The McLaren F1 “road car” is one of the most famous, expensive, powerful supercar.  It was design and built by McLaren (McLaren Cars, a British Company that is subsidiary of McLaren Group) based on their experiences with F1 cars.  The car was introduced in May 1992, and was in production from 1994 to 1998 with only 107 cars were built.  Only 64 of those were street car versions, 5 Le Mans, 3 GT’s and 35 GTR models.  They say that 21 of road version cars are in US.  One with chassis #65 was at McLaren London showroom and was sold as new in 2004.

At the time it was the ultimate road car.  Originally powered by 6.1 L (6,064cc), 627 bhp (gradually increased up to 6.5 L), V12 BMW custom built engine by BMW M (Motorsport Division).  Street version variants had 627 bhp while other tuned up to 680 bhp; though there some disagreement about power output that is based on the power measuring systems, that can show different output.  The car can reach 60 mph / 97km/h mark in only 2.1 sec, 100mph in 6.3 sec and ¼ mile in 11.1 sec at 138 mph.  Official maximum speed is 240.14 mph / 386.5 km/h (was achieved without catalytic converters on the car.  However, the true top speed of the car is 243 mph, reached in 1998 by Andy Wallace who was driven five years old XP5 prototype with the engine rpm of 7,800.   Please note that on production cars rpm are limited to 7,500.  There are also speculation that if equipped w/7-speed transmission the car could reach even higher speed.

It was the fastest production car until it was surpassed in 2005 by K_oenigsegg CCR  and a few weeks after that by B_ugatti V_eyron.  The car weight is 2,500 lbs /1,138kg.  By the weight to power ration the McLaren F1 is one of the most powerful cars ever built (for example it has much better ratio compare to Enzo (-12%).

The car was the first one that incorporated many features for road car (such us fully carbon fibre monocoque structure, a central driving position w/two offset rear passenger seats, fully active fan-assisted ground effect aerodynamics.  Expensive materials as titanium, magnazium and gold (aprx. 25g of gold per each car; gold foil one is the most efficient heat-reflector used as insulation required to to the usage of carbon fiber body) were used for manufacturing.   Though officially surpassed in speed record and a few cars that capable to beat F1 at 60 mph by many F1 considered to be the Ultimate driver’s car the lightest supercar on the market.

ABOUT THE MODEL MAKER

ixo-MODELS are made in China by SONIC INTERNATIONAL (TOYS) LIMITED.

Packaging is attractive, models attached w/a screw to the black plastic display case w/printed model name on it, has a clear acrylic top, display packed in a carton sleeve.

The brand is on a market just for a few years.  However, 1/43 scale die cast car models collectors familiar with high quality models that were on a market for several years in the lines of Vitesse Group.  Skid, Onyx, many models from Vitesse and 2-Wheels (1/24 scale motorcycles) were made by the same people that now works in IXO. 

You can find numerous models released under the IXO badge previously released in Vitesse Group lines.  New castings (models) and previously released models of sport and rally cars in new liveries are issued on the regular basis.