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McLaren P1 program director gives an aero walkaround

Evo magazine recently got McLaren P1 program director Paul Mackenzie to reveal some of the aerodynamic and materials details that help make his new hybrid supercar so stupendous. The walkaround makes sense of the numerous intersecting lines and angles on the P1, like the main intakes placed inside the doors, the vents just ahead of the front wheels that were added later in road testing to get more cooling to the radiators, the vents on the rear to cool the clutches and the titanium-mesh chimney behind the roof intake. Mackenzie also talks about the Race setting that lowers the whole car 50 millimeters – below the minimum height of road legality in the UK, in fact – and how the raised rear wing automatically changes pitch to reduce drag when you take the coupe above 160 mph. This is what you get when you sit aerodynamicists, engineers and designers in the same room to shrink-wrap a street-legal body around a 900-horsepower chassis. You can find out more about it in the video below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Related Gallery McLaren P1: Geneva 2013 View 19 Photos News Source: EVOTV via YouTubeImage Credit: Gallery images copyright 2014 Drew Phillips / AOL McLaren Technology Coupe Luxury Performance Videos mclaren p1 aerodynamics evo

McLaren P1 prototype still sliding hard after 40,000 miles

Even if you're the manufacturer responsible for producing them, you don't just hand the keys over to a seven-figure supercar to just anyone. You hand-pick just the right man for the job. But even then, you still don't want to give him a brand-new car. Which could be why when McLaren invited Chris Harris and his crew from Drive down to Abu Dhabi to capture the new P1, they put him in XP7 – a pre-production prototype that's undergone 40,000 hard miles of testing in extreme climates around the world. Not that its well-worn nature would keep Monkey from enjoying himself, and from that shining through on film. So after a brief chat with chief test driver Chris Goodwin and a cruise around town to measure its manners, it was straight onto the Yas Marina circuit to wring its neck. So what did Harris think of the McLaren P1? "I haven't driven a car like this before. I really haven't. Because there isn't another car like this. It's a different league even to a [Porsche] 918." Then he turns the traction control off. See what happens next in the video below. It's nearly a half hour long, but it's worth every second. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Related Gallery McLaren P1 Hot Weather Testing View 10 Photos News Source: Drive via YouTube McLaren Coupe Hybrid Performance Videos chris harris mclaren p1 drive abu dhabi

McLaren 650S to start at about $318,000 in Europe

Immediately following the reveal of a mid-engined piece of exotica like the McLaren 650S, one of the many, many questions that will be asked relates to the six-figure sum the 641-horsepower car will demand. Now, we have a rough answer - 232,500 euros, according to an alleged pricing guide leaked on on 650Sforum.com. That works out to $318,000, but in reality, the base US of the 650S is likely to be lower, what with things like Europe's Value Added Tax messing with the figures. Exterior carbon fiber items range from a 10,020-euro ($13,739 as of this writing) package that features CF versions of the rear bumper, door blades and front splitter to a 2,690-euro ($3,688) side intake. Like many exotics, there's a wide range of options to customize the cabin, with prices ranging from free (owners have their choice of a full leather cabin, a leather sport cabin, or an Alcantara-and-leather cabin at no cost) to 6,080 euros ($8,336) for carbon-fiber racing seats. Other intriguing items include a 5,670-euro ($7,774) sports exhaust and the option to go with steel brakes instead of the standard carbon-ceramic stoppers at no charge (but why?). You can hop over to the 650Sforum.com page and take a look at the entire list, including the leaked documents that revealed the pricing info. Have a look, and then let us know what you think a reasonable price is for this middling McLaren, by posting in Comments. Expect to hear more on the 650S ahead of its debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Featured Gallery McLaren 650S View 10 Photos News Source: 650Sforum.com Rumormill Geneva Motor Show McLaren Coupe Performance pricing 2014 Geneva Motor Show mclaren 650s

