10-YEAR OLD’S GROUND-BREAKING ‘SUPERCAR OF THE FUTURE’.

10-YEAR OLD’S GROUND-BREAKING ‘SUPERCAR OF THE FUTURE’ WINNING DESIGN UNVEILED BY CBBC’S BLUE PETER.

Taking inspiration from nature, using advanced materials, and capable of being grown on a tree – combined with stunning supercar looks – were the hallmarks of the winning design of McLaren’s ‘supercar of the future’ competition unveiled live on CBBC’s Blue Peter.

Ten-year old Alex’s design enthused the expert judges with its future focussed, sustainable design elements wrapped in a bold bodywork and aero efficient lines.

In one of Blue Peter’s most popular competitions, Alex’s design was chosen from thousands of entries received following the competition’s launch in May. Design Director Rob Melville and his team then worked with Alex to turn his ideas and initial sketches into a large-scale clay model as well as virtual renders to bring it to life.

And in honour of Alex’s winning design, McLaren and its paint partner AkzoNobel have developed a special ‘Alex Leaf Green’ paint colour. Like all the other paints used by McLaren, it is water-based and customers can now choose to have their real-life McLaren personalised and sprayed by hand in the special new colour.

Alex’s prize included not only an orange Blue Peter badge, awarded to competition winners and runners-up, but also a VIP trip to the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey where brand ambassador Amanda McLaren welcomed him and showed him where the supercars are hand-built. He also met with Rob and his team to work on his design and scientist Ella Podmore to discuss his car’s lightweight materials. Then Alex got to experience a supercar for himself with some special laps in a 720S driven around the TopGear track by The Stig himself.

Alex’s winning design will now go on display at the McLaren Technology Centre’s famous Boulevard and take pride of place alongside McLaren’s historic cars.