Mclaren P1 flexes its muscle on the track; Should the Ferrari F150 be worried?

Mclaren, a brand famous for its racing history and legacy, has a very limited presence in the automotive market. But this ‘limited presence’ has given us some of the greatest cars in history such as the Mclaren F1, Mercedes Mclaren SLR and the latest MP4-12C.

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So you definitely can say that these chaps know what they are doing!

Now the Brits are working on a halo car to fill the shoes of the Mclaren F1 – the world’s fastest car (from 1993 to 2005). Here is a video of the P1 testing on a private racing track.

Mclaren claims that the P1 will be “quickest and most rewarding series production road car on a circuit” along with being “most exciting, most capable, most technologically advanced and most dynamically accomplished supercar ever made”.  Big words there!

The design of the Mclaren P1 is very close to the concept version showcased at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Mclaren was criticized heavily for the conservative styling of the MP4-12C. So this time, they have gone for an extremely aggressive and sporty look. It will also be bestowed with two gull wing doors – a Mclaren trademark design feature!

The power is expected to come from 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 which does its duty in the MP4-12C. In the P1, the engine will be boosted by a Formula One-style electric KERS system churning close to 960 hp. Mclaren claims a sub three seconds 0-100km/h acceleration time.

To keep the weight down, the car will be made entirely from carbon fiber. The hydraulic anti-roll control, adaptive dampers and a pushrod suspension will help ensure extremely nimble handling.

It is obvious Mclaren is not making a Buggati Veyron rival over here with enormous power output and a super fast straight-line speed. They want a halo car that reflects McLaren’s rich 50 years of racing and road car heritage. Interestingly, the P1 will go on sale this year when the company celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Its main rivals then are the Ferrari 150 and Porsche 918. Just 500 examples will be built with a price tag of $1.1 million on each car.