First look at interior deals global
drivers a left-hook
McLaren has revealed the cockpit of the
forthcoming P1 supercar and confirmed the McLaren F1 successor will be
left-hand drive only. The company’s biggest markets are left-hand drive and it
would rather invest the conversion cost in development of the limited- edition
P1. McLaren is also quick to point out that the Bugatti Veyron is also
left-hook only…
Mclaren
P1
The F1’s central position would have cured
that, but while it was investigated, we’re told that modern crash structures
forbade it.
When we went to press, McLaren still hadn’t
released a picture of the production car’s exterior, though it’ll be 95% true
to the 2012 concept pictured above. But this is our first glance into what has
to be any carbon-fetish- it’s dream cabin.
The
F1’s central position would have cured that, but while it was investigated,
we’re told that modern crash structures forbade it.
Final powertrain details have also emerged.
The circa R12m hybrid supercar will use a 3.8- liter twin-turbo V8 with a 131kW
electric motor mounted directly onto the engine. The two motors combine to
produce outputs of 673kW and 900Nm driving the rear wheels via a dual-clutch
seven-speed gearbox. McLaren claim emissions of less than 200g/km on the
combined cycle. The P1 can also travel about 10km on electric power alone using
energy stored in a battery pack that weighs just 96kg and can be fully charged
externally in two hours. Hybrid tech just got serious.
Inspired by Jenson’s car
The readout is digital, even down to the
numerical rev-counter, and delivers a different data set in Race mode. This
displays a graphic showing the active spoiler’s position, as well as F1-style
colored shift lights to help drivers time gear changes
The
readout is digital, even down to the numerical rev-counter, and delivers a
different data set in Race mode.
Mass is the enemy
To save weight, the top layer of resin has
been purged from carbon fiber, and there’s no sound deadening or carpet. The
seats are pulled inward by 16mm compared to the 12C’s, bringing mass inboard to
fractionally reduce the moment of inertia and improve agility
Your fitted seat, sir
The two carbon-shelled seats weigh just
10kg each. There’s no electric adjustment, not even as an option. You can push
them forward and back, but the rear angle is fixed at 28 degrees and the height
set-up for the driver in the workshop. They can also do you a more relaxed
32-degree seat angle to better accommodate helmets on track days
The
two carbon-shelled seats weigh just 10kg each
The building blocks
The P1 uses a derivative of the 12C’s
carbon fiber tub, so those dihedral doors - lifting out a sill section for easy
access - look familiar. One development is that this tub includes the roof,
complete with duct to pipe air into the engine
There’s
no electric adjustment, not even as an option.
