Motoring: McLaren magic

Eighty wealthy buyers have placed orders for the world's most expensive sports car, the McLaren F1.

Built in Woking, Surrey, by Britain's most successful Grand Prix car maker, the road-going McLaren costs pounds 540,000, has a top speed of 231mph, and can accelerate from 0-60mph in less than four seconds. The first production vehicle off the line went to the Sultan of Brunei.

For his half-million, the McLaren buyer gets a Grand Prix-like carbon-fibre body, a central driving position, two rear seats, a bespoke 627bhp BMW V12 engine, and a power-to-weight ratio twice that of the fastest Ferraris.

Lavish details include engine heat-shields made from 24 carat gold. McLaren plans to build 300 F1s, and at a rate of only 36 cars a year, production should continue into the next decade.