Over a period of seven years, McLaren produced more than 100 variants of the FI, the fastest road car in the world. It’s time for a new model.
Between 1992 and 1998 McLaren built 106 variants of the BMW V12-engined F1, the acknowledged fastest road car in the world. While none was legal for road use in the U.S.,
Dick Fritz’s Amerispec in Connecticut converted more than just a few for high-net-worth enthusiasts. In March 1998, an FI test car ran over 231 mph with stock speed limiter and almost 243 mph with limiter disconnected. Power came from a naturally aspirated 6.1-liter BMW V12 rated at 618 horsepower.
Years later there are only a very few limited production Supercars capable of besting the F1’s performance. In the not too distant future, McLaren will be making available the F1’s successor: P1. I was at the Paris Motor Show last September and viewed the unveiling of the breath-taking (design study) P1, above. Since then, development of the technology beneath the carbon fiber skin has continued at great pace. The team at McLaren Automotive has continued the relentless P1 testing program. The goal: Produce the best driver’s car in the world on road and track. Leveraging five decades of skills and knowledge gained through the company’s involvement at the pinnacle of motorsport and through Formula 1 techniques and processes, the McLaren P1 promises to raise the supercar performance bar.
McLaren engineers, technicians and racing drivers are running a fleet of XP-codenamed P1s around the clock under some of the most demanding conditions, and on roads and circuits across the globe. They are working closely with McLaren Automotive technology partners on bespoke components and developments, including Akebono on a highly-efficient braking system, Pirelli on high-performance tires and Mobil 1 on leading cooling, lubrication and hydraulic fluids.
The McLaren P1 is set to deliver truly outstanding road and track dynamics and performance, coupled with levels of driveability and refinement unprecedented in such a Supercar. For more on the P1 and the full range of McLaren performance cars, please visit http://www.mclarenautomotive.com/uk/default.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW2LOgchfno&feature=youtu.be
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