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JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng - The new McLaren P1, which debuted in production form at the Geneva auto show early in 2014, is on its way to South Africa and the price, is well, eye-watering.
McLaren says its goal was for the P1 to be the best driver’s car in the world on road and track. To achieve, McLaren used allits 50 years of racing experience and success, especially in the fields of aerodynamics and lightt carbon-fibre technology.
The result is a car that has an unprecedented amount of downforce for a road vehicle: levels similar to those of a GT3 race car and yet with even greater ground effect. This downforce not only boosts cornering and braking but also helps balance, stability and driveability at any speed.
P1 TO LAP KYALAMI
The Daytona Group is offering Joe Public the opportunity to see the car in action at Kyalami on October 11 with a contingent from McLaren UK out with their chief test driver, Chris Goodwin. He will be lapping Kyalami racetrack on October 11. MP4-12C and 650s owners will also be enjoying the full performance of their vehicles on the track – making this the most McLarens in one place at one time.
The McLaren P1 uses an innovative IPAS petrol-electric powertrain comprising a substantially revised 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol and a single electric motor, collectively known as M838TQ. Combined power output is 664kW.
As important as absolute power is, it's the electric motor’s ability to provide instant torque that makes the whole thing zing. Carbon dioxide emissions are less than 200g/km, and it can cover more than 10km in battery-only mode.
Top speed is electronically limited to 350km/h, with 0-100km/h acceleration taking less than three second. The McLaren P1 will power from rest to 200 km/h in less than seven seconds, and on to 300km/h in less than 17 seconds.
That, McLaren told us, is five seconds quicker than the McLaren F1. Oh, and just when you thought we'd forgotten, you'll need R21-million to own one.
