A Nod to McLaren F1’s Greatest Triumph
Lanzante, a name synonymous with McLaren’s most special projects, is back at it again. But this time, they’re not just tweaking existing McLarens or stuffing Formula 1 engines into Porsches. No, they’re building their own supercar. And it promises to be something rather spectacular.
Dubbed Project 95-59, this new machine is a tribute to the McLaren F1’s legendary outright victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995. That winning car, wearing number 59, was entered by none other than Lanzante themselves, making this project feel more like a homecoming than just another high-speed toy for the wealthy.
Three Seats, One Goal: Performance
In a clear nod to the F1, Lanzante has opted for a three-seater layout with the driver placed in the middle, exactly where they ought to be. No doubt this will give you a proper ‘fighter jet for the road’ experience, as if 700bhp per tonne wasn’t already enough to focus the mind.
Power will come from an unspecified McLaren base, but given Lanzante’s track record, it’s fair to assume a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is lurking somewhere beneath its yet-to-be-revealed bodywork. It might not be the screaming V12s of old, but with that power-to-weight ratio, it will undoubtedly go like an absolute rocket. For context, McLaren’s own W1 hypercar boasts an 899bhp per tonne figure, so we’re deep into the utterly absurd.
A Proper GT… Sort Of
Despite its hardcore nature, Lanzante is keen to highlight that Project 95-59 isn’t just about blistering lap times and terrifying acceleration figures. They’ve even mentioned something called "luggage space," which suggests they have at least thought about long-distance usability. Whether this means a few inches behind the seats or an actual boot remains to be seen, but it’s a reassuringly sensible detail amidst all the madness.
Styled for Speed
The car has been penned by Paul Howse, the man responsible for the McLaren P1, 750S, and Artura, so expect something that looks fast even when standing still. We’ve only got a shadowy teaser sketch for now, but VIP customers have reportedly already been given a glimpse of the final thing.
Will it be as good as the McLaren F1? Well, that’s a high bar, but Lanzante isn’t in the habit of doing things by halves. Whatever Project 95-59 turns out to be, one thing is certain: it’s going to be properly fast, probably expensive, and definitely brilliant.
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