Autoblog

Watch the McLaren P1 hang its tail out in extreme weather testing

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Videos, McLaren

Even though McLaren will only be building 375 examples of its new P1 hybrid supercar, it has to make sure the high-performance coupes are ready for just about any weather conditions. For its cold-weather testing, McLaren headed to the Arctic Circle to put the P1 through its paces, which also provided a perfect opportunity for some good photos and video. We've seen the P1 in person now in full production trim, but this artfully camouflaged prototype proves that the 903-horsepower supercar looks good in just about any color.

Incidentally, McLaren has also announced that as a part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the new P1 will be a featured car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this July, along with some of the firm's vintage Can-Am racers. The video and press release are both posted below.

Continue reading Watch the McLaren P1 hang its tail out in extreme weather testing

Watch the McLaren P1 hang its tail out in extreme weather testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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See how the McLaren P1 was 'Designed by Air'

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:44:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Videos, Luxury, McLaren

In attempt to visualize the claim that the McLaren P1 is, "The most aerodynamically advanced car in the world," the Woking, UK firm has put out a video called Designed by Air to show how the stuff we breathe interacts with the supercar.

The video isn't the complete story, it's just a teaser for an interactive experience that will be released next month. The full story will go into how the raw materials in the P1 were designed into the final shapes by the airflow around them. You can watch it below, but we'll warn you, it probably won't make much sense until McLaren reveals the rest of the story next month.

Continue reading See how the McLaren P1 was 'Designed by Air'

See how the McLaren P1 was 'Designed by Air' originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren P1 goes around Top Gear test track

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, McLaren

Think that the new McLaren P1 supercar seems pretty tremendous after following its launch in Geneva this year? We do, too. And now, after seeing the reaction the ultra-performance Mac has gotten from McLaren Formula One driver Checo (Sergio) Perez, we're even more excited for our chance at some seat time.

In this new video, Perez takes a few hot laps of the famous Top Gear test track at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in England. (Let the new Stig rumors commence.) The P1 in the film manages to look pretty lovely, even in full-body camouflage and, more importantly, draws some rave reviews from a driver that knows from quick cars. Follow on below for the full video.

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McLaren P1 goes around Top Gear test track originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infographic: Comparing the Veneno, LaFerrari and P1 supercars

Michael Harley — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren

This year's Geneva Motor Show served as the launch platform for three of the world's latest and greatest supercars. The Italians brought us the Lamborghini Veneno and the Ferrari LaFerrari, while the British unveiled the production version of the McLaren P1.

To put the three in better perspective - as if any of us will ever fully comprehend trio of million dollar coupes - the Aussies at Motoring.com.au built an infographic (click above to enlarge) that outlines what makes each of these cars so spectacular. Using unique colors to represent each of the vehicles, the team put together a variety of charts that focus on vital statistics, pricing, total production run and other parameters all designed to ease the process of digesting an overabundance of exotic goodness. We have uploaded the graphic full size in this link.

Infographic: Comparing the Veneno, LaFerrari and P1 supercars originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Editors' Choice: Top Five 2013 Geneva Motor Show Debuts

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini, Toyota, Volkswagen, Alfa Romeo, Design/Style, McLaren

We've returned from a very busy week in Switzerland, and in going back over all of our 75 stories from the Geneva Motor Show, our editors have gathered up their personal favorite debuts from the European expo.

The wonderful thing about the Geneva show is just how wide of an array of vehicles are on display - everything from funny little one-off EVs to the most exotic of supercars to, well, truly ridiculous displays of coachbuilding. And because of that, this list of our editors' favorites might not be as predictable as you think.

But we don't want to give anything away just yet. Scroll down to have a look at our team's favorites from Geneva.

Continue reading Editors' Choice: Top Five 2013 Geneva Motor Show Debuts

Editors' Choice: Top Five 2013 Geneva Motor Show Debuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren P1 proves yellow doesn't have to be mellow

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, McLaren

We know, we know - we've seen this car before. But now it's yellow. And we have performance data. And we can see the interior. And most importantly, it's no longer a concept. Did we mention it's pretty? Yeah.

Feast your eyes on the P1 - McLaren's new flagship supercar that's ready to storm the United States, as well as the rest of the world. Under its hood is a twin-power hybrid powerplant, which uses both a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 and an electric motor to crank out a total of 903(!) horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. What does that mean? Hitting 62 miles per hour will take "less than three seconds" and shooting up to 124 mph will take "under seven seconds." The most impressive thing, however, is that hitting 186 mph will take "no more than 17 seconds," which shaves 11 seconds off the time originally set by the famed McLaren F1. In other words, this thing is hella quick.

Now's your chance to have a look at the production P1 in our brand-spanking-new high-res image gallery. And if you like what you see, just remember, salvation is only $1.15 million away.

