Latest news with #KokusaiKaihatsuRacing

Car and Driver

Lanzante Honors Its 1995 Le Mans Win with Three-Seat Supercar

Lanzante, which ran the 1995 Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 GTR, is paying tribute to that icon with a new supercar called the 95-59. The 95-59 appears to be based on the McLaren 750S but features a sleeker and more understated carbon-fiber body. Only 59 examples are planned for production, and pricing will start at well over $1 million. Three-seat supercars honoring the McLaren F1 have, strangely, become a trend. First came the long, streamlined McLaren Speedtail, limited to 106 units and with a claimed top speed of 250 mph. Next, Gordon Murray reimagined his iconic 1990s design with the GMA T.50, which also mirrors the F1 with a naturally aspirated V-12 engine and a six-speed manual gearbox. Now there's a new player in this ultra-niche space, the Lanzante 95-59, which debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Lanzante, a small British company specializing in servicing and restoring rare, high-performance vehicles, also has a long history of competing in motorsports. Undoubtedly, its greatest achievement on track came when the Lanzante-run Kokusai Kaihatsu Racing team took overall victory at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans with a black McLaren F1 GTR. The 95-59 is built to pay tribute to that achievement, and it becomes Lanzante's first creation to wear the company's name and badge, which depicts the Hindu god Ganesha. Lanzante According to Lanzante, the 95-59 is based on a "current McLaren platform," and judging by the roofline, it appears to be using the bones of the McLaren 750S. Lanzante reworked the bodywork, with a smoother, subtler front end. The swooping front fenders lead to a deep cut-out below the side window, while the rear end features an adjustable wing that sits above C-shaped taillights and a center-mounted exhaust. The body is entirely made from carbon fiber, with Lanzante aiming to keep the curb weight at around 2700 pounds. Power comes from McLaren's well-known twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, with Lanzante tuning it to 850 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. The McLaren 750S, for context, makes 740 hp and 590 pound-feet while weighing in at around 3200 pounds. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sends power to the rear wheels. Lanzante Lanzante hasn't yet shown off the interior, but the three-seat layout basks in natural sunlight thanks to glass panels in the roof. The name 95-59 references the year Lanzante won Le Mans and the number the triumphant car wore. Only 59 examples are planned for production, and pricing will start at well over $1 million. Caleb Miller Associate News Editor Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.