Source: McLaren P1 Prototype | Official Website
Twenty years after first joining the supercar ranks, the McLaren F1 now has a true spiritual successor—the P1.
It is believed that the P1 is just a working title, and that the car will eventually carry a definitive production name with the famed MP4 designation. The name designation is used on all of McLaren’s Formula One models since 1981.
McLaren P1: The Next Sought-after Supercar
Pundits and car enthusiasts alike are expecting that the McLaren P1 will boast an upgraded twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 that is used by the 12C. It will also be fortified with a kinetic-energy recovery system.
The car will be based on a modified version of the MP4-12C carbon-fiber monocoque. It will also come with a unique front and rear subframes, which will support an advance chassis.
McLaren aims to challenge other automakers such as Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche in creating the world’s sought-after supercars. That’s because of the goal behind P1 is to become “the best driver’s car in the world—on road and track.”
Rumors, Speculations and Expectations
There were also rumors that the two-seater McLaren vehicle already established a lofty road-car lap records at different circuits for preliminary testing. This includes the revered Silverstone track in Britain. However, company officials pointed out that it will take more than a year before independent users can confirm these speculations.
Official details about the McLaren P1 remain scarce, but sources close to the car manufacturer suggest that it will have up to 963 hp under the hood. It can produce 803 hp at 9,100 rpm while on the road, and an additional 160 hp on track with the help of KERS.
Despite its high-power output and reported curb weight of less than 2,900 lbs., McLaren stated that the P1 is not measured on top speed alone. According to the company’s Managing Director Antony Sheriff:
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 around ability and a much more important technical statement.
The McLaren P1 will debut as prototype at the Paris motor show, and a production version will be revealed next year. It is expected to become available within a year, helping the automaker to garner as much as 4,000 sales worldwide by 2015. The car will also join the MP4-12C coupe and spider’s potent lineup of range-topping vehicles.
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