An early image of the McLaren P1.
At the Paris Motor Show, Mondial de l’Automobile 2012, the McLaren P1 is previewed as a design study. Next year a production version, which the company aims to put on sale within 12 months, will be revealed.
The McLaren P1 leverages five decades of McLaren’s motorsport skills. It was designed from the outset to prioritise aerodynamic performance and spent many hours in a wind tunnel and using CFD (computational fluid dynamics) aerodynamic modelling – just like a Formula One car.
The new McLaren P1 has much higher levels of downforce than any current road car – 600kg is achieved well below maximum speed. That is approximately five times as much downforce as a McLaren 12C. Its margin over most other high performance supercars is even greater. The McLaren P1’s downforce is similar to current sports racing cars, including the 12C GT3 racer.
“Of course, the McLaren P1 will have an immensely powerful engine, superb brakes and state of the art suspension controls,” says Programme Director Paul Mackenzie. Power to weight ratio will be more than 600PS per tonne. “But a major reason for its extraordinary performance is its high level of downforce and its all round aerodynamic excellence. They do not just improve stability, handling, roadholding and braking at high speed. They also improve agility and driver confidence at much lower speeds. Our goal was to get great levels of downforce at lower speeds, and we have achieved that. It is a major boost to driving enjoyment, and to a driver’s feeling of being in total control.”
“Like all McLarens, the car is built around the driver. Our aim is to deliver the very best driver’s car on the road, one focused on the elite enthusiast driver, but you certainly don’t have to be a racing driver or a professional to enjoy it. Like all McLarens, the McLaren P1 is also technologically at the absolute cutting edge. This goal – racing car-like track performance from a road car – was one of the primary targets for McLaren P1. It reflects the fact that many buyers of today’s fastest supercars do use them increasingly on the race track, at special owner events,” says Mackenzie. “We wanted a car that would feel like a proper racing car. And then could be driven home in great comfort and refinement. In other words, a real McLaren but with an even broader breadth of ability.”
I think it’s hard at this time to really estimate exactly what the P1 will be capable of. However, the fact that it will have DRS, lightweight carbon fibre panels and the racing heritage of McLaren behind it really means it should be something very special indeed. It could well turn out to be one of the best cars ever made. My advice? Keep an eye on McLaren because the P1 is coming. When it lands, the whole of the industry will feel it. This is a hypercar that means serious business.
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