1988 McLaren-Honda MP4/4 with Honda Engine
Dubbed by F1 engineers and designers as the greatest Formula One car of all time.
Arguably the most dominant Formula One car in the history of the sport.
Powered by the 685 horsepower Honda RA168E engine.
The McLaren-Honda MP4/4 is not only one of the most recognized and iconic Formula One cars of all time, but it is also arguably the most dominant. The MP4/4 won 15 out of 16 races in 1988 and still holds the record for the highest percentage of laps led in a season at 97.3%. The 1988 season for McLaren was the perfect recipe for chassis engineers, aerodynamics, and a bulletproof powerplant built by Honda.
After their engines were unsuccessful in the 1960s, Honda returned to building engines for Formula 1 in 1985 and their engines were quickly recognized as the secret to success. Honda engines were the powerplant for six straight Constructors championships from 1986 through 1991, winning two with Williams in 1986 and 87, then four straight with McLaren, beginning in 1988 with this MP4/4.
The Honda RA168E, a 1.5-liter turbocharged V6 used by McLaren in 1988, was an all-new engine for the season. The rules had placed dampers on turbocharged engines as they were set to be banned completely in 1989. Honda was tasked to build this engine with a reduced turbocharger boost limit, down to 2.5 bar from 4.0 bar, along with a reduced fuel tank size to 150 liters from 195 liters. These rule changes necessitated more efficient fuel consumption from prior years, which Honda was well prepared for. The boost was lowered, allowing Honda to raise the compression to 9.4:1, and the over-square engine had its bore reduced to 79mm with a stroke of 50.8mm.
With Honda bringing the all-new engine to the table for 1988, McLaren would be tasked with engineering the body of the car in order to maximize the efficiency of the Honda engine. In rare fashion, Lotus was utilizing the exact same RA168E for the 1988 season, which meant success would rely on McLaren’s aerodynamics. The car was ready for the first race of the season with very little pre-season testing, though quickly proved to be a dominant car for the entirety of the season. The combination of such a low-slung design with class-leading aerodynamics along with such a powerful yet reliable powerplant from Honda propelled the car to perhaps the most dominant season in F1 history. Later on, a panel of Formula One engineers and designers dubbed the MP4/4 the greatest Formula One car of all time.
Honda is often regarded as solely a producer of economy cars, but the company has proved to be capable of much more. Today, their repertoire consists of all types of engines ranging from outboard boat motors, generators, lawnmowers, small tractors, and motorcycles to racing engines and private jets.
Specifications
Engine: 1.5 Liter turbocharged V6
Horsepower: 675 @ 12,500 RPM
Torque: 313 ft./lbs. @ 10,000 RPM
Transmission: Weismann-McLaren 6-speed manual
Weight: 1190 lbs
Top Speed: 207 MPH (Hockenheim)