McLaren P1 'Ultimate Supercar' Makes World Debut at Paris Motor Show

The next generation ultimate supercar- the Mclaren P1 has finally made it global debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Taking inspiration from the company's Racing division aims to become the best driver's car in the world on road and track, so the all new McLaren P1 will surely start a new era in the performance cars for the giant. At the Paris Motor Show, Mondial de l'Automobile 2012, the McLaren P1 is previewed as a design study. Next year a production version, which the company aims to put on sale within 12 months, will be revealed.

‘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 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.’ The McLaren P1 leverages five decades of McLaren’s motorsport skills. It was designed from the outset to prioritise aerodynamic performance and spent many hours in a wind tunnel and using CFD (computational fluid dynamics) aerodynamic modelling – just like a Formula One car. The new McLaren P1 has much higher levels of downforce than any current road car – 600kg is achieved well below maximum speed.

That is approximately five times as much downforce as a McLaren 12C. Its margin over most other high performance supercars is even greater. The McLaren P1’s downforce is similar to current sports racing cars, including the 12C GT3 racer. Despite the huge performance, the McLaren P1 is also a refined and comfortable high speed supercar. ‘It is designed to be driven to the racing circuit, with great levels of comfort and refinement,’ says Sheriff. ‘And then to be used on the racing circuit, where it will offer an experience matched only by purpose-built race cars.’

The McLaren P1 showcases McLaren Automotive’s advanced motorsport-based engineering, prioritising high performance through state-of-the-art technology. It will feature notable advances in weight reduction, packaging, high-speed performance, materials (especially carbon fibre), powertrain and in aerodynamics.