Without road-car regulations to hold it
back, the McLaren P1™ GTR pushes everything to the limit. Available
only to McLaren P1™ owners, production of the track-focused GTR began
upon completion of the 375th and final road car.
The mid-mounted powerplant has an output of
1,000PS (986bhp) and includes an ERS-style push-to-pass system. The
large fixed rear wing features a Formula 1™-derived Drag Reduction
System and the wing mirrors have been repositioned to the A pillars to
put them closer to the eye line of the driver and reduce aerodynamic
drag. The car sits at a fixed ride height on race-prepared suspension
over 19-inch motorsport alloy wheels. Below the rear wing is the
exposed, centrally mounted inconel and titanium alloy exhaust. This all
new straight cut twin pipe design has been developed exclusively for
the GTR.
McLaren P1™ GTR ownership can include
participation in driving events at some of the world’s most iconic
circuits with specialist vehicle support. Also available is access to
McLaren racing simulators with driver training from experts that have
helped develop and train Formula 1™ champions. In addition, exclusive
consultations with the McLaren driver fitness team and Design Director
Frank Stephenson are included in the programme.
Together with one of the most exciting
track-focused cars ever developed, the programme offers unprecedented
access to the technologies, resources and people throughout the McLaren
Technology Centre. Every experience is unique and tailored specifically
for each participant.
New Interior Images Released
If you want to read more about the McLaren P1, we have a complete review of the top McLaren in our blog, just click here.
The 2017 McLaren 720S official presentation at Geneva Motorshow
McLaren have officially taken the covers off the McLaren 720S, the
replacement model for the Super Series McLaren’s, at the Geneva Motor
Show 2017. It is probably the biggest release at the Geneva show this
year and does not disappoint! McLaren will be hoping that it builds upon
the hugely successful 650S model it replaces.
The McLaren 720S is a completely new
design language for McLaren. The body panels are mostly aluminium,
wrapped around the carbon fibre structure. It looks delicate and
futuristic yet manages to retain familiar elements of McLaren’s previous
models. The side profile has a clear teardrop shape to it with slim
windscreen pillars and a complete panoramic glasshouse feeling. It
should feel light inside with plenty of visibility.
It is a two-seat supercar based on an all-carbonfibre tub, with
aluminium space frames carrying the front and rear suspension, and it is
powered by a twin turbocharged V8. However, within that envelope, it
has been redesigned and updated in every detail. The exterior introduces
a new ‘double skin’ door construction that eliminates the need for the
prominent side air scoops previously thought essential in supercar
design, while the engine grows to 4.0 litres, up from 3.8-litres, and
now produces 710bhp.
The 720S’s peak output of 710bhp is produced at 7000rpm, while maximum
torque of 568lb ft is delivered at 5500rpm. Max speed is 212 mph, around 341 km/h. Zero to 100 km/h in just 2,9 seconds...it's a rocket. The engine, longitudinally
mounted behind the occupants, drives as before through a seven-speed
dual-clutch automatic gearbox mounted end-on to the engine, but McLaren
says further refinement of its control software brings smoother
gearchanges at low speeds and faster, sharper shifts at higher speeds.
The launch control has also been improved, and as before, there are
three driving modes — Comfort, Sport and Track — that govern both engine
and dynamics.
One crucial aspect is the conspicuous absence of radiator intakes on
the side. McLaren have designed a unique double skin to the dihedral
doors which channels air into the radiators. Cooling is actually
improved by 15% over the 650S. The front bumper features digital LED
headlights integrated within aerodynamic ‘eye-sockets’ which channel air
to the low-temperature radiators. The headlights incorporate Static
Adaptive Headlight technology with five LED’s producing the base, static
beam pattern and the remaining 12 operating in accordance with the
direction the front of the car is moving.
Only scarce details and photos were released so far but the car community are enthusiastic about the new McLaren 720s, a substitute for the magnificent 650s. Later, next week it should be unveiled to the world at the Geneva Motorshow, but until that day that's all the media we know about the new supercar contender from Mclaren.
The Interior
The big news is the adoption of a new type of digital instrument display
behind the steering wheel. Called the Folding Driver Display, it’s a swiveling digital instrument binnacle offering two different ways to
view information. In “Full Display Mode” it offers up a large screen, optionally the driver can only see a minimalist configuration.
The video bellow shows how the car drifts beautifully but without losing efficiency.
The McLaren MCL32 was revealed by the team on February 24th ahead of the 2017 F1 season.
It was the successor to the MP4-31, and the first McLaren since 1980
not to carry the ‘MP4’ designation, which was dropped following the
departure of Ron Dennis.
McLaren went into the third season of their second partnership with
Honda in their longest-ever win-less streak. The team’s last victory had
come at the end of the 2012 season, and the first race of 2017 would be
the third anniversar of their last podium appearance.
Significant changes in the F1 rules gave the team cause for optimism.
