The successor to the legendary McLaren F1 supercar, (still the fastest naturally aspirated production car in the world at 391 km/h), has been unveiled ahead of the Paris Motor Show. Not only is the McLaren P1 an exotic and revolutionary-looking machine, but the Woking-based manufacturer says it’ll enter production within 12 months.
The McLaren P1′s styling is clearly influenced by the current MP4-12C and has no doubt been honed to aerodynamic perfection in the same wind tunnel used by McLaren for its F1 cars. That being said, the P1 is also far more aggressive and even curvaceous in some areas than its 12C stablemate.
From the front, a low splitter and winged leading-edge of the side sills, hints at a flat underbelly and aerodynamic detailing. The roof-mounted air intake, which will feed cool air to the mid-mounted engine, is a throwback to those of McLaren’s F1 road and racing cars. The rear of the P1 is radically styled and features a dramatic diffuser that incorporates two large channels, which will create a powerful vacuum to suck the car onto the road. Like the 12C, the P1 features a high-mounted exhaust outlet, only this time it’s surrounded by a wide section of honeycomb pattern, black bodywork, which is in turn bordered with a thin LED light strip.
McLaren has not released any details of the car’s performance, components or construction, but the P1 is likely to feature a version of the carbon fibre monocoque used for the MP4-12C. McLaren’s Managing Director, Antony Sheriff, said “Our aim is not necessarily to be the fastest in absolute top speed, but to be the quickest and most rewarding series production road car on a circuit. It is the true test of a supercar’s all round ability and a much more important technical statement.” He added, “Our goal is to make the McLaren P1 the most exciting, most capable, most technologically advanced and most dynamically accomplished supercar ever made.”
Speculation is rife as to what engine will power the new P1. Leading the popularity stakes at this point is the suggestion of an uprated version of the 12C’s 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8, combined with a F1-style KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) that could take power beyond the 600 kW mark. This could well give the P1 a sub-3 second 0 – 100 km/h sprint time and a top speed in excess of 380 km/h.
2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the company that was founded by New Zealander Bruce McLaren in 1963 and McLaren P1 is planned as a fitting tribute. “The McLaren P1 will be the result of 50 years of racing and road car heritage,” said Ron Dennis, McLaren Automotive’s executive chairman. “Twenty years ago we raised the supercar performance bar with the McLaren F1 and our goal with the McLaren P1 is to redefine it once again.”
