McLaren P1

McLaren P1 at a glance

McLaren presented the P1 as the spiritual successor to the McLaren F1, and the concept appeared in Paris in 2012, 20 years after the F1's launch. Frank Stephenson styled it around a carbon-fibre monocoque and an aerodynamic brief: 600 kg of downforce well below top speed with a drag coefficient of 0.34. Before the Geneva debut McLaren showed the car privately to customers in Beverly Hills in January 2013. The company background is in McLaren's history.

All 375 cars were spoken for quickly: the Americas, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East had sold out by August 2013 and Europe by mid-November 2013. About 34% went to the USA and 26% to Europe.

Hybrid powertrain: V8, electric motor and battery

The petrol engine is McLaren's M838TQ 3,799 cc twin-turbo V8, developed from the unit in the McLaren MP4-12C. In the P1 it produces 542 kW (737 PS) at 7,500 rpm and 720 Nm. An electric motor adds 132 kW (179 PS) and 260 Nm, giving a combined 674 kW (916 PS) and 900 Nm. The motor also fills the gaps while the turbos build boost. With 674 kW and a dry weight of 1,395 kg, the P1 has about 483 kW per tonne, compared with about 405 kW per tonne for the F1 of 1992 (461 kW, 1,138 kg).

The battery charges from a plug or from the engine and regenerative braking. In E-mode the P1 can cover about 10–11 km on the European NEDC cycle; the US EPA rated it at 19 miles (31 km). EPA petrol consumption is 17 mpg (US) combined, about 14 l/100 km.

IPAS, DRS and the chassis

Two buttons on the steering wheel define the P1. IPAS (Instant Power Assist System) releases the full electric boost on demand, and DRS (Drag Reduction System), borrowed from Formula 1, flattens the rear wing to cut drag on straights. The active rear wing extends and changes its angle with speed, and in Race mode the hydraulic RaceActive Chassis Control lowers the car and stiffens the suspension.

The car rides on double wishbones with hydro-pneumatic suspension, stops with carbon-ceramic brakes developed by Akebono and uses Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. From 300 km/h it stops in 6.2 seconds over 246 metres, according to McLaren.

Performance figures

McLaren said a P1 had lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in under seven minutes but did not publish the exact time. A modified P1 LM later set 6:43.22 there in April 2017 with Kenny Bräck at the wheel.

Cabin and everyday use

The cabin is stripped for weight: exposed carbon fibre, two lightweight bucket seats, little sound insulation and a digital instrument display with a central touchscreen for climate and navigation. The old 1cars text notes that the seating position was set for each owner at the factory. Climate control and a Meridian audio system came as standard. Luggage space is small, about 120 litres, so the P1 is a car for driving rather than touring.

P1 GTR, P1 LM and special versions

Rivals: the hybrid hypercar trio

The Porsche was the most usable and quickest off the line, the Ferrari the most powerful, and the P1 the most extreme on track with its aero and suspension. See how they rank today in the quickest cars ranking or compare two of them in the 1cars comparison tool.

Values and buying a P1 today

The P1 was priced at slightly more than 1 million EUR in Spain in 2013. Today it trades on the collector market, where prices depend on mileage, colour, specification and history. Typical checks include the battery's state of health, full McLaren service records, the hydraulic suspension, the carbon-ceramic brakes and tyre age. A recall covered 122 cars of the 2014–2015 model years for a faulty secondary bonnet latch, so confirm that it was done. The P1's spirit continued in the track-focused McLaren Senna and in the W1, McLaren's next hybrid flagship.