The widening of the cars handed an opportunity to the team’s chassis
designers to make up for more of the missing performance. And Honda had
made clear gains with its power unit in 2016, which promised to
accelerate as restrictions on engine development were eased for the new
season.
A further change for the team in the off-season was a change in fuel
and lubricants supplier. McLaren’s long-term relationship with ExxoMobil
came to an end and a new arrangement made to use BP and Castrol’s
products.
But while focus around the MCL32 will inevitably be trained on the
car's livery, it will ultimately be remembered - and judged - on its
on-track performance as the fallen superpowers strive to return to
winning ways.
"It's the engineering detail on the MCL32 that
really impresses me," said team boss Eric Boullier. "The chassis is
incredibly well realised, the power unit has been significantly
developed and, in Fernando and Stoffel [Vandoorne], we have a hugely
exciting driver pairing that's already blending really well.
"There's a feeling around the factory that we're about to turn the corner."
McLaren
showed signs of progress in 2016, their second season of a renewed
partnership with engine suppliers Honda, but need much more if they are
to jump from sixth in the constructors' standings to podium contenders.
Their
best result last season was fifth and F1's eight-time champions' last
victory came in 2012, but Alonso, preparing for his third campaign back
at McLaren, still insists he will be aiming for wins this year.
The
double world champion is joined by highly-rated Belgian rookie Stoffel
Vandoorne, who replaces Jenson Button as the Briton moves back to the
team's reserve driver.
The oddly-named Ferrari LaFerrari is the latest in a long line of
technologically-advanced hyper-cars from the Prancing Horse. Limited to
just 499 examples , the LaFerrari (a name that literally translates to
"The Ferrari" in Italian) stands out as Ferrari's first street legal
gasoline-electric hybrid.
At its core, the LaFerrari uses a 789-horsepower 6.3-liter V12 engine
capable of revving to 9,350 rpms. From there, the engine is coupled to a
120-kilowatt electric motor which bumps total maximum output to 949
horsepower and 663 lb-ft. of torque. Two electric motors are actually
on board - one to power the driven wheels and one to run ancillary
devices.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a F1-grade seven-speed dual-clutch
transmission controlled by shift paddles mounted behind the steering
wheel. With both power sources running, the LaFerrari is capable of
sprinting from zero to 62 mph in less than three seconds, from zero to
124 mph in less than seven seconds and reach a top speed of over 217
mph.
Huge carbon ceramic Brembo brakes hidden behind 19-inch wheels up front
and 20-inch wheels out back help bring the car to a stop.
F1-Sourced Tech
The LaFerrari's HY-KERS hybrid drivetrain is modeled after the system
found in Ferrari's Formula 1 cars. Attached to the floorboards, the
132-pound battery pack helps lower the LaFerrari's center of gravity and
enabled engineers to place 59-percent of the car's weight on the rear
axle.
The battery pack is recharged during braking - even when ABS kicks in -
as well as when excess torque is being produced such as during hard
cornering. The electric motors powered by the pack lower gas mileage
and improve performance but they cannot drive the car by themselves like
the ones found in competing cars built by Porsche and McLaren.
Cheating The Wind
A blend of form and function, the LaFerrari was conceived to be as
aerodynamic as possible with the help of a wind tunnel typically used to
design Formula 1 cars. It borrows some styling cues from the Enzo, its
predecessor, and others from current members of the Ferrari lineup like
the F12berlinetta.
Aerodynamics
Active aerodynamic devices such as diffusers on both ends, a spoiler out
back and guide vanes integrated into the underbody generate downforce
when needed and help the LaFerrari cheat the wind. A wide array of
sensors work to deploy the devices automatically without any input from
the driver.
It boasts an aggressive appearance with large air
dams up front, a F1-like nose cone and a wide rear end characterized by
two round tail lamps and four exhaust tips.
Driver-Focused Cockpit
The LaFerrari's cockpit is accessed via doors that swing upwards.
Continuing the Formula 1-inspired theme, the steering is commanded with a
flat-bottomed steering wheel that groups every major command including
switches for the turn signals, the headlights and the windshield wipers,
a knob that enables the driver to select from five different driving
modes and a button used to start the engine. The climate control knobs
are conveniently located on the dashboard.
The car is equipped with a digital instrument cluster consisting of two
high-definition color screens and a large tachometer mounted front and
center. The driver can configure the information displayed by the two
screens.
Interestingly, the LaFerrari's driver seat is tailor-made and cannot be
adjusted, but the driver can change the position of the pedals and the
steering wheel. Ferrari used input from drivers Fernando Alonso and
Felipe Massa to create a driving position that is similar to that of a
single-seater race car.
See it in motion
Key Competitors
The LaFerrari's main competitors in terms of price and performance are the gasoline-electric Porsche 918 Spyder and the 903-horsepower McLaren P1. That being said, all three cars are sold out.
