McLaren P1

[Wretched]

What was once the world's fastest road car has gained a spiritual successor in the McLaren P1.

But don't expect to see the near-$2 million supercar on Australian roads.

Twenty years after McLaren first entered the supercar ranks with the mighty 461kW 6.1-litre V12-powered F1, the British Formula One team has revealed the P1.

To be officially unveiled at the 2012 Paris motor show, the flamboyant new P1, as the new range topping McLaren supercar is currently known, is planned to crown the British car maker’s line-up when it is launched in 2013, joining the MP4-12C and MP4-12C Roadster in a three strong line-up of road cars aimed at netting McLaren up to 4000 sales worldwide by the middle of the decade.
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McLaren, which aims to challenge the likes of Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche as a maker of the world’s most sought after supercars on the back of an illustrious history in Formula One racing, says the P1 has but one goal: “To be the best driver’s car in the world on road and track”.

The McLaren P1 is expected to sell for about 800,000 pounds worldwide. Convert that to Australian dollars, add 5 per cent stamp duty, 33 per cent luxury car tax (on all but the first $59,000) and 10 per cent GST and the price would be close to $2 million at today's exchange rate.

But Australian buyers would be best to hold off on placing an order soon, with McLaren not committing to building the P1 with the steering wheel on the right, meaning it won't be able to be registered here.

"It won't be right-hand drive unfortunately," said McLaren Sydney sales manager Chris Crea.

Rumours suggest the new two seater, whose P1 working title is expected to give way to a definitive production name carrying the famed MP4 designation used on all of McLaren’s Formula One cars since 1981, has already established lofty new road car lap records at various circuits where it has undergone preliminary testing, including Britain’s revered Silverstone track. But with a good deal of development work still to be completed, company officials say it will be over a year before independent testers get a chance can to verify these claims.

Official details pertaining to the P1’s mechanical package remain scarce ahead of its debut at the end of September. However, sources close to McLaren suggest it will pack up to 720kW with the help of a Formula One style kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) using pair of flywheels mated to a modified version of the twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 engine used by the MP4-12C.

In standard road going mode the hi-tech petrol-electric driveline is said to push out some 600kW at a dizzying 9100rpm. This will be boosted by a further 120kW in track mode though the addition of KERS, which is likely to be activated via a steering wheel mounted switch. The engine, developed in co-operation with Ricardo which will also produce it at a plant in Shoreham, England, is mounted longitudinally in a low position behind the two-seat cabin, with drive sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed double clutch gearbox.

Yet despite the new McLaren P1's high power output, a reported curb weight of less than 1300kg and what these first official pictures portray as a race grade active aerodynamic package that includes a giant rear wing that appears to be retracted into the rear bodywork, McLaren is keen to ensure the P1 is not measured on its top speed alone, suggesting it should not be compared to the current holder of the world’s fastest car title, the Bugatti EB16.4 Veyron SuperSport.

“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”, says McLaren managing director, Antony Sheriff.

"It is the true test of a supercar’s all round ability and a much more important technical statement. It will be the most exciting, most capable, most technologically advanced and most dynamically accomplished supercar ever made.”

Sporting a highly contemporary design penned by Frank Stephenson, formerly with Mini, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, the P1 is far more individual in appearance than the MP4-12C. Its overall shape has been heavily dictated by extensive work carried out in McLaren’s wind tunnel and the need to provide sufficient cooling air to the engine compartment at the rear.

The curvy headlamp graphic has clearly been inspired by McLaren’s corporate logo and is expected to appear on a facelifted version of the MP4-12C. Stephenson has also paid homage to the F1 in the shape of the air scoop atop the roof.

McLaren describes the P1 as taking much of its “technological and spiritual inspiration from the company’s racing division”. McLaren boss Ron Dennis says, “The P1 will be the result of 50 years of racing and road car heritage. Twenty years ago we raised the supercar performance bar with the McLaren F1 and our goal with P1 is to redefine it once again.”

