A look back at the McLaren P1 takes us to a car that was insanity on wheels. This car was built for pure speed, a little drama, and a lot of excitement.
All other cars are unworthy of time on the same track as the P1. While that might sound like an exaggeration, this incredible supercar could rocket to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, offered a top speed of 217 mph, and it was as hard and fast as you expect. These speeds aren’t at the top of the supercar list, but the absolute aggression and hardcore performance make the P1 an incredible choice among supercars.
In 2014, this was an advanced hybrid supercar
Automotive evolution has come extremely far in a short period of time. In 2014, very few automakers had figured out that hybrid power could add incredible speed to augment a gas-powered engine. The P1 used a massive twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produced 727 horsepower. This powerful car was made even more powerful with the electric motor with the lithium-ion battery pack that added 177 horsepower to the mix. This combination created a 903-horsepower monster that took no prisoners on the track.
How many P1s were made?
McLaren only made 375 P1 supercars. This rarity made perfect sense for a car that sold for more than one million dollars each. Much like so many other high-powered, high-performance supercars, the P1 was sold out before it ever entered production. This gave the car an incredible following, especially from those of us who could never set foot inside this glorious machine. Everything about this car was made to give us a perfect drive on the track. This perfect drive dilates your pupils, whitens your knuckles, and requires you don’t have a heart condition because this car just might send you into cardiac arrest.
The P1 brings qualities from previous supercars
The P1 can be driven using only electric power, but this will only last for six miles and is only at 177 horsepower. The power for this amazing car starts with a reengineered version of the same 3.8-liter V8 found in the 650S. The P1 uses larger turbos to create 20.3 pounds of boost. The weight-to-horsepower ratio is incredibly low. The P1 only weighs 3300 pounds, which translates to a 4.5 weight-to-power ratio. This is only the ratio of the engine; adding the hybrid system improves this ratio and makes the P1 light and fast.
Lots of ways to enjoy the power
The McLaren P1 brings several diver-selectable modes, including e-mode, normal, sport, track, and race. There’s also an interesting “boost” button, which can add a bit of fun to your drive. Using the boost button, you’ll only drive using power from the gas engine, but you can press the IPAS button on the steering wheel and add the electric power of the hybrid system. This offers you a bit more drama while driving and makes things even more fun for you when behind the wheel.
Race mode is where it’s at
If you take the P1 to the track, and we highly recommend doing so, the setting you want is race mode. This model drops the body down two inches on the suspension system and powers the big scoop-shaped rear wing up by a foot above the body. This slammed setup allows the P1 to rocket around any track at incredibly high speeds. At 161 mph, McLaren says this supercar makes 1323 pounds of downforce, keeping it pressed to the tarmac to give you the incredible speed and fun you’re looking for during a fast lap.
You’ll find the right look in the cabin
The cabin of the McLaren P1 brings a wide array of carbon fiber, giving you the look and feel you want inside this beast. You’ll find rotary knobs, buttons, a large digital gauge screen, and the stereo and navigation systems you want to use out on the road. The seats are manually adjustable, not heated, and the visibility is expectedly thin and difficult. This isn’t a car you drive every day, but one that you take out for a date or head to the track for some serious fun.
The McLaren P1 is an awesome car. Sure, the Porsche 911 Turbo S was quicker to 60 mph, hitting this mark in 2.6 seconds, and the McLaren F1 offered a higher top speed in the 1990s, but that doesn’t take away from what the P1 brought to the equation. This was one of the first true hybrid supercars, and it is awesome.
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