Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) provides astonishing acceleration: 0 to 300 km/h takes less than 17 seconds, more than 23 per cent faster than the legendary McLaren F1
Top speed electronically limited to 350 km/h
To maintain exclusivity, production will be strictly limited to 375 units
Pricing to start from £866,000 on the road; fully equipped as standard for road and track use
Production model is almost unchanged from the original design study
McLaren Automotive has released the final numbers, images and information relating to its phenomenal McLaren P1™ ahead of a global reveal in just a few days at the 83rd International Geneva Motor Show.
The race-inspired Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) gives the McLaren P1™ astonishing performance. Zero to 100km/h will take less than 3 seconds, zero to 200 km/h under 7 seconds, and zero to 300 km/h will be achieved in no more than 17 seconds. Putting that into perspective, that’s 5 seconds faster than the legendary McLaren F1 road car. Top speed is electronically limited to 350 km/h.
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.
McLaren has closely monitored demand so as to maintain exclusivity, and announced a production number of just 375 units – a figure that will ensure the McLaren P1™ will remain a rarity and, if spotted on the road, an unforgettable sight.
McLaren has also announced that the car will cost from £866,000 on the road with a specification that fully equips the car for both road and track use. The company prides itself on designing performance cars that their owners can use regularly so the McLaren P1™ comes comprehensively equipped as standard with an array of colour and trim alternatives from which the customer will be able to choose as well as visible carbon fibre in the cabin. The options list is limited to only bespoke content that a customer might wish to add through McLaren Special Operations, and fitted luggage.
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 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.

Updated February 26, 2013 at 10:49 AM

218mph is hardly slow! Read some of the details on Autocar, and does sound massively impressive.

I also liked the fact that it weighs 1400kg, which is 300kg lighter then the Porsche 918! Massive difference (again according to AC article).

Autocar article

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.

Nice to see McLaren's customers have bigger balls than McLaren

I'm actually excited about this car, it's like being a kid again.

Would be great if it was congestion charge exempt!

TBH it's one car that I'm not really that intersted in the headline figures on, I think it's going to be awsume, and will trounce the opposition on a track.

I really hope I win the lottery in the next few months, speccing a new one would be such fun.

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When was the last time a British built road car was LHD only?

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Brannen said...

218mph is hardly slow! Read some of the details on Autocar, and does sound massively impressive.

Agreed. Yet at the same time it's a fair bit slower than the outgoing F1...

Top speeds in excess of 250mph may very well be "pointless", but the Top Trumps child in me still loves them and wants to see the limits getting ever-more ridiculous.

There's something cool about saying "it's electronically limited to 218mph".

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It can probably only do 220

It's probably making so much downforce though that it could take Oh Rough flat out at that speed.

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Out of interest, why are they electronically limiting it? If that's as fast as they want it to go, how come they don't just give it optimal gearing for that speed?

That isn't a "McLaren are such idiots, I know better" post, just wondering the reasons for it.

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duncs500 said...

Out of interest, why are they electronically limiting it? If that's as fast as they want it to go, how come they don't just give it optimal gearing for that speed?

That isn't a "McLaren are such idiots, I know better" post, just wondering the reasons for it.

Maybe it stops them getting in a top speed war with Ferrari?

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duncs500 said...

Out of interest, why are they electronically limiting it? If that's as fast as they want it to go, how come they don't just give it optimal gearing for that speed?

That isn't a "McLaren are such idiots, I know better" post, just wondering the reasons for it.

marketing probably, so they can sell the P1R then the P1RS then the P1RS+

reality is there's only 2 or 3 places on the planet you can drive at 250+ and there privately owned

no idea why but this car (and the new porker) do very little for me, probably because i am fixated on the 760RS Zonda

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The MGB GT V8 had a limited run of 7 lhd models, before it was chopped. If I am correct. But isn't the McLaren F1 a left hooker? Despite the fact the driver sits in the middle, the gear stick is on the right hand side. Am I wrong?

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For all its high tech wizardry, I just can't get past the P1's looks. The rear is brilliantly ferocious and very F1, but the side profile and all important front just look too 'thin' to me.

27Gilles said...

The MGB GT V8 had a limited run of 7 lhd models, before it was chopped. If I am correct.

That may or may not be true, but they also made 2500 RHD ones so doesn't meet the criteria of "British car made in LHD only"

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duncs500 said...

Out of interest, why are they electronically limiting it? If that's as fast as they want it to go, how come they don't just give it optimal gearing for that speed?

That isn't a "McLaren are such idiots, I know better" post, just wondering the reasons for it.

Very good question Duncs, interested to know the answer to that myself. Not sure if I buy the "so they can sell the LOLCATS version that's 10 mph quicker" line.

Is top speed even that important? I'm sure McLaren are more interested in acceleration, hence the "push to pass" thingy. But as already mentioned, 218MPH is hardly slow.

Updated February 26, 2013 at 11:33 AM

Maybe to not limit their choice of tyre too much?
Veyron's tyres are crazily expensive and need replacing every 3k miles IIRC.

It's all very well Hennessy claiming the Venom "can do 275mph", but a) can it? and b) will the tyres explode after 5 seconds at that speed?

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Alex88 said...

Is top speed even that important?

what are buyers looking for in million pound cars? how many of them could even use 50% of the cars potential?

investment
bragging rights (top speed, ring time etc)
the latest must have thing
mclaren fanboi

no idea

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David_Yu said...

Maybe to not limit their choice of tyre too much?
Veyron's tyres are crazily expensive and need replacing every 3k miles IIRC.

It's all very well Hennessy claiming the Venom "can do 275mph", but a) can it? and b) will the tyres explode after 5 seconds at that speed?

thats a very good point, but then how much where F1 tyres?

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NotoriousREV said...

27Gilles said...

The MGB GT V8 had a limited run of 7 lhd models, before it was chopped. If I am correct.

That may or may not be true, but they also made 2500 RHD ones so doesn't meet the criteria of "British car made in LHD only"

Oh well...

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