Check Out this Exclusive Detailed Look at the McLaren P1

Now that you’ve had time to let all of the performance figures of hybrid hypercars like McLaren’s P1 sink into your brain, it’s time for the more interesting part of seeing how it all comes together, and how it works. It’s a car, so it needs to feel like one, especially now when there’s no longer an excuse for ultra-high performance models to be completely impractical, as we’ve seen that balance can be achieved.

Thankfully, if the 12C supercar is anything to go by, then the P1 should be fine. Shmee150 has had a good poke around the latter, making three videos detailing his time with the car. He was able to catch up with it as the owner had had taken it to have protective film stuck to its body, for obvious carbon fiber clear coat stone chipping reasons.

The first video’s highpoint is the passenger ride that shows just how much of an overkill move it is to drive the P1 through regular traffic, at regular speeds, and the ease with which it accelerates and does away with gears is impressive. According to the uploader, “The other videos you are going to see of this car include a detailed tour looking around it, showing you the interior, inside the various flaps and parts of the car and talking about some of the features.”

Check all of them out after the virtual break!

By Andrei Nedelea

VIDEO

Internet Rumors Talk of McLaren P1 Lapping the 'Ring in 6:47, Should We Believe Them?

The thing with rumors is that someone starts them, and then they spread around like wildfire, but you never really know if they're based on reality, fantasy or lies. Today's rumor is that the McLaren P1 completed a full lap of the Nürburgring in 6 minutes and 47 seconds.

From what we understand, the story originated from YouTube author 'swsthebest1994' who filmed the car and stated the following: "Today I recorded this McLaren P1 on the Nürburgring. Today the P1 did a record time on the Nürburgring of 6:47 minutes [Not official yet]!"

Given the lack of any information whatsoever to support the claim, we're just going to leave it at what it is: a rumor, until we hear more, and let you watch the video of the P1 right past the break.

Before you do that, we'll remind you that Porsche recently announced an official 'Ring time of 6:57 for its hybrid supercar, the 918 Spyder.

Story References: Worldcarfans

VIDEO

McLaren Wants P1 to Become New King of the 'Ring

Having the fastest time around the Nürburgring Nordschleife has evolved into being a really big deal among the automakers with the power to adjust it, and now that Porsche has crowned its 918 as king of the ‘Ring (for series production cars with global road homologation), somebody was bound to come up and challenge it – McLaren, with their P1.

Car Magazine reports having spotted a P1 in full-attack mode around the German track, with its rear wing in its most aggressive position, and suspension supposedly dropped – they say by 50 mm, but we’ll only believe that backed up by some sort of official claim, not measuring the ground clearance by eye, which seems to have been the case here…

The car they spotted was a prototype, and not only did it have all its weapons deployed, but it was also reportedly driven very briskly, putting them to good use. The aim, as our source speculates, is to beat Porsche’s time, which does make sense, with the importance given to whomever gets the crown, as well as remembering this, and thinking it may not be more than just inspirational – it could be a goal, couldn’t it?

We hope it all comes true and eventually ends up including the Ferrari LaFerrari and other comparable (and not necessarily hybrid) hypercars.

By Andrei Nedelea

Ed. Note: The following videos are from previous running sessions in the summer

VIDEO

Jeremy Clarkson Filmed and Photographed Driving McLaren P1 for TG, Says He Loves It

The chit-chatter on the interwebs today is that Jeremy Clarkson and the filming crews from Top Gear UK were at the Spa-Francorchamps motor-racing circuit in Belgium testing the new McLaren P1 hybrid supercar.

Clarkson confirmed it with a Twitter post that read, "Right. The P1. Complete game changer. The next chapter in motoring. Speed like you simply would not believe".

The black-colored P1 was both filmed and photographed in and around the racetrack by fans of the show, with the famed matte-black Mercedes-Benz Pursuit ML63 AMG camera car and a helicopter also making an appearance.

We assume it won't be long before we see the car on Top Gear's television show, but until then, enjoy the material we have right below the jump.

Photos via Mike Crawat Photography, Videos via Cvdzijden and CarExposure, Hat tip to Vincent from Autoblog.nl !

Right. The P1. Complete game changer. The next chapter in motoring. Speed like you simply would not believe.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) October 10, 2013

VIDEO

PHOTO GALLERY

Post by Mike Crawat Photography.

Post by Mike Crawat Photography.

Post by Mike Crawat Photography.

Post by Mike Crawat Photography.

McLaren Shows P1 at NYC Private Event, Says Only the Front Bumper and Rear Vents will Change

When McLaren presented the P1 Concept at this year's Paris Motor Show, it told us that its new supercar was 97 percent production ready in terms of its exterior design.
If you have been wondering what kind of changes that 3 percent represents, then you'll be happy to know that the British carmaker answered that question during a private event in New York City that was attended and filmed by Jason Thorgalsen.

Scoop: McLaren P1 Filmed Testing on the Road, First Glimpse at the Cabin

Sure, most of you have seen the McLaren P1 concept that was revealed at the recent Paris Motor Show and have checked out spy shots of taped-up pre-production prototypes, but how about watching it drive on the road?
Well, if you haven't, here's your chance to do so thanks to a new spy video, courtesy of French publication L'Automobile.
We've already established the fact that the exterior appearance of McLaren's P1 hypercar won't change much from study, but this video also affords us our first look at the interior that was hidden behind blacked out windows on the concept.

McLaren MC-1 Design Study Reimagines the P1 Concept

As evidenced by the spy pictures of the P1 prototype that we showed you earlier this week and which reveal that the production model will stay if not 100, 99 percent true to the concept, McLaren has long decided upon the looks of its F1 successor that is slated for a world premiere at next year's Geneva Salon.
McLaren's team of designers and aerodynamic engineers may be sure about the P1's looks, but an old acquaintance of CarScoop, designer David Cardoso from Belgium, kindly disagrees.

McLaren's Ron Dennis and Franks Stephenson Walk us Through the P1 Concept in New Videos

You have to give credit where credit is due: when McLaren managing director Anthony Sheriff visited the 2008 Paris Auto Show, he knew that McLaren staff had many ideas but they were all on paper.
Fast forward to today and McLaren has already released two production models, the MP4-12C and its open-top Spyder version, and will have delivered 1,500 cars by the end of 2012.

McLaren Talks About its New P1 Hypercar Concept in Paris Auto Show Video

The 2012 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris was the event chosen by McLaren Automotive to present the world debut of the brand-new P1 hypercar in pre-production trim, about a year before it goes on sale.
McLaren claims that the P1 draws inspiration from its racing division and its target is to produce the world’s best driving car both on the road and on the track.
"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."