Where is the McLaren Antenna Located?
3 Answers
McLaren's antenna is located on the glass. Here is an introduction about McLaren: Introduction: The McLaren Group is headquartered in Woking, UK, and comprises a collection of cutting-edge high-tech companies. Each company contributes to enhancing McLaren's global reputation and prestige in the forefront of technology within the world of Formula One racing. Brand History: As the founder of the McLaren dynasty, Bruce McLaren's immense impact on the F1 world far exceeds the sum of all his achievements as a driver. In the mid-1950s, McLaren began his racing career in his homeland. Quickly rising through the ranks, he secured a prize in 1958 to compete in F2 races in Europe, rapidly ascending as a single-seater driver.
I've worked on quite a few McLarens and noticed they have various clever ways to hide antennas. Older models like the 12C still feature short rod antennas on the roof, but newer models mostly adopt hidden designs. Many now use printed antennas on the rear window—those fine metal lines along the glass edge—visible upon close inspection on models like the 720S and Artura, which have special coatings. Some sport versions even conceal GPS antenna modules inside the rear spoiler. However, be cautious when washing: avoid directing high-pressure water jets straight at the glass edges, as this can interfere with signal reception. And if you're modifying the audio system yourself, take extra care not to accidentally remove the signal amplifier integrated under the trunk lid panel.
Last time I drove my friend's newly acquired Artura, I couldn't find the antenna pole at all. The sales guy pointed to the grid lines along the top edge of the rear window, saying those were the radio antenna. The older shark fin style was actually easier to spot, standing straight on the trunk lid. However, I've noticed that when applying dark window tint, you need to specifically request leaving the top section of the rear window transparent, otherwise the signal quality suffers badly. Once during rainy weather, the radio was crackling - turned out my friend forgot to leave space for the antenna area when tinting. I'd recommend owners to pay attention to this area during glass maintenance too, avoiding metal-containing cleaners when wiping that spot.
