A decade after the P1, pictured above, McLaren will announce the successor to its first hybrid hypercar.
The British supercar maker released a teaser video this week (September 25) asking “what makes a ‘1’ car?” The one-minute clip focuses on McLaren F1 and P1, but more importantly it ends with a date and time: October 6 at 1:00 p. m. Eastern Standard Time.
Why would McLaren introduce a new car on a Sunday? It appears the company is leaning into its Formula On history here, as this date marks exactly 50 years since the 1974 United States Grand Prix, which was the final round of a season in which McLaren won its first world championship. of F1. It is also the day that McLaren driver Emerson Fittipaldi won his second drivers’ championship.
The teaser comes just a couple of days after McLaren published another YouTube video, this time focused on the P1, and a week earlier it was the F1’s turn for a couple of minutes in the spotlight. Whatever’s going on at Woking, it looks like the company is in a nostalgic mood for its ’1 cars’.
It is understood that the new car, known internally as the P18, will succeed the P1 and McLaren’s new flagship road-going hypercar. According to Automotive News, data about the P18 was shown to McLaren dealers in the United States last April and indicates that it will be powered by a new high-revving V8 engine. But rather than being similar to the V8 used in almost every road-legal McLaren since the 2011 MP4-12C, the P18’s engine would be completely new and different from the hybrid V6 in the McLaren Artura.
The report also states that the P18 will use a much lighter hybrid formula than the Artura and that the total power output will exceed 1,000 horsepower. This figure is rarely too surprising, given that the decade-old P1 produces 903 hp with its V8 and what is now a replaced engine and battery.
The P18 would feature a pair of gull-style doors, from the dihedral doors used in other McLaren cars. Although the car will be unveiled on October 6, the first deliveries are not expected (at least in the US). USA) until early 2026. As a reminder, McLaren unveiled the P1 as a pre-production concept in September 2012, at the Paris Motor Show, followed by the production edition in early 2013. (where he shared the Geneva Motor Show with Ferrari LaFerrari). Production of the visiting cars began in October of the same year.
It is likely that the P18 will feature a hybrid system with technology derived from Formula One, and that it will have a greater electric-only range than the 6.8 miles the P1 could manage on battery power alone. Performance statistics are likely to include a 0-60 mph time closer to two seconds than three and a top speed comfortably above 200 mph. An all-carbon tub and body is to be expected, but for now there’s no indication to suggest McLaren will use the three-seat layout of its F1and Speedtail.
Instagram posts published by prospective owners invited by McLaren to see the car suggest the P18 will be limited to 399 examples, slightly higher than the 375 production run of the P1.
As far as the call goes, McLaren is leaning heavily on the ‘1’ theme, however, with F1 and P1 already considered, we’re wondering where it might happen next. You have already used X-1, which is a curious person’s call. off-style style based on the MP4-12C and revealed in 2012 as an example of what McLaren’s special operations arm is capable of.
A1, C1, H1, M1, R1 and S1 have already been used by other cars and motorbikes. What name has McLaren settled on? We’ll hopefully find out in just a few days.
Alistair is a freelance journalist specializing in automotive and technology. He has published on renowned sites such as BBC, Forbes, TechRadar and, most productive of all, T3, where he covers topics ranging from vintage cars and men’s lifestyle, to Wise House technology, phones, electric cars, autonomy , Swiss watches, and much more. He is an experienced journalist who writes news, articles, interviews and product reviews. If that hasn’t kept him busy enough, he also co-hosts the AutoChat podcast.