The McLaren P1 is a limited-edition super car that blends a
gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain with striking looks and
race-inspired technology in order to provide an unmatched driving
experience. Largely built out of lightweight materials such as carbon
fiber, the P1 is the spiritual successor to the iconic McLaren F1.
The P1's overall shape is reminiscent of the smaller MP4-12C but its
details are far more exotic. The P1 features a truncated front end with
a highly-stylized front fascia, butterfly doors, headlamps that mimic
McLaren's boomerang-shaped logo and flowing character lines that give
the car a look of motion even when it's standing still. Out back, the
P1 is characterized by a high-mounted center exhaust, a large spoiler,
meandering LED tail lamps and a functional air diffuser.
The finishing touch is added by 10-spoke wheels crafted out of
high-strength aluminum. Mounted on low-profile Pirelli P Zero Corsa
tires designed specifically for the P1, the wheels have a diameter of 19
inches in the front and 20 inches in the back.
Life Aboard
Designed as a driver's car, the P1 features an interior that is centered
around the driver and there are no unnecessarily switches or buttons to
be found on the dashboard. This creates a remarkably clean cockpit
that is seldom seen in the supercar world. A deep wraparound windshield
ensures the best possible visibility in all driving conditions.
McLaren went to great lengths to lower the P1's weight to a minimum and
the dashboard, the floors, the headliner, the door panels and the center
console are all crafted out of unpainted carbon fiber. To further push
the envelope, the top layer of resin on the carbon fiber has been
removed and the P1 does not come standard with carpet or sound deadening
material.
The two bucket seats are also crafted out of carbon fiber and filled
with as little foam as possible. They can only be manually adjusted
forward and backwards in order to avoid adding the unnecessary pounds
typically associated with multi-way adjustable setups.
In spite of its track-focused vocation, the P1 packs the usual
assortment of convenience features including full climate control,
satellite navigation and a Meridian sound system.
The instrument cluster consists of a 6.8-inch thin-film transistor (TFT)
central screen flanked on each side by a 3-inch TFT outer screen. The
three combined screens provide vital information about the P1's
drivetrain and surroundings as well as specific menus for the different
driving modes.
Under the Hood
The P1 is powered by a revised version of the twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine that is also found in the engine bay of the MP4-12C.
The mill features a Formula 1-inspired dry sump lubrication system
and a low sited flat plane crankshaft that helps reduce the center of
gravity. By itself the eight-cylinder makes 727 horsepower and 7,500
rpms and 531 lb-ft. of torque from 4,000 rpms.
A 57-pound electric motor integrated into the V8 engine produces 176
horsepower and 190 lb-ft. of torque, providing an acceleration boost
when needed and helping offset the low-end lag typically associated with
turbochargers. The motor enabled McLaren engineers to use beefier
turbos than they normally would without worrying about creating
excessive amounts of lag.
Similar Cars
The electric motor gets juice from a 211-pound lithium-ion battery pack
designed with an emphasis on power delivery. Mounted between the seats
and the engine bay for better weight distribution, the pack can be
recharged using kinetic energy or in just two hours by plugging an
on-board charger into a regular household outlet. Alternatively, the P1
packs a world-first "pit lane charging" system that uses the V8 as a
generator to give the battery a full charge in just ten minutes.
The power generated by the V8 and by the electric motor reaches the rear
wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox that can be controlled
with carbon fiber shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.
Driving Modes
The driver can select between three different driving modes: E-mode, Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) mode, and Active.
In E-mode, the P1 operates as an electric car that is cleaner and
quieter than most economy cars for a maximum of six miles at speeds of
up to 99 mph. The V8 kicks in automatically when the battery runs out
of electricity, charges it in as little as ten minutes and immediately
shuts off. In order to preserve energy, the he transmission shifts
automatically and cannot be controlled with shift paddles when E-mode is
engaged and overall performance is reduced.
IPAS mode delivers the drivetrain's full 903 horsepower and 663 lb-ft.
of torque, sending the car from zero to 62 mph in less than three
seconds and on to a track-worthy top speed of 217 mph. IPAS also lets
the driver use the Boost button on the steering wheel to instantly
deliver the electric motor's full output when the engine is close to
wide-open throttle.
Active mode is primarily designed to enhance the P1's track worthiness.
It unlocks a host of driver-activated features including sport and
track suspension settings, a Launch mode and a Race mode that lowers the
car and considerably stiffens the suspension.
The P1 comes standard with a vehicle lift system that raises the
suspension in order to avoid scraping the underbody on low ramps.
Key Competitors
Production of the P1 is limited to just 375 examples and every example has been spoken for. Its main competitors are the Ferrari LaFerrari, the latest masterpiece from the Prancing Horse brand, and the Porsche 918 Spyder, Stuttgart's newest halo car, but both are also sold out.