The new car based around a modified version of the MP4-12C’s carbon fibre monocoque with unique front and rear sub-frames supporting an advanced chassis which along with exotic materials to reduce weight is thought to include such state-of-the-art features as active damping and active roll control designed to provide the best possible set-up on both the road and track.

The chassis has been conceived to work in conjunction with an active aerodynamic package that could conceivably allow a reduction in ride height in track mode to lower the car’s crucial centre of gravity while increasing downforce provide by a giant diffuser element, the hidden rear wing and what appear to electronically adjustable flaps for the engine bay. To help smooth air flow underneath the car and reduce heat build up, the exhaust exits directly behind the engine through a large central tailpipe.

The P1 will be assembled alongside the MP4-12C and MP4-12C roadster at McLaren’s headquarters in Woking, England.

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...918-2637r.html

I love how wild this thing looks and being a McLaren its performance will match its looks. The supercars and hypercars that are being released within the next year or two are going to be awesome.

[RASER]

Did they use/copy the Ultima GTR [google that] again as a benchmark?

But in the eyes of the law...it's still a kit car [purchased outside engine, not own made]

No right hand drive [odd for UK made] or centre drive position

I am glad Porker and Mac went first, showed its hand, now Ferrari know what the targets to beat are for its F70 Enzo.2

Still prefer the origional, its a icon

Nice job all the same Bruce, woops i mean Ron!

[Wretched]

HA, Ferrari, I'll be more impressed when they sort out their reliability and quality issues.

Kit car? WTF?
The engine will be based upon their own in house one used in the MP4-12C.
As for design who do McLaren need to copy? It looks like a McLaren.

[Uwish]

The Macs use an in house engine. WTF are you on about.
This and the new Prancing horse are the ultimate hyper cars.
But I'd still prefer an Aventador

[RASER]

Originally Posted by Uwish

The Macs use an in house engine. WTF are you on about.
This and the new Prancing horse are the ultimate hyper cars.
But I'd still prefer an Aventador

Do your research brother, NISSAN deserve the glory!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_M838T_engine

Well it is made in Uk all the same...

http://www.ricardo.com/en-gb/News--M...ot-production/

That's old news....they do *try* to keep it quiet!

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by RASER

Do your research brother, NISSAN deserve the glory!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_M838T_engine

Well it is made in Uk all the same...

http://www.ricardo.com/en-gb/News--M...ot-production/

That's old news....they do *try* to keep it quiet!

From your own link.

...The design of the engine was based on the Nissan VRH35 racing engine used in Le Mans in 1998. However, other than the 93 mm bore, little of that engine remains in the M838T...

So very little in common with the Nissan engine.

[T3ts50]

Originally Posted by RASER

Do your research brother, NISSAN deserve the glory!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_M838T_engine

Well it is made in Uk all the same...

http://www.ricardo.com/en-gb/News--M...ot-production/

That's old news....they do *try* to keep it quiet!

How do Nissan deserve the glory. Did you actually read the wikipedia link you posted. It was based on the Nissan motor, and only shares its bore size and thats it.

[RASER]

Originally Posted by T3ts50

How do Nissan deserve the glory. Did you actually read the wikipedia link you posted. It was based on the Nissan motor, and only shares its bore size and thats it.

It anwser the question and its the fact the engine is NOT a McLaren design or built inhouse by Mclaren[bruce], and all the work has been done by Ricardo and Menard

Just as the first was a BMW donk,


I suppose Mclaren get to design the rocker cover, its Cosworth days again!

*Maybe* in the future they can finally do it all themselves, like Ferrari, Lambo, Porker, AMG etc

[EVLKNEVL]

I suppose that makes Holden Commodore V8s kit cars as well?

[RASER]

Originally Posted by EVLKNEVL

I suppose that makes Holden Commodore V8s kit cars as well?

