Frank Stephenson is McLaren's New Design Chief

Supercar Maker to expand Portfolio?
by Clinton Deacon
August 12, 2008 3:00 PM
Filed Under: Corporate/Financial, European, McLaren

Latest developments at McLaren evidently shows big plans are a foot at the British marque. Frank Stephenson who is best known for his work on the design of the modern day Mini has been confirmed as the company's new design chief – but this is after the design for the McLaren F1 successor has already been signed off.

It proves that the supercar manufacturer could extend their product portfolio beyond the single model and could well look at competing against the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini in the not too distant future.

Stephenson has spent 11 years at BMW where he also designed the BMW X5 as well as the aforementioned Mini, more recently he moved to Fiat where he was responsible for the much acclaimed Fiat 500 as well as the Fiat Bravo. To top all that off, he also oversaw Pininfarina's work on the Ferrari F430 and Maserati MC12.

Do we believe this guy can follow in the footsteps of McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray? I think the answer is a resounding yes!

Source: autocar
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Comments

Wait a minute....your saying the guy who designed the mini also designed the Fiat 500. I wonder if he helped work on the Alfa Mi.To also.

by Sharpie | August 12, 2008 4:30 PM
Peter Stevens working under Gordon Murry rendered the body design of the Mc Laren F1.

by Double-t | August 12, 2008 10:16 PM
A new F1, finally!

by RobERob | August 12, 2008 10:48 PM
It's great to see a British design studio arise. But, I hope that this doesn't put more pressure on the legendary and apparently fading Italian design firms.

by V6s_stink | August 13, 2008 6:15 AM
So some guy who designed a Fiat & Mini is going to be designing the most exotic sports car to replace the insanely beautiful McLaren F1?

Am I seriously the only one who thinks this is a disaster? Oh well, im sure they know what their doing, and he'll probably do a good job, im just a college student on a laptop, what do i know

by MattAAron | August 13, 2008 2:26 PM
First was Peter Bransbury. He started in GB as Sierra sedan designer, then made these Volvos (S60, S80, V70 ect.) and vaniched somewhere in American Ford-jungle. This man started in continent which is all different part in "fadeing" of the glory of Italian design.

by alessandro | August 16, 2008 11:27 AM
First was Peter Bransbury. He started in GB as Sierra sedan designer, then made these Volvos (S60, S80, V70 ect.) and vanished somewhere in American Ford-jungle. This man started in continent which is all different part in "fadeing" of the glory of Italian design.

by alessandro | August 16, 2008 11:28 AM

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