A FAMOUS engineer who was the brains behind one of Formula 1’s most famous and dominant cars has designed a stunning, F1-inspired supercar.
Steve Nichols, 78, was once responsible for the McLaren MP4/4 that reigned over the F1 championship with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in 1988.
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It was heralded at the time for its low-slung, sleek design – making it one of the fastest and most efficient cars of its era that was heavily optimised for aerodynamics.
Powered by a beefy, V10 Honda engine, the MP4/4 was also renowned for its reliability and efficiency – giving McLaren a significant edge.
McLaren were able to secure 10 one-two finishes during the season, as Senna secured the first of his three world championship titles.
Now, some 36 years later, Nichols has put all of his engineering ingenuity to the test by building a supercar that blends modern appeal and classic motorsport heritage.
Called the Nichols N1A, the car is said to be a modern reinterpretation of the McLaren M1A from the 1960s – the brand’s very first self-designed and built race car.
The Nichols N1A utilises a lightweight bodywork and has been described as a driver-focused machine that draws heavily on its racing heritage.
Powered by a reworked 7.0-litre LS3 V8 engine producing 650 horsepower, it also features a six-speed manual transmission – to ensure a pure, engaging driving experience.
In fact, according to Autoblog, the car has a higher power-to-weight ratio than a LaFerrari.
The design, which also pays homage to the aforementioned McLaren MP4/4, features a reclined driving position much like an F1 car, analog gauges and a gear lever reminiscent of Senna’s F1 car.
The interior is minimalist and focused on the driving experience, with machined aluminium controls and premium leather trim.
For the purists, modern conveniences like touchscreens have been excluded.
As you can imagine, the sporty motor is both pricey and exclusive, with only 100 units set to be produced – with the first 15 models under the “ICON 88” banner which celebrates the 15 victories of the McLaren MP4/4 in 1988.
Each car costs $500,000 – roughly the equivalent of £372,000 – and is customised to the buyer’s preferences.
The N1A is the debut model from Nichols Cars, which was founded in 2017 by Nichols and John Minett, with a goal to create pure, exhilarating sports cars that honour motorsport history.