McLaren rolls out new 650S en route to Geneva

There are a lot of good things to be said about the McLaren MP4-12C. It is, after all, one of the most thoroughly capable supercars on the market, and it's served as a fitting launch pad for the new McLaren Automotive operation. What the 12C has never had, however, is an engaging name or a distinctive design. But the latter appears to be something Woking is out to fix with the new 650S. Based on the 12C, the 650S incorporates a number of key improvements over its progenitor – some of which you can see and some of which you can't. The new front end takes its cues from the P1, with a better integrated splitter and LED headlamps, while the rear bumper takes its inspiration from the company's 12C GT3 racing model. The side intakes are new, and the rear wing has been optimized to help deliver 24-percent more downforce at speed. Five-spoke alloys (of curiously unspecified diameter) are wrapped in special Pirelli P Zero Corsa MC1 rubber. As expected, underneath the revised sheetmetal sits a retuned version of McLaren's ubiquitous 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 now producing (as the name suggests) 650 metric horsepower (641 hp by our standards). The ProActive Chassis Control system has also been recalibrated and allows the driver to adjust suspension settings independent of engine response. McLaren has not released performance figures for the 650S, but you can expect the increased power and improved aero to give shave a tenth or two off the 0-60 time – enough to drop it below the 3-second mark. The updated cabin is fitted with all the bells and whistles – from satellite radio and navigation to smartphone integration – and buyers will be able to opt for fixed carbon racing buckets, electric steering column adjustment, rear camera and more. Most crucially, the 650S will launch at next month's Geneva Motor Show in both coupe and hardtop convertible versions right from the get-go, ostensibly making this an apt replacement for the entire MP4-12C line. However, as you can see from the press release below, McLaren insists that it will continue offering the 12C alongside the 650S, at least for the time being. Assuming the premium for the upgraded model isn't too ludicrous, we can't imagine many buyers going for the older model though.

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

McLaren confirms 650S ahead of Geneva reveal

McLaren has a big reveal in store for next month's Geneva Motor Show. It has just announced a new model called the McLaren 650S for the Swiss show, but at the moment, it's not saying much more, releasing just the single teaser image shown above and no real details about its new sports car. McLaren promises that the 650S sits between the MP4-12C and P1 in its lineup and says the new model incorporates the lessons from both of those supercars' development. According to the announcement, the 650S is "designed and developed to offer the enthusiast driver the ultimate in luxury, engagement and excitement, as well as dramatic yet beautiful styling." There have been at least two rumors of upcoming McLaren models in the past month, and either of them could conceivably be the 650S. A high-performance version of the 12C is rumored to boost power to around 650 horsepower, while adding carbon-ceramic brakes and a new front end. The British boutique automaker is also rumored to be working on a dedicated model between the 12C and P1 codenamed 'P15.' "All I can tell you at this stage is that the McLaren 650S being revealed at Geneva is not the much rumoured P13 and that it doesn't replace 12C," said Wayne Bruce, McLaren Global Communications Director, in an email to Autoblog. We shouldn't have to wait long to have our questions answered, because McLaren will have more details about the new model in the coming weeks before its March 4 unveiling. Scroll down to check out the teaser press release, and let us know which you think this new model is in Comments. The McLaren 650S: A New Chapter For McLaren Automotive And The Supercar McLaren Automotive will reveal at the 84th International Geneva Motor Show the latest addition to its range of groundbreaking supercars - the McLaren 650S. Designed and developed to offer the enthusiast driver the ultimate in luxury, engagement and excitement, as well as dramatic yet beautiful styling, the McLaren 650S is the result of 50 years of competing, and winning, at the highest levels of motorsport. It takes learnings from both the 12C as well as the sell-out McLaren P1™ and will be positioned between the two on McLaren Automotive's supercar grid. More details of the McLaren 650S will be announced in the run-up to the car's global reveal which will take place on Stand 1240, Hall 1 at 12.00CET (11.00GMT), Tuesday 4 March 2014 in Geneva.

McLaren P1 is the new king of flamethrowers [UPDATE]

It may come as no surprise, but the staff of Autoblog is essentially a bunch of kids trapped in grown-up bodies. That means we're fairly easy to please. Give us a fast car or sensational bodywork, and we're pretty happy. Give us a fast car with sensational bodywork that shoots big freaking flames, though, and we'll be utterly mesmerized. Unsurprisingly, then, this video which shows nothing more than the McLaren P1 and its ability to belch bright blue balls of fire while making a truly glorious noises has had a negative effect on our productivity. We've been quite happy to sit and watch the flame-throwing, 903-horsepower P1 zip around the Yas Marina Formula One course in Abu Dhabi over and over. So, join us in this latest batch of time wasting. Scroll down to watch the full video from Shmee150. UPDATE: We've added a second video from Shmee150 showing how to put the McLaren P1 in race mode. Head below to check it out. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Related Gallery McLaren P1: Geneva 2013 View 19 Photos News Source: Shmee150 via YouTube [1], [2]Image Credit: Copyright 2014 Drew Phillips / AOL Auto News McLaren Coupe Racing Vehicles Performance Videos mclaren p1 abu dhabi yas marina

