McLaren unveil 'P1' concept supercar

Comparison have inevitably been drawn between the P1 and the legendary F1 supercar of the 1990s, and despite the "design study" claims, comments from McLaren Automotive staffers indicate the P1 will be a production reality, possibly as early as 2013.

"The McLaren P1 will be the result of 50 years of racing and road car heritage," says McLaren Automotive executive Chairman, Ron Dennis. "Twenty years ago, we raised the supercar performance bar with the McLaren F1 and our goal with the P1 is to redefine it once again."

The name, of course, is a less-than-subtle reference to the 'pole position' McLaren Automotive expect the new machine to take in the supercar arena.

"Our aim is to not necessarily to be the fastest in absolute top speed, but to be the quickest and most rewarding series production road car on a circuit," says Antony Sheriff, Managing Director of McLaren Automotive.
"It is the true test of a supercar's all-round ability and a much more important technical statement. Our goal is to make the McLaren P1 the most exciting, most capable, most technologically advanced and most dynamically accomplished supercar ever made."

Packed with Formula 1-style aero elements, the P1's styling is unique, and far more radical than McLaren's MP4-12C, but the powerplant is likely to be a modified version of the MP4-12C's twin turbo V8, rather than an equally unique engine.

If the anticipated 2013 release of the P1 is accurate, it will mark the 50th Anniversary of the McLaren racing outfit, which was formed by New Zealand's Bruce McLaren in 1963.

Further details will be revealed at the P1's official launch at the Paris Motor Show on September 27.