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The McLaren P1 is the flagship model of McLaren. It was first unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 2012. Together with the Ferrari LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder, the three hybrid cars were dubbed the “Holy Trinity” by the media. Only 375 units of the road-legal McLaren P1 were produced, with a few more limited editions made for track use.
McLaren P18: The Successor to the P1
At the Las Vegas Raceway event held last week, a senior McLaren official gave a brief overview of the project for the successor to the P1. The car has the internal codename P18 and will be part of the brand’s top-of-the-line Ultimate Series. Notably, the car will inherit a lot of technology from McLaren’s F1 racing car.
The McLaren P18 will feature a newly developed carbon fiber monocoque chassis, which will be integrated with the seat backrests. This will improve the car’s rigidity and safety while also reducing weight.
Styling and Exterior Features
The P18 will be the first McLaren to do away with the signature dihedral butterfly doors that were first introduced with the F1. Instead, the P18 will feature gullwing doors, similar to those found on the Pagani Huayra, Aston Martin Valkyrie, and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.
McLaren has also given a sneak peek of the car to its dealers. According to sources, the P18’s headlights have been redesigned, similar to those on the 720S and Artura, with the main light units placed above the LED daytime running lights. An active aerodynamic wing has also been added, similar to the one on the P1.
Powertrain and Performance
While rivals in the segment such as Ferrari and Lamborghini are moving towards fully electric offerings, McLaren is sticking to its hybrid strategy as seen on the P1. McLaren’s Director of Product Strategy, Jamie Corstorphine, explained, “The hybrid setup allows us to continue offering emotionally engaging and performance-oriented driving dynamics that McLaren customers value with the support of an electric motor.”
“A fully electric McLaren must be lightweight and deliver the driving feel synonymous with the brand, even on road and track. And the technology is not there yet. It’s not just about straight-line performance figures, it’s about being able to do 10 laps of a circuit and come back with the same lap time.” The hybrid setup also allows the company to meet the stringent emission regulations in many markets and the evolving preferences of its customers.
Market Trends and Future Plans
In line with other supercar brands, McLaren is seeing a gradual decrease in the average age of its customers. In the US, it is now 40 years old, making it the second-youngest market after China. The number of female customers has also been increasing, following the launch of the McLaren GT.
The company is also planning to enter the SUV segment, which has already seen notable entries from Aston Martin DBX, Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and Ferrari Purosangue.
Prior to becoming McLaren’s CEO in 2022, Michael Leiters was instrumental in launching performance SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne and the Ferrari Purosangue. According to his presentation to dealers, McLaren’s SUV is expected to arrive in 2028.
The British carmaker will prioritize developing an in-house platform instead of using a shared platform with existing models on the market. The SUV will embody the brand’s DNA, and, as Jamie Corstorphine said, “It will be intelligently packaged, with a lightweight architecture at its core, and power-to-weight ratio will be key. We will spend a lot of time developing the SUV so that it is as comfortable crawling along in a city at 20mph as it is when you open it up to 200mph-plus.”
Competitors and Industry Updates
Meanwhile, McLaren’s rival Ferrari is currently testing a new hypercar with the internal codename F250, which has been spotted around the company’s Maranello, Italy factory. Instead of the traditional V12 engine, the hypercar is expected to use a V6 powerplant aided by a hybrid system.
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