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More than half of new McLarens will be hybrids by 2022

McLaren has an ambitious growth plan. After building just 1,654 cars in 2015, CEO Mike Flewitt expects the Woking, UK,-based company to churn out 3,000 units in 2016, but doubling production is only the start. Flewitt predicts that figure will swell to 4,500 to 5,000 annually, which "is about capacity," for the company's production facility, he told Automotive News Europe. The increase in production is key to a revenue-driven research-and-development effort that will allow the company to create 15 new products and introduce "a completely new powertrain architecture ... specifically designed for a hybridized application," Flewitt said. "In the latter part of this business plan to 2022, more than half our cars will be hybrids," Flewitt told ANE. "This second powertrain will run in parallel to the eight cylinder we have today and will have hybrid technology integrated into it from day one." This new model would arrive near the end of the decade, Flewitt said, but unlike the company's current and only hybrid, the P1, it won't be a plug-in hybrid. Related Video:

McLaren and Red Bull refused to accept elimination qualifying compromise

Formula 1's failure to change its under-fire elimination qualifying format was sealed when McLaren and Red Bull refused to accept anything other than ditching the shoot-out idea completely, Motorsport.com has learned. In another dramatic twist to the saga surrounding F1's qualifying system, sources have confirmed that the two outfits were unwilling to play ball with an alternative solution that had been put on the table by the FIA this week. And without their support - and the need for unanimous backing for any change to go through - the idea to tweak elimination qualifying was left dead in the water, with no time left to do anything other than keep the system that proved so unpopular in Australia. FIA plan After the shambolic end to Q3 in Australia, teams had unanimously agreed in Melbourne to ditch elimination qualifying and go back to last year's system for the next race in Bahrain. However, a decision was made by the FIA to not go that far and abandon the positive aspects of the change. Instead it wanted to give the shoot-out system another try, albeit in an improved format. This week therefore, teams on the Strategy Group and F1 Commission found themselves only able to vote on a revised format to elimination qualifying proposed by the FIA, where the new-style Q1 and Q2 would be extended, and Q3 would revert to how it was last year. One theory as to why teams were only given this option to vote on was that it would effectively force their hands to accept it, as they would be highly unlikely to reject it and keep the Australian system that was so universally criticised. However, if that was a motivation for not giving teams the option of going back to last year's system, then it failed entirely because McLaren and Red Bull refused to support it and did not vote in favour. Without their support, the vote did not go through, meaning that F1 is heading to Bahrain with the same under-fire elimination qualifying format that was run in Australia – and little prospect of it delivering a better show in Q3 this time. F1 criticism In a week when the GPDA spoke out about F1's 'obsolete' rules structure, and the sport making a bold move away from free-to-air TV in Britain, the inability of F1 to get rid of a hated qualifying format has left it facing further criticism.

McLaren 650S leaks out ahead of Geneva reveal [w/video]

Late last week, McLaren announced it will be bringing a new model to the Geneva Motor Show. Called the 650S, it's set to slot in between the 12C and P1 in Woking's supercar range. But before McLaren gets to unveil the new model, the first batch of photos – as well as a video walkaround – have leaked online. What we seem to be looking at is an MP4-12C with revised styling to more closely resemble the P1. Which is a good thing, because to most eyes, the P1 is a far better-looking car than the 12C, whose appearance – finalized before design director Frank Stephenson arrived on the scene – has oft been derided as derivative. The 650S also features an updated interior, but best of all, it's said to pack more power: the name hints at a 650 metric horsepower (641 hp) output from what we can assume to be the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 that powers the 12C (which currently offers 616 hp) and the P1 (727 hp before the 176 hp electric motor comes into play). What remains to be seen at this point is whether the 650S you see here will eventually replace the 12C or continue alongside it indefinitely. The prevailing wisdom seems to be that McLaren will offer both and see how sales pan out. Scope it out in the (unfortunately grainy and low-res) leaked image gallery above and the walkaround video below, and watch this space for the official reveal. Featured Gallery McLaren 650S leaked images News Source: Driving.co.uk Geneva Motor Show McLaren Coupe Performance 2014 Geneva Motor Show mclaren mp4-12c mclaren 650s