McLaren P1 proves yellow doesn't have to be mellow originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren releases astonishing P1 performance figures

Michael Harley — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, McLaren

McLaren took the wraps off its upcoming P1 supercar nearly five months ago at the Paris Motor Show, but the automaker refused to release details about its interior, powerplant or performance - those juicy details would all have to wait.

Yet after a private showing in New York, followed by another exclusive event in Beverly Hills, McLaren began to slowly trickle out information about the P1's instrument cluster and passenger cabin, before finally disclosing its 903 horsepower hybrid powerplant earlier this month.

Finally, after much speculation, McLaren has revealed the last piece of the puzzle and announced its tested performance figures. The 100 km/h benchmark (62 mph) falls in "less than three seconds" while the 200 km/h barrier (124 mph) is shattered in "under seven seconds." Lastly, the rear-wheel drive P1 will hit 300 km/h (186 mph) in "no more than 17 seconds" (an impressive 11 seconds faster than its legendary McLaren F1). Those blistering numbers put the P1 among a very small and elite group, with members like Bugatti, Koenigsegg and Hennessey - the fastest road cars on the planet.

If you are wondering how much it costs to embarrass a Ferrari, McLaren also broke its pricing embargo today. Base price, in the United States, is a cool $1,150,000.

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McLaren releases astonishing P1 performance figures originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren shows P1 at private event in Beverly Hills, reveals more details

Michael Harley — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, McLaren

McLaren invited us to private showing of its near production-ready P1 supercar in Beverly Hills last night, offering its affluent customers a sneak peek at what promises to be one of the finest - if not the best - sports car in the world when it arrives later this year. While the development team continues to hold many of the coupe's cards close to its chest, a trickle of details emerged that only served to further whet our appetite for the upcoming exotic.

The Volcano Orange prototype (the same one shown at the Paris Motor Show) is fully functional, with a complete operating powertrain. Before each public display, a dark tint is applied to the windows to hide the interior from view.
The chassis utilizes a carbon-fiber passenger tub shared with the MP4-12C, with aluminum structures front and rear for crash protection (carbon fiber is lighter, but it doesn't crush and absorb energy as well). All body panels are carbon-fiber and nearly all exposed metal (including the mesh vents) is made of titanium alloy. The target curb weight is 1,300 kilograms, or less than 2,900 pounds.
Based on a recorded engine soundtrack played at the event, and noting a pair of intakes each likely feeding a turbocharger (we spotted genuine gold foil in the engine bay to help to ward off heat), it is assumed that the P1 will be fitted with a high-output version of the MP4-12C's twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 making about 800 horsepower. A KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), similar to what is used in Formula One, will provide a strong boost of even more horsepower for short periods. While McLaren has avoided all-wheel drive, don't rule out some sort of electric propulsion on the front axle.
McLaren doesn't have the Porsche 918 Spyder in its crosshairs - it's too heavy and slow. Instead, it is aiming its sights directly at the upcoming Ferrari F150 (the successor to the Enzo). That said, the British automaker expects its P1 to be the world's quickest production vehicle around Nürburgring.
Assembly should start within the next several months. Only 500 copies will be made, with each costing about $1.2 million.

Expect more mechanical details about the McLaren P1 to be revealed in the next few weeks, with the two-place interior finally unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

McLaren shows P1 at private event in Beverly Hills, reveals more details originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren P1 prototype seen testing on public roads

Zach Bowman — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, UK, Design/Style, Luxury

Spy photographers have grabbed a few shots of the McLaren P1 out for a little testing on public streets. Much of the coupe's heavy camouflage has been discarded in favor of a trippy vinyl wrap, revealing the production version to be nearly identical to the concept McLaren unveiled at this year's Paris Motor Show. The company's new ultracar is designed to be somewhat smaller and more delicate compared to other bruisers in the segment, and McLaren has made it clear the machine will bow with the least frontal area of any new supercar on the planet. Even so, the wild bodywork will dish up something around 1,300 pounds of downforce at 125 mph.

Details are still scarce when it comes to what sort of engine we can expect to see mounted amidships, but we do know the P1 will make use of a carbon fiber chassis that integrates the roll cage into the vehicle's roof structure. Likewise, every last one of the vehicle's body panels are expected to be stitched from carbon fiber as well. Sounds like a party.

McLaren P1 prototype seen testing on public roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren P1 patent sketches revealed

George Kennedy — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Rumormill, Design/Style, McLaren

"She spreads its wings" or "It spreads its wing," depending on how you conjugate your French, is the rough translation of a headline from L'Automobile. The French auto magazine claims to have its hands on patent sketches of the brilliantly wild-looking McLaren P1. While images have been shown of the P1 Concept ahead of the imminent Paris Motor Show, these are claimed to be of the actual production model.