Well you could well say that of the VL Commowhore with the then "Powered By Nissan" 3L NA and Turbocharged, then yes

But the V8's [THE best production V8 on the planet,,,,AND IT HAS PUSHRODS AND 2 VALVES PER CYLINDER] is made by the same company that owns Holden [GM] so no

[EVLKNEVL]

Who made these rules for what constitutes a kit car?

[Cheese3]

That looks AMAZING

BTW those large res pictures make the best desktop back grounds :-)

[MethodX]

Has the stench of ron dennis cheats to it

[Nikked]

Kit car, Nissan engine...WTF????

Glad i read the artical to find out that it's not a kit car, nor nissan powered.


You can see a bit of the old F1 in the side profile, and buy the sounds of it the engine is all-but McLaren's first inhouse engine.

[Rodp]

Nice, have found something to park next to my red Spyder.

[FPV GTHO]

It does look strikingly short for a "Hyper" car. The Aventador too has a similar look, but if you look at most super/hyper cars that have either been range toppers, limited editions or record breakers, they all seem to have extra length to them over your average V8 Ferrari/911 type supercar, as if its required for the extra stability.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by RASER

Well you could well say that of the VL Commowhore with the then "Powered By Nissan" 3L NA and Turbocharged, then yes

But the V8's [THE best production V8 on the planet,,,,AND IT HAS PUSHRODS AND 2 VALVES PER CYLINDER] is made by the same company that owns Holden [GM] so no

Why do you keep peddling this rubbish. The LS is clearly inferior to both the 5.8 GT500 engine and the Coyote.

The GT500 engine is the most powerful production V8 ever made, it easily blows away the LS9 that is 0.4 litres bigger.

And the Boss 302 Coyote makes more power than the LS3 with 1.2 litres less capacity.

Its clearly evident which engine is superior, and its not the dinosaur one with laughable in this day and age pushrods.

[EVLKNEVL]

I can't find anything here which supports that statement:
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=e...D8ucmQWuooDwDg

The McLaren appears to be coming fitted with a 700+kW V8 which makes the V8 Commodore seem fairly pathetic by comparison.

[Mechan1k]

This thread is amusing with all the comments.

Nice to see McLaren back into it again though ... with something serious.
Looks the good so far ... I like it. Can't wait to see the final product on the road either.

[Rev28K]

Cant wait for the Cheapy 911 competitor to come out.

McLaren's comments on why they wont be using a V12
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/07/m...e-past-w-poll/

[FPV GTHO]

I can see where he's getting at but much like the guys calling for the death of V8's it matters little how many cylinders there are. What matters most is how big those cylinders are.

[RASER]

Originally Posted by EVLKNEVL

I can't find anything here which supports that statement:
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=e...D8ucmQWuooDwDg

The McLaren appears to be coming fitted with a 700+kW V8 which makes the V8 Commodore seem fairly pathetic by comparison.

Errr, one costs $40k, the other is million plus....

[RASER]

The question remains, who really designed/engineered it?

DOHC vs. Pushrod Engines

GM Having decided that the engine would be entirely new, there was said to be discussions and temptations to design the Gen. III to have dual overhead cams - a very popular idea of the era. However this was a significantly more expensive way (in terms of cost and the number of parts) to build an engine and it would have also created a top-heavy and top-wide engine assembly. GM had learned a lesson while developing its LT-5 with Lotus for the Corvette ZR-1. It was a neat motor, but an unnecessarily expensive way to get 405 HP.

Thus, GM engineers accepted the challenge to get all of the broad performance and efficiency out of a single-cam, pushrod and hydraulic lifter engine with two valves per cylinder that other manufacturers were getting out of complex DOHC multi-valve engines.

The eventual result was a phenomenon.The engine profited from the excellent simplicity and elegant engineering built into the design since the inception of the Small Block in 1955. In fact, the motor produces more power more efficiently than multi-cam engines that cost significantly more to build. In terms of engineering, GM Powertrain has added a distinguished feather to their caps.

