McLaren race mode GPS lock Patent Would Restrict Supercar Performance on Streets

Supercars are becoming more and more dangerous on public streets, prompting one British manufacturer to take action. McLaren has submitted a new patent that suggests locking a “race driving mode” behind a wall until the car’s GPS detects that the vehicle is in a safe environment—a racetrack. The McLaren race mode GPS lock is designed to prevent dangerous driving by restricting aggressive performance settings on public roads.

This technology makes sense, especially considering that the most aggressive modes often lower the suspension in a way that may “not meet one or more safety standards in order to be certified for use on public roads,” according to the patent.

McLaren Track Mode Patent Diagram — Source: McLaren

Here is a closer look at the technology and the challenges it faces.

How the Technology Works

The core idea is to put the most aggressive and potentially dangerous mode—Track or Race—out of bounds while the car is on the street.

Driving Mode	Functionality	Status with GPS Lock
Comfort	Everyday cruising, relaxed suspension/throttle.	Always Available
Sport	Sharper steering, loosened traction control (still street safe).	Always Available
Track/Race	Total deactivation of traction control and electronic stability; stiffest/lowest suspension.	LOCKED until “permitted location” (racetrack) is confirmed by GPS.

The system aims to use the car’s GPS and data connection to only open a track mode when it’s at a verified, permitted location. The system could potentially figure out temporary racetracks (like autocross events held in parking lots) by working out that the car has gone through the same waypoint multiple times.

The Challenges and Benefits

While the McLaren race mode GPS lock could prevent high-performance cars from someday being outlawed under legislative measures to make roads safer, its implementation faces several hurdles:

Autocross Events: McLaren would need a system to know about temporary racetracks in advance to update the car’s GPS, or the car must intelligently determine it has entered a safe, repeatable circuit.
Connectivity: A poor internet or GPS connection could make it impossible for an owner to enjoy their car to the full, even if in a safe and legal environment.
Data Use: The constant use of GPS and connectivity to monitor the car’s location raises concerns about how owner data will be collected and used by the manufacturer.

Ultimately, the technology is a strategic way of getting ahead of potential legislation and preventing street takeovers, which threaten to restrict all high-performance cars. With nearly 40,000 traffic fatalities in the U.S. last year, the idea of restricting the most dangerous driving settings is certainly one worth considering for public safety.

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