The MP4/4 would have a smaller engine and a smaller fuel tank than the Brabham, for example. Some of these came from the ’87 MP4/3, but the team were able to spend more time on the design. Inspired by the 1986 Brabham BT55, Murray made this the foundation for the MP4/4 design, while staying true to McLaren principles and philosophies. The RA 168E 1.5-litre engine was a V6 turbo manufactured by Honda it produced 650hp 12,500rpm, and even reached 700hp on occasion. Nichols was put in the role of chief designer, and in turn took on the role of acting liaison between those in production and the drawing department. In a memo put out by technical director Gordon Murray this information was validated, and individual assignments for those in the design department regarding the vehicle were delegated in the memo as well. Teammates Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost drove the car successfully through the 1988 Formula One season, but the vehicle was designed by Steve Nichols, an American auto engineer who was tasked with its design by team boss Ron Dennis. The McLaren MP4/4 dominated the 1988 FORMULA 1 season, winning a staggering 15 out of 16 races, claiming 15 pole positions, and leading 1003 out of the 1078 laps raced that season. McLaren MP4/4: More Facts and Information.But even if YouTube was not even invented back then, video clips of fights of this cars are still among the top hits. At the end of the season, 5 wins across wasn´t quite enough to crown this masterpiece of a car with a title, leaving McLaren with a second place in the driver and constructors championship, despite incredible drives, such as, the legendary drive By Ayrton Senna in the wet at Donington. Nevertheless this car put up a fight for the championship, especially since it featured automatic programmable gearbox, traction control and a host of other options, leaving the driver with more resources to concentrate solely on fighting for the top spots. While the car featured innovative technology and an advanced chassis, the team was being led down by engine in the end, which didn´t offer as much performance as their competition was able to produce. McLaren went onto full attack with the MP4/8, trying to grab another world championship to add to their trophy room. 710 PS were squeezed out of the 3.5 V8 Cosworth engine to propel this McLaren into the fights which would have went viral, if Facebook and YouTube would have been a thing back in 1993.
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