• <LI class=list>decreased rotating mass for quicker revs <LI class=list>decreased ring friction, yet with better oil / compression control <LI class=list>deeper engine skirt for increased engine rigidity for a decrease in distortion for less noise, friction, wear <LI class=list>six-bolt main bearing caps in lieu of two & four-bolt caps <LI class=list>head design increases volumetric efficiency, therefore more power at all engine speeds <LI class=list>quieter and more efficient valve train operation <LI class=list>new firing order for smoother idle and less vibration throughout the operational range <LI class=list>sequential fuel injection <LI class=list>elimination of Exhaust Gas Recirculation (most engines) by achieving a more complete burn the first time <LI class=list>coil-near-cylinder design; shorter plug wires for a double-hot spark <LI class=list>one coil per spark plug; individual cylinder timing can be tuned on the fly via the PCM and knock sensing <LI class=list>powerful and reliable powertrain control computer with the ability to holistically control more engine (and automatic transmission) processes than ever <LI class=list>throttle-by wire (most models) <LI class=list>all models are internally balanced without any need for balance shafts, etc. <LI class=list>better sealing methods at the engines covers and mating components <LI class=list>displacement-on-demand (DOD) that senses cruising modes and shuts down operation of cylinders for increased fuel economy (starting in some models in 2005) <LI class=list>same overall size as the original Small Block, offering tremendous power output for such a compact size envelope
• 400,000 mile longevity design

ETC.....

[XR6Runner]

Originally Posted by RASER

...But the V8's [THE best production V8 on the planet,,,,AND IT HAS PUSHRODS AND 2 VALVES PER CYLINDER] is made by the same company that owns Holden [GM]...

Umm, ok.

Originally Posted by EVLKNEVL

The McLaren appears to be coming fitted with a 700+kW V8 which makes the V8 Commodore seem fairly pathetic by comparison.

Originally Posted by RASER

Errr, one costs $40k, the other is million plus....

Raser, are you finished contradicting your self?

Also, type in "most powerful production v8 in the world" in any search. Have fun

[RASER]

Originally Posted by XR6Runner

Umm, ok.




Raser, are you finished contradicting your self?

Also, type in "most powerful production v8 in the world" in any search. Have fun

I did, came up with this [bloody nice jigger too!]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xgakhV3hEw

Needs carbon fibre front discs, and i dont like the exhaust noice/rattle sound, sounds weird, the engine sounds great thoug

Finally, a engine is but one compoent in a car, chassis, brakes, handling, feel, quality are part of the combo too.

[XR6Runner]

Originally Posted by RASER

I did, came up with this [bloody nice jigger too!]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xgakhV3hEw

Needs carbon fibre front discs, and i dont like the exhaust noice/rattle sound, sounds weird, the engine sounds great thoug

Finally, a engine is but one compoent in a car, chassis, brakes, handling, feel, quality are part of the combo too.

You are talking about production V8 engines. Read back on your post please .

CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake = 410kw
Shelby Mustang GT500 = 662hp (493kw)

Try again...

[Buntz]

A British racing and sports car company, started by a legendary Kiwi racing driver.... and no RHD?

Isn't that some kind of sacrilege?

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by RASER

The question remains, who really designed/engineered it?

Who care who designed the engine, its in a McLaren, its fast and looks good. Also this thread isnt about GM V8's, if you want to discuss them buy one then go over to www.ls1.com
Can we keep it on the topic of the P1 please.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Who care who designed the engine, its in a McLaren, its fast and looks good. Also this thread isnt about GM V8's, if you want to discuss them buy one then go over to www.ls1.com

To be honest... I think there are more Ford supporters over at ls1.com

[Wretched]

a bit of a thread mine but i think it is worth it..

Did The McLaren P1 Just Obliterate The Lap Record At The Nurburgring?
hmmm not sure myself...I mean I'd love to see it go that fast but not enough info yet, i men what tyres were they running?