McLaren P1

A McLaren revelou oficialmente o modelo P1, antes da estreia no Salão de Genebra. Com produção limitada a 375 unidades, o carro custará 1,150 milhão de dólares.

Inicialmente, 500 unidades seriam fabricadas, mas Ron Dennis decidiu que produzir apenas 375 unidades, depois que verificou que clientes em potencial preferem exclusividade ao invés de desempenho.

Com o Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) ativado, o McLaren P1 acelera de zero a 100 km/h em menos de três segundos, atingindo os 200 km/h em menos de quatro segundos, e os 300 km/h em menos de dez segundos. A velocidade máxima, limitada eletronicamente, é de 350 km/h.

O IPAS é, basicamente, um motor elétrico, que pode ser ativado acionando um botão no volante, e que dará ao P1 a resposta no acelerador de um motor normalmente aspirado, de acordo com a McLaren.

Outro botão, também no volante, aciona o Drag Reduction System (DRS), que reduz o ângulo de ataque da asa traseira em 23%. O sistema é desativado ao pressionar o pedal do freio ou ao soltar o botão.

O motor do McLaren P1 é um V8 3.8 biturbo, que gera 737 CV a 7.500 RPM e 73,42 kgfm de torque a 4.000 RPM. Com o acionamento do IPAS, a potência aumenta em 179 CV, e o torque, em 26,51 kgmf. Assim, com os motores a combustão e elétrico combinados, a potência final é de 916 CV e o torque resultante é de 91,77 kgmf.

O motor elétrico instalado no McLaren P1 pode impulsionar o veículo sozinho, sem que o motor a combustão esteja ligado, por 20 km, a uma velocidade média de 48 km/h.

A transmissão é Graziano de sete marchas com dupla embreagem, e os pneus são Pirelli P Zero Corsa. Os freios possuem discos que são de um composto de cerâmica-carbono que é mais leve, mais forte e dissipa o calor com mais eficiência. Este composto nunca havia sido usado antes em um carro de passeio. Estes discos foram feitos pela Akebono, mesma fornecedora de componentes para a equipe de automobilismo da McLaren.

O McLaren P1 possui um coeficiente aerodinâmico de 0,34 cx, e sua carroceria pode gerar 600 kg de downforce, cinco vezes mais que o MP4-12C. Para conseguir isso, o carro possui, além da asa traseira retrátil, dois apêndices na frente das rodas dianteiras, acionados de acordo com o modo de condução.

O chassi, de fibra de carbono, pesa 100 kg, o mais leve já construído para um carro de passeio, e possui rigidez e segurança iguais às de um chassi de carro de Fórmula 1. O peso total do veículo é de apenas 1.400 kg.

O interior do McLaren P1 é orientado ao piloto. A fibra de carbono é o material predominante. Volante e bancos são ajustáveis. Os encostos são fixos a um ângulo de 28 graus, no entanto, uma mudança para 32 graus está disponível, para melhor acomodação ao usar um capacete.

Embora a leveza tenha sido prioridade no projeto do McLaren P1, a marca adicionou itens de conforto, como navegação por satélite, sistemas de som e ar condicionado. Entretanto, os acessórios são só esses, pois o carro foi desenvolvido para um piloto, com posições de banco e volante individualmente configuráveis e um painel digital, mostrando todas as informações ao estilo de carros de corrida.

McLAREN P1: THE NUMBER CRUNCHER

- Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) provides astonishing acceleration: 0 to 300 km/h takes less than 17 seconds, more than 23 per cent faster than the legendary McLaren F1
- Top speed electronically limited to 350 km/h
- To maintain exclusivity, production will be strictly limited to 375 units
- Pricing to start from £866,000 on the road; fully equipped as standard for road and track use
- Production model is almost unchanged from the original design study

McLaren Automotive has released the final numbers, images and information relating to its phenomenal McLaren P1™ ahead of a global reveal in just a few days at the 83rd International Geneva Motor Show.

The race-inspired Instant Power Assist System (IPAS) gives the McLaren P1™ astonishing performance. Zero to 100km/h will take less than 3 seconds, zero to 200 km/h under 7 seconds, and zero to 300 km/h will be achieved in no more than 17 seconds. Putting that into perspective, that’s 5 seconds faster than the legendary McLaren F1 road car. Top speed is electronically limited to 350 km/h.

McLaren has been engaging with potential customers actively in the last few months to get their views on the McLaren P1™, about the car’s styling. Their unanimous verdict on the styling was not to change the car presented last September in Paris. So unusually, the McLaren P1™ has translated to production form with very little change. In fact just one, the addition of LTR ducts ahead of each of the front wheels to further aid cooling and optimise downforce.

McLaren has closely monitored demand so as to maintain exclusivity, and announced a production number of just 375 units – a figure that will ensure the McLaren P1™ will remain a rarity and, if spotted on the road, an unforgettable sight.

McLaren has also announced that the car will cost from £866,000 on the road with a specification that fully equips the car for both road and track use. The company prides itself on designing performance cars that their owners can use regularly so the McLaren P1™ comes comprehensively equipped as standard with an array of colour and trim alternatives from which the customer will be able to choose as well as visible carbon fibre in the cabin. The options list is limited to only bespoke content that a customer might wish to add through McLaren Special Operations, and fitted luggage.

As already announced, the McLaren P1™ will have the combined force of two highly-efficient powerplants, offering the optimum mix of superb throttle response, day-to-day drivability and top speed. A mid-mounted 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine is substantially enhanced featuring, for example, larger turbochargers and a highly effective electric motor, to give a combined output of 916PS (903 bhp) and a maximum torque figure of 900Nm. This ensures instantaneous throttle response through the rev range, more akin to a naturally aspirated engine. Emissions of less than 200g/km on the combined cycle are reduced to zero in full electric drive mode, while the Formula 1-derived DRS and IPAS technologies offer an increase in straight-line speed and an instant boost of power.

The tyres fitted to the McLaren P1™ are specially developed P Zero Corsas, which have been developed with McLaren’s technology partner, Pirelli. The team at Pirelli has been involved throughout the entire development programme, and this has seen the tyre testing phase integrated into the schedule, as a key performance component. The final compound and construction has been developed and optimised during testing, and the end result is a tyre that is finely tuned specifically to the performance and handling characteristics.

To rein in the power produced by the twin powerplants, the McLaren P1™ is designed to offer braking performance more associated with a GT3 or sports racing car. Developed by McLaren’s Formula 1 partner Akebono, the system features a new type of carbon ceramic disc, which has previously seen service in space, but never before used on a road car. Stronger than conventional carbon ceramic, the material dissipates heat more effectively, giving the highly efficient braking system exceptional stopping and cooling capability. The system also boasts significantly reduced weight, and a bespoke ceramic layer coats both friction surfaces to give an attractive mirrored finish.

One surprising feature is that the car can also be driven solely in electric mode. In city driving, with an average speed of 30 mph, this could mean up to a 20km range. More than enough for an owner to enter, for example, a city centre Zero Emissions Zone, have dinner and return home.