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.

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.

Continue reading McLaren P1 to get 903 HP from "Twin Power" hybrid

McLaren P1 to get 903 HP from "Twin Power" hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading McLaren reveals P1 interior shots

McLaren reveals P1 interior shots originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading McLaren previews P1's digital dashboard

McLaren previews P1's digital dashboard originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Watch this and try to guess what will power McLaren's P1 supercar

Watch this and try to guess what will power McLaren's P1 supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• 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.

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.

Continue reading McLaren shows production P1 at private NYC shindig, details small changes [w/video]

McLaren shows production P1 at private NYC shindig, details small changes [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Dec 2012 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

Destined to be one of the splashier events of the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the unveiling of McLaren's newest supercar, and successor to the intimidating F1 legend, went off beautifully today. Despite being a design exercise, the P1 concept here in Paris clearly paves the path forward for McLaren, with the company's stated goal being to produce a car that is superlative both on the road and on the track.

While the stunningly orange-and-black P1 concept is not the final product, recently exposed schematic drawings from McLaren reveal that this design is probably very close to what the company is planning to put on the road in a few years. In fact, our own man-on-the-ground, Matt Davis, reported yesterday that the P1 is "97-percent final."

A close inspection of our gallery images of the P1 reveal, using human beings for scale, that the P1 is a delicately sized sports car. We're told that the new Mac will have the smallest frontal area of any car in the segment, while still delivering something like 1,300 pounds of downforce at 125 miles per hour.

Additionally, but none too surprising, the P1 will make use of all of McLaren's hardest won racing technology. The midengined car is built around a carbon fiber monocoque that also incorporates a safety cage within the roof structure - a concept that McLaren calls "Monocage." This structure also works to deliver heaps of fresh air to the engine via a roof snorkel, which is pretty rad. All of the car's body panels are made from carbon fiber, as well, to keep the P1 as light as possible.

It almost goes without saying, but we're just aching to get our hands on a test-ready version of the P1, sometime around when the car goes on sale at the end of 2013. Stay tuned.

Continue reading McLaren P1 is the nearly real supercar of our drive-to-race dreams

McLaren P1 is the nearly real supercar of our drive-to-race dreams originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

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.

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.

Continue reading Subaru fans celebrate P1's 10-year anniversary in the UK

Subaru fans celebrate P1's 10-year anniversary in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 May 2010 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

P1 reportedly following other British supercar clubs into bankruptcy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Autoblog does video: Introducing P1

Autoblog does video: Introducing P1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

You may find this incredibly difficult to relate to - if it isn't, this writer has "personal sponsorship opportunities" available - but some people don't find the existing supercar clubs exclusive enough. Enter stage left Harrods, the ritzy British department store that caters to just such a crowd, to answer their calls with the launch of the Segrave Club.

For those unfamiliar, supercar clubs are a British phenomenon that is only beginning to take root in America. Rather than buy your own exotic and having to deal with all the related costs, clubs have sprung up that buy the cars, take care of them and, for a cost, allow you to drive them. Membership is often based on usage and the fleet of cars the member wants access to, but some clubs have the most desirable exotics ever to grace God's green earth.

Segrave comes into the picture as a result of some customers coming away disappointed at the difficulty of getting time behind the wheel of the supercars they really want. To cater to those clients, Harrods sought out the talent of Nick Hancock who, together with former world champion Damon Hill, set up P1, the premier supercar club in the UK. Segrave's members pay an initial fee of five thousand pounds sterling, which covers an advanced driving school (smart), and is supplemented by an annual membership fee of ?16,000. That kind of mint opens access to such heart- and tire-melting spanking new supercars as the Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Porsche 911 GT2 and Aston Martin DBS, while access to the more exclusive (but not necessarily faster, mind you) Porsche Carrera GT and Mercedes SLR McLaren requires an additional four thousand per year. While the membership to other clubs continues to grow, Segrave's pledge to its moneyed members is that the ratio will always remain at only six members for every car, which translates to more regular access for its insanely fortunate members.

[Source: PistonHeads]

Segrave: the Harrods of supercar clubs originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Peugeot 908 HDi

• Peugeot developing diesel racecar for 2007 Le Mans classic
• Paris Motor Show: Peugeot 908 Le Mans
• Diesel Le Mans challenger Peugeot 908 HDi gallery
• French Connection: Villeneuve to drive Peugeot 908 at Le Mans

Le Mans-bound Peugeot 908's race livery unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.