Spy Shots: McLaren P11 supercar spied in the snow
by John Neff on Feb 3rd 2009 at 12:34PM 
Click above for high-res gallery of McLaren P11 spy shots
We brought you similar spy shots of the McLaren P11 supercar undergoing cold weather testing a few days ago, but now we have our own high-res shots to share. Though the clean sheet redesign of McLaren's Ferrari fighter is obscured by camo and cladding, the basic shape and some design elements are clearly visible. You can browse the high-res gallery below yourself and pick out what cues the P11 may be borrowing from other supercars. The car's designer, Frank Stephenson, is also rumored to be baking roadster and racing variants into the car's new design. Another thing that the P11 will borrow is its engine, which is rumored to be a version of the 6.2L V8 used by Mercedes-Benz in its high performance AMG cars. Power is expected to be in the 550-600 range, with the car's overall curb weight rumored to be less than 3,000 lbs. McLaren is nearing the end of its commitment with Mercedes for the McLaren SLR, a car that is most assuredly fast but still not allowed in the super car club. The P11 will be more like a spiritual successor to the famous F1 that still reigns as one of the greatest super cars of all time. Whether or not the P11 can fill those shoes remains to be seen, but based on these spy shots, it will most definitely look the part.
Gallery: McLaren P11 - spy shots
[Source: KGP Photography]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
JD 12:40PM (2/03/2009)
Please tell me those tail-lights are place-holders.
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Dunc 12:42PM (2/03/2009)
haha I hope so
xpolarx 12:44PM (2/03/2009)
I'm sure they are. It looks like most of the body panels are pre-production. They're just testing the chassis at this point.
Slade 12:54PM (2/03/2009)
That's what I was ging to say. They don't look like they will make production.
cjarnola 12:47PM (2/03/2009)
The entire front end looks exactly like a 430.
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TigerMil 12:51PM (2/03/2009)
I've generally felt supercars shouldn't be driven below 50F. When/if Formula One decides to race in Green Bay in the winter, I might come off this position.
Utterly stupid to take this kind of car out in the snow....wheels/tires optimized for snow, whatever.
I suppose they have to do this for emissions certification purposes or some other bureaucratic mumbo jumbo...but really.
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CarbonBlack 2:01PM (2/03/2009)
I think they are trying to break the car.
This is far from the typical situation this car will operate in, but any company worth a damn has to do these tests! (from a quality assurance POV)
akboss302 12:51PM (2/03/2009)
cold weather testing? How many people drive their McLaren through the white stuff? I guess its for people who have a cottage/mansion in the Rockies, but usually those are the people that buy Cayennes.
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Quattroporte 1:07PM (2/03/2009)
Plenty of sane people drive their supercars through the snow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1JDuj_bvMw&feature=related
nagmashot 12:57PM (2/03/2009)
this is no F1 replacement!
McLaren claim that they build a F430/Gallardo alternative... for a simple reason, in that segment they hope to earn more money each car than with low number extrem expansive to build supercars. Neither McLaren and Mercedes earned much money from the SLR project...
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zamafir 2:20PM (2/03/2009)
"this is no F1 replacement!"
Correct, here's a very simple check. Is Murray doing it? No? Alright then it won't be as good. It's as simple as that, there isn't another automotive/designer/engineer mind out there like his Today. the F1 was what it was because HE made it, not because McLaren screwed it together. But this is a company who frequently works with Mercedes so trading inferior products on a name shouldn’t be that surprising.
Nuieve 1:05PM (2/03/2009)
Looks like a regular supercar.
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Jason 1:12PM (2/03/2009)
Anyone else find it curious that the camo on this car is the same as the "Acura NSX" parading around the 'ring?
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Alex 1:55PM (2/03/2009)
I have my doubts that this will be the spiritual successor to the F1. The F1 was ground breaking and utterly astonishing. If there is a modern-day F1 on the roads, it is the Veyron.
Like Nuieve said, it looks like a cookie-cutter supercar. That is not to diminish its status as an exotic, its just not going to be spoken of the way the F1 was/is.
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Daaoak 2:31PM (2/03/2009)
The car got a swedish number plate..., so I checked with the Swedish DMW, www.vv.se
And yes, it is a McLaren Prototype.
It's insured, good if they're going to drive on the ice and snow.
But there were no other data, except the car's VIN number...
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Mobius_1 4:21PM (2/03/2009)
That's some awesome spy work you've just done. Has CIA/MI6 called you for an interview yet?
Bill Clough 6:49PM (2/03/2009)
If you look at the body panels, none appear to be the production parts, not even pre-production. The cut line at the rear window, and the position of the spoiler on two posts indicate the rear end will be much lower than the bloated rear quarters on the car in the pics. Likewise, if you look at the panels inside the look alike F430 nose, you see them set well back behind the panels. I believe, based on these photos, that the fender lines of the car will be much lower and leaner than the camoflage would make you think.
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Zattara 8:19AM (2/04/2009)
Dude, from other websites, it says it is NSX replacement!!
We can tell that by looking the shape. It's definitely not McLaren!!
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Viktor 9:46AM (2/04/2009)
Just like Daaoak sais its registered here in Sweden as
Maker/model: MCLAREN PROTOTYPE
Owner: MCLAREN AUTOMOTIVE LTD
Chassinr:SBMCC4AC69399XP07
Color: Red (hehe we'll just have to imagine it ..)
So Zattara, it's not an NSX....
And to u guys wondering why they are snowtesting it have you heard of traction! I for sure wouldn't buy a car not tested on icy/snowy roads ESPECIALLY not if it's a supercar.... Newsflash, they get snow in Modena,Italy aka Ferraritown aswell...
RLQ 1:14AM (2/04/2009)
I can't wait to see this.
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