The official announcement of the McLaren P1

The McLaren P1 leverages five decades of our 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. The McLaren P1 showcases our 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.

The McLaren P1 will have an immensely powerful engine, superb brakes and state-of-the-art suspension controls. The power to weight ratio will be more than 600PS per tonne. But a major reason for its extraordinary performance is its high level of downforce and its all round aerodynamic excellence. They do not just improve stability, handling, roadholding and braking at high speed. They also improve agility and driver confidence at much lower speeds. Our goal was to get great levels of downforce at lower speeds, and we have achieved that. It is a major boost to driving enjoyment, and to a driver’s feeling of being in total control.

Like all McLarens, the car is built around the driver. Our aim is to deliver the very best driver’s car on the road, one focused on the elite enthusiast driver, but you certainly don’t have to be a racing driver or a professional to enjoy it. And like all McLarens, the McLaren P1 is technologically at the absolute cutting edge. This goal – racing car-like track performance from a road car – was one of our primary targets for the McLaren P1. We wanted a car that would feel like a proper racing car, and then could be driven home in great comfort and refinement. In other words, a real McLaren but with an even broader breadth of ability.

The McLaren P1 follows in the footsteps of the classic McLaren F1 as the ‘ultimate car’ offering. The name ties in with Grand Prix racing. P1 means first place – and McLaren has 180 GP victories in its 46 year Formula One history. There is also heritage in that name: the McLaren F1 was initially known as Project 1, or P1. The McLaren F1 was lauded as the greatest supercar of its era when it was first shown 20 years ago. At the time, it was the world’s most technologically advanced and fastest supercar. And as we enter the next chapter, we’re confident that the McLaren P1 will continue in the same tradition.

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