It’s been 11 years since McLaren revealed the P1 in production form. Although there have been many special Woking models since 2013, a true successor to the hypercar has yet to see the light of day. By the end of the year, we might finally see a flagship product from the exotic British brand. Fortunately, it will still be equipped with a large-displacement combustion engine.
According to Automotive News Europe, the new McLaren hypercar is internally codenamed “P18” and uses a plug-in hybrid V8 setup. The gasoline engine and electric motor(s) are expected to deliver a combined output of more than 1,000 horsepower in a Halo model featuring an all-new carbon fiber chassis. The seats would be bolted to the chassis to reduce weight and increase rigidity, while some suspension components would be 3D printed.
21 Pictures
While McLarens are known for their dihedral doors, the P18 is meant to represent a break from the norm by adopting gullwing doors. DONKEY cites sources close to the matter as saying that the long-awaited follow-up to the P1 will feature an active rear wing as well as other aerodynamic features derived from Formula 1 cars. Up front, the future member of the range ” Ultimate Series” would feature recessed headlights in the same vein as those of Artura.
The new crown jewel will be unveiled before the end of 2024. Meanwhile, Nicolas Brown, president of the Americas region, said DONKEY engineers are currently “tweaking” the new hypercar. The hybrid setup is believed to be a new development, up to 70% lighter than what the company currently uses in the Artura. The fact that it’s not a purely electric model comes as no surprise since CEO Michael Leiters has said that “real supercars” without a combustion engine won’t materialize until 2030.
This was a controversial statement given that there are already a few high-performance electric vehicles available: Rimac Nevera, Lotus Evija and Pininfarina Battista. The new Tesla Roadster is expected to arrive by the end of the year, while Ferrari’s first electric vehicle has been confirmed for a 2025 launch.
Porsche is expected to greenlight a production version of the Mission X concept in the coming months. In China, BYD recently launched the Yangwang U9. Notable mentions include the Nio EP9, also from China, as well as the Aspark Owl from Japan. 2030 is still six years away, giving other automakers plenty of time to jump on the electric performance bandwagon.
