McLaren P1 – the new F1 / P12 arrives

The McLaren P1 – spiritual successor to the legendary McLaren F1 – has been revealed ahead of a public debut at Paris 2012.

It’s been a long time coming, but the new McLaren P1 – the name for what we’ve thought of as the McLaren P12 or new F1 – has finally been unveiled.

As expected, the new McLaren P1 has more dramatic styling than the MP4-12C with its aerodynamic parts matt black and the flowing contours of the dramatic body painted, with headlights offering a nod to McLaren’s logo and a roof scoop that’s reminiscent of the F1′s.

Under the skin, much of the P1 is the same as the MP4-12C with a carbon fibre monocoque and skin panels made of carbon fibre too, which adds up to a new P1 supercar weighing in at 1300kg. But there are huge differences yet to be revealed – such as the KERS and active aerodynamics – to set the P1 ahead of the 12C.

Power will come from the same V8 that powers the MP4-12C but with a full 800bhp on offer with a KERS boost that will add between 160 and 200bhp.

Ron Dennis said of the P1:

The McLaren P1 will be the result of 50 years of racing and road car heritage.

Twenty years ago we raised the supercar performance bar with the McLaren F1 and our goal with the McLaren P1 is to redefine it once again.

Our aim is 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 McLaren Automotive Managing Director Antony Sheriff. ‘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.

McLaren are calling the P1 a ‘Design Concept’, but this is the car that will be built – just 500 at around £800k each – from the end of 2013.

McLaren are promising more details on the P1 at the Paris Motor Show, but for now you’ll have to make do with the trio of photos of the P1 McLaren has released.

McLaren P1 Photos >>

McLaren P1 Wallpaper >>

By Cars UK