreen in speculating that the boutique automaker is working on a gas-electric supercar. It makes sense. Both Lamborghini and Ferrari are looking into hybrid technology, and Ferrari has sought a patent for its design. McLaren's work on kinetic energy recovery systems for the MP4-24 Formula 1 car provides a firm foundation on which to start building a gas-electric car.
The question is for whom? It could be the upcoming McLaren P11 supercar. It could be some new model that is yet to be reveled. Or it could be a joint project with Mercedes, which provides engines for the McLaren F1 team. McLaren worked with the Germans on their Mercedes SLR and built them at McLaren's Paragon facility in Woking, England. Further, we know that Mercedes bought nearly 10 percent of Tesla Motors so it could get the Silicon Valley company's battery and drivetrain technology. McLaren's casting about for a " senior engineer - powertrain hybrid technology" could be a sign of another joint effort.
One way or another, a full hybrid system or even a road-going KERS system is a technologically sweet way of killing several birds with one stone. It would allow McLaren to build a supercar with good fuel economy while capitalizing on the time and money it invested in KERS for the Formula 1 program. The technology would be a whole lot easier to package in a road car -- where there is a lot more room -- than a race car.
And if someone like Ferrari is working on a hybrid system, you know McLaren will want to have an answer for that.
Photo: McLaren
