McLaren M838T engine
The M838T engine, in a McLaren 12C rolling chassis
Overview
ManufacturerMcLaren & Ricardo PLC
Production2011-2021
Layout
Configuration90° flat-plane V8
Displacement3.8 L; 231.8 cu in (3,799 cc)
Cylinder bore93 mm (3.66 in)
Piston stroke69.9 mm (2.75 in)
ValvetrainDOHC 4 valves x cyl.
RPM range
Max. engine speed8500
Combustion
TurbochargerMHI Twin-turbo with intercooler
Fuel systemFuel injection
Fuel typePetrol
Cooling systemWater-cooled
Output
Power output500–800 PS (493–789 bhp; 368–588 kW)
Torque output540–720 N⋅m (398–531 lb⋅ft)
Dimensions
Dry weight199 kg (439 lb)
Chronology
SuccessorMcLaren M840T

The McLaren M838T engine is a 3.8-litre (3,798.6 cc) 90-degree twin-turbocharged flat-plane V8, designed and developed in collaboration with Ricardo plc.[1]

Development

The engine redlines at 8500 rpm, but 80% of the engine's torque is available as low as 2000 rpm.[2][3] McLaren claims that the engine has the highest horsepower to CO2 emission ratio of any current production engine.[4]

The engine is built at Ricardo's engine assembly facility in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.[5] The turbochargers are supplied by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), and are different units from those used in Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions.[6]

Applications

The engine was designed and built for the McLaren MP4-12C, where it produces 600 PS (592 bhp; 441 kW) @ 7000 rpm and 600 N⋅m (443 lb⋅ft) @ 3000 rpm of torque. In 2012 McLaren released an update increasing power to 625 PS (616 bhp; 460 kW) @ 7500 rpm. For the GT3 racecar, the engine produces less power at only 500 PS (493 bhp; 368 kW).[7]

The engine has a bore and stroke of 93 mm × 69.9 mm (3.66 in × 2.75 in) and a bore spacing of 108 mm (4.25 in).[8]

McLaren and Ricardo redeveloped the M838T engine for use in the McLaren P1. The engine has been upgraded to optimise cooling and durability under higher loads. The engine block has also been modified to incorporate an integrated electric motor as part of a hybrid drive train. The petrol engine produces 727 bhp (542 kW) at 7,200 rpm with an additional 176 bhp (131 kW) from the electric motor. At 4,000 rpm the engine is said to produce 720 N⋅m (531 lb⋅ft) of torque while the electric motor can produce a maximum of 260 N⋅m (192 lb⋅ft) from 0 rpm upwards.[9]

Models Years Codename Power Torque
MP4-12C 2011–2012 M838T 600 PS (441 kW; 592 bhp)
@ 7000 rpm 		600 N⋅m (443 lb⋅ft)
@ 3000 rpm
2013–2014 625 PS (460 kW; 616 bhp)
@ 7500 rpm
MP4-12C GT3 2011–2015 500 PS (368 kW; 493 bhp) -
650S 2014–2017 650 PS (478 kW; 641 bhp)
@ 7250 rpm 		680 N⋅m (502 lb⋅ft)
@ 6000 rpm
675LT 2015–2017 675 PS (496 kW; 666 bhp)
@ 7100 rpm 		700 N⋅m (516 lb⋅ft)
@ 5500 rpm
MSO 688 HS 2016–2017 688 PS (506 kW; 679 bhp)
P1 2013–2015 M838TQ 737 PS (542 kW; 727 bhp) @ 7200 rpm
Electric: 179 PS (132 kW; 177 bhp)
Total: 916 PS (674 kW; 903 bhp) 		720 N⋅m (531 lb⋅ft)
Electric: 260 N⋅m (192 lb⋅ft)
Total: 980 N⋅m (723 lb⋅ft)
P1 GTR/LM 2015–2017 800 PS (588 kW; 789 bhp) @ 7250 rpm
Electric: 200 PS (147 kW; 197 bhp)
Total: 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 bhp)[10] 		Total: 1,050 N⋅m (774 lb⋅ft)[11]
540C 2016–2021 M838TE 540 PS (397 kW; 533 bhp)
@ 7500 rpm[12] 		540 N⋅m (398 lb⋅ft)
@ 3500–6500 rpm[12]
570S 570 PS (419 kW; 562 bhp)
@ 7400 rpm 		600 N⋅m (443 lb⋅ft)
@ 5000–6500 rpm
600LT 2018–2021 600 PS (441 kW; 592 bhp)
@ 7500 rpm[13] 		620 N⋅m (457 lb⋅ft)
@ 5500–6500 rpm[13]
620R 2020–2021 620 PS (456 kW; 612 bhp)
@ 7500 rpm 		620 N⋅m (457 lb⋅ft)
@ 5500 rpm

References

  1. ^ "McLaren M838T Engine Claims Victory at International Engine of the Year Awards". McLarenAutomotive.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  2. ^ "McLaren MP4-12C First look". Edmunds.com. 13 October 2009.
  3. ^ "The Official McLaren Automotive Website". 3 February 2010. Archived from the original on 1 October 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  4. ^ "McLaren MP4-12C - the first official P11 story". 8 September 2009.
  5. ^ "New Ricardo engine assembly facility commences pilot production". ricardo.com. 13 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Accelerated development: Ricardo-McLaren M838T". Automotive Engineer. 19 October 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  7. ^ Dobie, Stephen (4 May 2011). "evo: McLaren MP4-12C GT3 racing car: new pictures and video". EVO. UK. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  8. ^ Kavanagh, Jason (4 September 2012). "2012 McLaren MP4-12C: Dyno Tested". Edmunds. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  9. ^ "McLaren News - McLaren P1 Twin Power". Archived from the original on 24 February 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  10. ^ "McLaren Ultimate Series - P1™ GTR". Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  11. ^ "Lanzante's McLaren P1 LM smashes Nürburgring lap record with 6min43.2s run". 29 May 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  12. ^ a b "McLaren 540C Technical specification" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  13. ^ a b "McLaren 600LT Technical specification" (PDF). Retrieved 24 April 2019.[permanent dead link]

External links

McLaren Automotive road car timeline, 2010–present
Categories