Lanzante Unveils Yet Another Stunner At Goodwood
In 1995, a Lanzante-run McLaren F1 GTR wearing #59 won the most prestigious endurance race on the planet. To celebrate, Lanzante has revealed the 95-59, paying tribute to its victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s a McLaren in some ways, from the drab name to the powertrain components, but Lanzante won’t say which base car it started with. Considering the amount of work done (even to the chassis), does that matter? Perhaps, so we’ll at least rule out what it’s not.
The 95-59 has a (revised) 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and a seven-speed Seamless Shift Gearbox, so that rules out the V6 hybrid Artura as a base, leaving us with the 750S and the GTS. The slotted engine cover of the former seems similar to that of the 95-59, but given that this is a full carbon fiber body with significant alterations to just about every element beneath it, Lanzante could possibly have started with either.
Power Is High, Weight Is Low, And Aero Is Awesome
Adam Lynton/Autoblog
So let’s talk about what we do know: “over” 850 horsepower and 649 lb-ft of torque, a target weight of under 2,760 lbs, and a floating active aero rear wing. Oh, and a three-seat layout with a central driving position, like the F1 that inspires it. Lanzante’s Goodwood Festival of Speed reveals draw swarms, so this year, we’re kept at arm’s length while the 95-59 rotates, which made it a little easier to get photos without having showgoers in the foreground, but it also means we can’t see inside. Back at the office, Lanzante’s press images don’t show off the cabin either, so we’ll have to see the showpiece of the cabin a little later.
But from this distance, the 95-59 looks slippery and sleek, and its body shape is certainly calling the 750S to mind. That’s a good thing, because there’s a lot of aero to hide, including a simply massive underbody diffuser. In Ueno Grey (the same as the 1995 Le Mans winner), the carbon fiber splitter, diffuser, doors, bumpers, and hood all blend seamlessly, and even the repositioned wing mirrors feel cohesive to the overall design. Of course, each of the 59 buyers who choose to drop a fortune on a car like this will be free to explore their own creativity, but with Paul Howse of P1 and 720S fame penning the 95-59, it’s always going to have McLaren flavor, albeit seasoned to Lanzante’s taste. Speaking of, we’re looking at the optional LM30 Pack.
Special Touches For The Hardcore
Lanzante emphasizes that the 95-59 can “comfortably accommodate three occupants” and is “capable of extended cruising with luggage space,” so there will surely be those who lean into the luxury appeal of this car. For the rest, the LM30 (Le Mans, 30 years ago) Pack is how that featherweight curb weight is achieved, saving some 44 lbs. The package delivers forged aluminum wheels, Inconel exhaust headers (with the rest of the exhaust made of titanium), gold-plated heat shielding for the bay and the exhaust, and titanium body hardware.
The package also adds small badges to the body, and inside, a map of the Circuit de la Sarthe is embossed in the driver seat headrest. Lanzante also fits a scrutineer-style plaque to ram home the motorsport inspiration behind this car. Hopefully, that will encourage buyers to thrash their 95-59s as often as possible, and the company highlights clear rear visibility and that buyers should have the notion that they’re buying a classic car in the modern age. With a price of £1,020,000, or $1.38 million (plus taxes), it’s not the sort of car you’d want to abuse, but it’s also not so expensive that it’ll crown the average buyer’s collection. Still, the low volume will make it an exceedingly rare sight anywhere in the world.
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