Children try changing a McLaren tire at McLaren Kids Engineering

McLaren Kids Engineer Experience

Following on from last year

Summer vacation is a precious time for children to have unique experiences. Hakko Motors, which operates McLaren Osaka and McLaren Nagoya, has organized the “McLaren Kids Engineer Experience” as a hands-on program for children. This allows children to actually enter the service pit of a McLaren dealership, inspect the car’s details, and even change a tire, deepening their understanding and sparking their interest in supercars, McLarens, and cars in general. Hakko Motors held a similar event in 2024, and due to its popularity, will hold it twice more during the 2025 summer vacation: at McLaren Osaka on August 3rd and at McLaren Nagoya on August 24th.

View of the car from underneath

　On the day of the event, the children who had gathered were wearing overalls bearing the McLaren logo and seemed to be already in high spirits. First, they sat in rows on chairs and received a lecture on supercars and McLaren, before finally entering the service pit to touch the actual car. When the car was lifted up and the under cover removed to reveal the mid-mounted engine, everyone looked amazed at seeing it from underneath for the first time. Their accompanying parents listened intently as they learned about things like why the underfloor is flat. Some of the children had an astonishing amount of knowledge, leaving the staff in charge of the explanations at a loss.

Change tires and check air pressure

　For the tire change experience, each child actually tightened the nuts and bolts using a torque wrench. Although there were differences in skill depending on the grade and physique of the children, the children seemed to have gained a deeper understanding of the structure of a car by learning how the tire and wheel are attached to the car, how much the tire and wheel weigh, how the brakes work, and how to adjust the air pressure.

Experience the McLaren’s driving performance from the passenger seat

After the work was done, the children went outside and sat in the passenger seat of the McLaren for a test drive. They opened the dihedral doors, got in, and took off, all smiles on their faces. Driving in a McLaren must have become a wonderful summer holiday memory. The envious looks on the faces of the accompanying parents (especially the fathers) were also memorable.

At the end of the half-day program, the children received a certificate of completion. After the program was over, they continued to enjoy interacting with McLaren by taking commemorative photos with him and browsing the merchandise on sale.

The McLaren Kids Engineer Experience, aimed at elementary school students, was held with the aim of providing children with an opportunity to learn about automobiles, inspiring them to become the next generation of designers and engineers. With the recent trend of young people turning away from cars, it would be wonderful if experiences like this could inspire even just a few more children to become car enthusiasts.

Hakko Motors is planning to hold the next event, so if you’d like your child to participate next time, be sure to check out their website.

McLaren Osaka　　https://mclaren-hakko.com/osaka/

McLaren Nagoyahttps　　://mclaren-hakko.com/mclaren-nagoya/

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“Summer vacation homework: supercar maintenance?” McLaren Nagoya holds event for elementary school students

McLaren Nagoya held an event for elementary school students during the summer vacation. It was a full-scale experience event where they could experience engineering work such as changing tires and checking air pressure, and even take a test drive in the passenger seat.