High-end audio brand Bowers & Wilkins, together with luxury supercar maker and Formula 1 team McLaren, today announce an extension to their strategic long-term multi-year partnership which sees Bowers & Wilkins remain “Official Audio Partner” across McLaren Automotive and the McLaren Formula 1 Team.
This partnership continues the decade-long collaboration between McLaren Automotive and Bowers & Wilkins. Since 2015, Bowers & Wilkins has been a partner in the development of high-performance audio systems for McLaren supercars. Bowers & Wilkins’ relentless pursuit of perfection, inspired by founder John Bowers, mirrors the unyielding precision and performance demanded in Formula 1 racing. McLaren’s own unrelenting approach was born of visionary founder Bruce McLaren’s desire to design and build the world’s most accomplished racing cars.
Speaking on behalf of Bowers & Wilkins, Tom Henderson, Marketing Director for Licensing and Partnerships, said: “We are delighted to continue and build upon our highly successful car audio development programme as well as continuing to explore co-branded product opportunities, building on the success of the Px8 McLaren Edition and Zeppelin McLaren Edition with products and storytelling that connect us to the exciting world of McLaren Racing.”
Bowers & Wilkins’ engineering team work closely with counterparts at McLaren Automotive to create and optimise the audio system found in the company’s supercars, including the recently announced McLaren W1. The W1’s audio system features premium audio technology designed to integrate into the interior’s InnoKnit fabric and carbon fibre architecture, utilising the very latest advanced speaker technologies developed in Southwater, home to the Bowers & Wilkins research and development team and only 30 miles away from the McLaren Technology Centre.
“Exceptional audio performance is key to further enriching the engagement of a McLaren. Specialist engineers from McLaren Automotive and Bowers & Wilkins have worked in partnership since 2015 to develop and deliver the sound technologies that ensure the levels of audio system excellence our customers demand” stated Henrik Wilhelmsmeyer, Chief Commercial Officer, McLaren Automotive.
Bowers & Wilkins products will also play a crucial role in the team’s extensive travel, relaxation and pre-race preparation needs throughout the season. “We’re delighted to welcome Bowers & Wilkins to McLaren Racing, building on their partnership with McLaren Automotive. Both brands share a commitment to innovation and technical excellence, and we look forward to creating exciting new products for our fans together.” Nick Martin, Co-Chief Commercial Officer, McLaren Racing.