It’s one of the most eagerly anticipated supercars of the
year. No, of the decade. Perhaps even two decades. The car in question is the
McLaren P1 and, to understand its significance, a brief history lesson is
required.
The P1 is the spiritual successor to the McLaren F1, first
launched 21 years ago. It’s a legend among petrolheads as a past holder of the
‘world’s fastest production car’, set at 243mph in 1998. More recently, the F1
hit the headlines after Rowan Atkinson parked his in a hedge. The repair bill
was an eye-watering £900,000, worth paying because only 106 were ever made and,
when they do change hands, it’s for much more than that.
And so comes the P1, a 903bhp monster that blends a
3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine with a state-of-the-art electric motor to
create a hybrid powertrain. Designed to rocket the car from a 0-62mph in less
than three seconds, it features many technologies from McLaren’s other line of
business, Formula One. They include a drag reduction system – or DRS to
armchair Grand Prix fans – which opens and closes a vent in the rear wing
to make the car more aerodynamic.
This time, more than 106 will be made but, even so, not
enough to keep all the world’s uber-rich collectors happy. Just 375 hand-built
examples will leave McLaren’s factory in Woking, with each vehicle costing
£866,000.
McLaren’s goal was to create the best driver’s car in the
world, whether on road or track. Chief design engineer Dan Parry-Williams says:
‘The P1 celebrates aerodynamics; great packaging and light weight, and is all
about innovative technology. At the very beginning, we sought to develop a car
that you could drive to a circuit, then press a button and race it.’
The F1 was a gas-guzzler powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine
but technology has moved on dramatically since 1992 and the P1 is actually a
surprisingly clean car. CO2 output is below 200g/km, less than many large
family cars, and provides around six miles of emissions-free driving. The
electric motor is mounted directly on to the engine and drive is channelled
through the dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox to the rear wheels. Spare energy is
stored in a battery charged via the engine, though the P1 is also equipped with
a plug-in cable that takes the cell to 100 per cent capacity in two hours.
Shaving the pounds wherever possible has been a priority to maximize
performance. Formula One-grade carbon fiber has been used extensively, from the
chassis and body panels to finishing the two-seater cabin. Switchgear has been
kept to a minimum for the same reason and the top layer of resin has been
removed from the dashboard. There’s no interior sound-deadening and while
carpet is offered as an option, even then it’s fitted with a special
lightweight backing.
News of the P1’s top speed – electronically limited to
218mph – inevitably leads to one question: will the car make a speed record
attempt? Predictably, McLaren has avoided a clear-cut answer. The current
benchmark, set by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, is 258mph, but it’s hard
to believe the company doesn’t want the P1 to be No.1.
source: http://metro.co.uk/2013/03/22/mclaren-unveils-the-most-eagerly-anticipated-car-of-the-year-the-p1-supercar-3554589/mcclaren
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