McLaren P1 to be the next flagship

McLaren, as I know it, is all about putting a lot of thought behind ideas and then fueling them with their passion and heritage. I am not gonna go into its F1 heritage but the McLaren F1 is still at the pinnacle as far as high performance hypercars go. The MP4–12C is another example of the brand’s commitment but now, they’ve shown us something much more exciting. The company has released first pics of its upcoming supercar.

Dubbed the P1, the F1’s successor has a hit of it in that stance and a very fluid profile. A short nose and an interesting rear cause just about enough drool till we get to know what’s inside it. McLaren plans to stay tight-lipped and will only reveal finer details at the official unveiling at the Paris Motor Show. Will it have an F1-like central driver’s seat? Hell, no. Is it a hybrid? I don’t think so. Nobody would paint a hybrid in fiery orange, or would they?

And here’s McLaren’s official press release about their ‘ultimate’ supercar -

McLaren releases three images of its new supercar, the P1

McLaren Automotive will use its first ever international motor show appearance to preview its next generation ultimate supercar — the P1 — which takes much of its technological and spiritual inspiration from the company’s Racing division. P1 has one simple goal: to be the best driver’s car in the world on road and track.

At the Paris Motor Show, Mondial de l’Automobile 2012, P1 is previewed as a design study. Next year a production version, which the company aims to put on sale within 12 months, will be revealed.

‘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 P1 is to redefine it once again.’

‘Our aim is not necessarily to be the fastest in absolute top speed but to be the quickest and most rewarding series production road car on a circuit’, says McLaren Automotive Managing Director Antony Sheriff. ‘It is the true test of a supercar’s all round ability and a much more important technical statement. It will be the most exciting, most capable, most technologically advanced and most dynamically accomplished supercar ever made.’

When P1 goes into production later next year, it will sit above the 12C and 12C Spider, in terms of both price and performance.