More details have emerged on the amazing McLaren P1™– a lesson in hypercars from the world's most anal and awesome car builders, with the most immaculate F1 win record. Not to mention being a lesson in car launching technique. The crescendo drip feed of facts, figure, images and info. has been superb. Bravo marketing and PR team.
So, headlines this week in McLaren P1™world? Well, thanks to the Instant Power Assist System (IPAS), the McLaren P1™will be 23% faster than the legendary McLaren F1 – blitzing 0-62mph in under three seconds and 0-300 km/h (186mph in old money!) in less than 17 seconds, which is quite quick (five seconds faster than the McLaren F1 in fact)! The top speed has been limited to 217mph (350 KM/h in new money). Only 375 will be made, making it super exclusive. But that'll cost you, at £866,000 OTR, or track! And McLaren says the production model is almost unchanged from the original design study, which is impressive too. McLaren has been engaging with potential customers actively in the last few months to get their views on the McLaren P1™, about the car’s styling. Their unanimous verdict on the styling was not to change the car presented last September in Paris. So unusually, the McLaren P1™ has translated to production form with very little change. In fact just one, the addition of LTR ducts ahead of each of the front wheels to further aid cooling and optimise downforce.
The options list will be limited to only bespoke content that a customer might wish to add through McLaren Special Operations, and fitted luggage... naturally.
As already announced, the McLaren P1™ will have the combined force of two highly-efficient powerplants, offering the optimum mix of superb throttle response, day-to-day drivability and top speed. A mid-mounted 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine is substantially enhanced featuring, for example, larger turbochargers and a highly effective electric motor, to give a combined output of 916PS (903 bhp) and a maximum torque figure of 900Nm. This ensures instantaneous throttle response through the rev range, more akin to a naturally aspirated engine. Emissions of less than 200g/km on the combined cycle are reduced to zero in full electric drive mode, while the Formula 1-derived DRS and IPAS technologies offer an increase in straight-line speed and an instant boost of power.
The tyres fitted to the McLaren P1™ are specially developed P Zero Corsas, which have been developed with McLaren’s technology partner, Pirelli. The team at Pirelli has been involved throughout the entire development programme, and this has seen the tyre testing phase integrated into the schedule, as a key performance component. The final compound and construction has been developed and optimised during testing, and the end result is a tyre that is finely tuned specifically to the performance and handling characteristics.
To rein in the power produced by the twin powerplants, the McLaren P1™ is designed to offer braking performance more associated with a GT3 or sports racing car. Developed by McLaren’s Formula 1 partner Akebono, the system features a new type of carbon ceramic disc, which has previously seen service in space, but never before used on a road car. Stronger than conventional carbon ceramic, the material dissipates heat more effectively, giving the highly efficient braking system exceptional stopping and cooling capability. The system also boasts significantly reduced weight, and a bespoke ceramic layer coats both friction surfaces to give an attractive mirrored finish.
One surprising eco-feature is that the car can also be driven solely in electric mode. In city driving, with an average speed of 30 mph, this could mean up to a 20km range. More than enough for an owner to enter, for example, a city centre Zero Emissions Zone, have dinner and return home.
Can you wait? We can't. New Top Gear lap record? Yup! Nopt to mention a whole host of other accolades...
Bravo. The world today needs the McLaren P1™don't you think?
See more images here.
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