It means the British team will head to the first of four winter sessions at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia between 1-3 February with a standard 2010 chassis and a limited number of updates, while rivals Red Bull and Ferrari will unveil their new models for on-track testing.

BBC: McLaren deny missing winter testing session is risky

And without any grand programme, Mr Smith is also cutting the number of basic car platforms (the chassis and drive-train mechanical bits that make the wheels go round) from 16 to eight, in line with best practice at firms such as Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota.

ECONOMIST: The quiet man

The car appears to include a number of innovative features - including a top to the chassis in front of the cockpit which is lower than on other cars, and a more extreme aerodynamic treatment in front of the sidepods alongside the driver.

BBC: Red Bull expect wins from new car

Called the Hummer O2 (like the H2, only less toxic), this concept -- which just won the L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge -- incorporates a number of innovative, futuristic features into its oddly-shaped chassis, not the least of which is a "phototropic" body shell that contains algae-filled panels.

ENGADGET: Hummer O2 concept brings shame to the nature-terrorizing brand