Ross Brawn retiring from F1 after 16 World Championships

Ross Brawn, an icon of Formula One and one of the people most responsible for the successes of Michael Schumacher, has announced that he's officially retiring from the world of motorsport. Following the return of Ron Dennis to McLaren, many outlets speculated that the 59-year-old would join the Woking-based outfit. Instead, Brawn went fishing. "This is the busiest time of the year for Formula One, and I said I would come along and open the River Dee. If [the media] had put two and two together they would have realized I was definitely retiring," Brawn told The Daily Telegraph. "I'm retiring - it's not tongue in cheek," Brawn said of his fishing trip. "I'm going to take a year to enjoy the fishing and then see what life brings. I'm looking forward to it but I've got no other plans." Last week, Brawn was inducted into Motor Sport magazine's hall of fame, where he said he would "never say never" to coming back to F1, according to the Telegraph. But based on his recent comments, Brawn seems thoroughly committed to his retirement. The 59-year-old Brit's career has seen him capture eight World Constructors' Championships with three teams - Benetton, Ferrari and his own Brawn GP team - while Michael Schumacher captured seven World Drivers' Championships and Jenson Button took one title on Brawn-run teams. News Source: The Daily TelegraphImage Credit: Andre Penner / AP Celebrities Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Motorsports McLaren scuderia ferrari brawn gp ross brawn brawn

McLaren may be planning P15 to slot between MP4-12C and P1

McLaren hasn't tried to hide the fact that it is working on cheaper sports car codenamed the P13 that will directly take on the venerated Porsche 911, but now rumor has it that the automaker is also working on a second new model that would slot between the MP4-12C and P1 supercar, which is pictured above. While the car, codenamed P15, is still in the earliest stages of development, McLaren Chief Executive Officer Mike Flewitt teased the project to Autocar. Flewitt admitted that the P15 is still "quite a long way off." Like all of McLaren's current production cars, the P15 would use a tuned version of its 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 mounted in the middle of the company's MonoCell carbon fiber monocoque. Flewitt did not say whether the car would use hybrid power like the P1, stick with the 12C's turbos or otherwise. The exact specifications are still being decided. Pricing for the P15 will likely be around 400,000 pounds, or about $660,000 at current exchange rates. That price will position it nicely between the 12C's $229,000 base price and the P1 at $1,150,000. McLaren is reportedly hoping to sell as many as 2,500 P15 models a year when it goes on sale in 2015 or 2016. Featured Gallery McLaren P1 Hot Weather Testing View 10 Photos Related Gallery McLaren 12C GT Sprint News Source: AutocarImage Credit: McLaren Rumormill McLaren Coupe Performance mclaren p1 mclaren p13 mclaren 12c mclaren p15

McLaren P1 throwing down the gauntlet with 6:30 Nurburgring lap time?

The magic mark at the Nurburgring once stood in the sevens. Anything that could lap the vaunted Nordschleife in less than eight minutes was considered biblically fast. But with all manner of vehicles clocking lap times that start with a seven, the goal post has moved below the seven-minute mark and into the sixes. Discounting barely-legal track cars from Radical, whose LMP-style pseudo-racers top the time charts, the Porsche 918 Spyder holds the record as the fastest street-legal production car ever to lap the Ring at 6:57. A blindingly fast lap time, to be sure, but the 918 isn't the only new hybrid hypercar in its class. According to official factory statements, the McLaren P1 has lapped the winding German circuit in under seven minutes. And rumor has it that its actual lap time, though not confirmed, was clocked at 6:47. That would already make it considerably faster than the Porsche, but that's not the end of the story. According to an unnamed inside source cited by Autocar, the P1 has actually lapped the Nurburgring in "six minutes 30 something." That would make it nearly half a minute faster than the Porsche, and a good ten seconds quicker even than the Radical SR8 LM. For its part, McLaren has yet to confirm the time, but we're sure it will in due course. For that matter, though Maranello has tested the new LaFerrari to the track, it has yet to announce any official time. But with the gauntlet thrown down, we wouldn't be surprised to see a scarlet-clad test team heading north to Germany in the near future. The last time they did, they clocked a 6:58 lap time with the 599XX, but while production-based, that car was never meant to drive on public streets. Featured Gallery McLaren P1 N?rburgring Run View 11 Photos News Source: Autocar McLaren Coupe Performance mclaren p1