As you can see from the side-on image, the silhouette bears resemblance to the original McLaren F1, though likely as the optimal wind-tunnel-tested shape for supercar dominance. The side view also reveals a large active spoiler and one heck of a rear diffuser set, also seen in more detail from the rear. Like the MP4-12C, the active spoiler will likely also act as an air brake, bringing the hypercar to an abrupt stop.

Also of note, is the similarities between the P1 Concept, and this supposed production model. The head-on view reveals that the headlights bear a strong connection to the "swoosh" in the McLaren logo. Also, the lack of large taillight detail in the profile image suggests that, like the concept, the P1 would have the exotic trail of LED taillights.

So, while the P1 Concept will wow us beyond belief in Paris, it will be some time after that before we know for sure how close these sketches come to the production model. Stay tuned!

McLaren P1 patent sketches revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Early thoughts from our McLaren P1 supercar walkaround [UPDATE]

Chris Paukert — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Design/Style, Luxury, McLaren

Press days for the 2012 Paris Motor Show have yet to get underway, but Autoblog's European Editor, Matt Davis, has already gotten a good look at what is sure to be one of the exhibition's brightest stars, the McLaren P1.

While Davis was not permitted to take photographs of the new design study until its formal unveiling, our man received a walkaround with designer Frank Stephenson, and what he found was so compelling that he called us right from the show floor to file some notes. According to Davis, "The car is impressively compact - barely bigger than the MP4-12C, but all the comments that were negative about the 12C's design being somewhat basic and derivative should go away with this car." In contrast to most modern supercars that are surprisingly large (e.g. Bugatti Veyron, Lamborghini Aventador), the P1 follows in the footsteps of the legendary McLaren F1, which was a lot smaller than most people realized. The P1 is about the size of a Porsche 911 GT3, suggesting weight should be held in check.

Designer Stephenson calls the P1's form "shrink wrapped," yet there's still much more surface interest than with the company's MP4-12C. Davis notes that the design is "very organic in that almost all of the aero elements you see are designed into the body." Among the car's aero tricks, when the rear wing air brake rises to its 32-degree angle maximum, there are also hidden underbody Gurney flaps that open to level out the car.

Power estimates are still under wraps, and while the car seen here is still technically a concept, it is widely expected to spawn a near-identical production series sometime late next year.

We're looking forward to sharing more with you shortly, but for now, feast your eyes on the gallery.

UPDATE - Matt Davis has sent along some new notes:

The car as shown is 97-percent final and will be on delivery near the end of 2013.
Remember when we told you the P1 was small? It has the smallest frontal area of any car in its segment, yet it still has over 1,300 pounds of downforce up front at 125 mph (Cd is 0.34).
Hot air flow through the two hood nostrils is divided precisely between the door aero vents and the center roof snorkel.
The car shown here was photographed in the suspension's "race" stance, which is about 1.2-inches lower than normal. Program Director Paul McKenzie says this suspension is as notworthy as the 12c's solution but is goes"one step beyond."

Early thoughts from our McLaren P1 supercar walkaround [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren reveals P1 design study, F1 successor takes shape

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Design/Style

McLaren has released the first official images of its P1 design study, the supercar precursor that we've all been waiting for. This stunner will officially debut at the Paris Motor Show next week.

Calling the P1 McLaren's next "ultimate supercar," McLaren says this concept takes its inspiration from the company's rich racing heritage. Visually, we certainly see the connection with the late, great McLaren F1 - the concept seems to blend the proportions of the F1 with the overall design language of the current MP4-12C. With an exceedingly brief, snubbed nose flowing into wildly sculpted rear bodywork (we're especially fond of the rear three-quarter view), the P1 is more dramatic and compelling than it's relatively staid MP4-12C little brother, truly selling the supercar idea without having to move a wheel. That the concept is rendered in a searing shade of orange metallic doesn't hurt, either.

Of course, McLaren isn't giving us any hints on the technical details for the eventual production version of the P1, though it does speak to the intent of the final car. The P1 is not intended to be the world's fastest vehicle in terms of "absolute top speed," shooting, according to Ron Dennis, to be, "the quickest and most rewarding series production road car on a circuit." That's supercar snobbery - a cockiness based on purity of purpose, rather than numbers on a specification sheet - that is bound to resonate with car geeks everywhere.

After the Paris showing of the P1, we're told it will be one year until the production version of the range-topping supercar shows up, with an on-sale date sometime in the last part of 2013. Look for much more information about the P1, live from our Paris team, next week.

Continue reading McLaren reveals P1 design study, F1 successor takes shape

McLaren reveals P1 design study, F1 successor takes shape originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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