I don't know whether it is applicable to say the phrase 'All good things come to an end' in the case of the completion of all 375 units of the McLaren P1 hypercar. Whatever it is, the P1 is monumental and has its place etched in super sports car history.
With the completion of the final McLaren P1™, the Ultimate Series continues in production with the limited-edition McLaren P1™ GTR. Production of the track-only, 1,000PS (986bhp) model is due to complete early in 2016. After this, McLaren have not decided on the next course of action.
Do read the press release down below. Details of the P1 are a worthy read and will make good trivia when trashing out supercar Top Trumps at the bistro, pub or country club.
PRESS RELEASE
10 December 2015
PRODUCTION OF THE McLAREN P1™ COMES TO AN END
375th and final example of the McLaren P1™ produced
Completion of the first production model in the McLaren range-topping Ultimate
Series
First full-body visual carbon conversions now in build with McLaren Special
Operations (MSO)
The final chapter in the production of the McLaren P1™ has now been written as the
375th and final example was completed, bringing the curtain down on the most
technologically advanced and dynamically accomplished supercar ever made. From
launch, the groundbreaking model was designed with one key goal: to be the best
drivers’ car on road and track. Since headlining the debut motor show appearance for
McLaren Automotive at the 2012 Paris Motor Show as a design study, the first model in
the McLaren Ultimate Series has been writing headlines, breaking lap times and thrilling
owners the world over.
Production commenced during the summer of 2013, with all cars sold prior to the first
car being delivered, and the first car – finished with Ice Silver paintwork and extensive
levels of visual carbon fibre – rolled off the production line during the 50th anniversary
celebrations of McLaren in September 2013. A fitting tribute to Bruce McLaren; the man
whose dream it was to produce the ultimate drivers’ car. Following this, each and every
car was custom-built to the exacting specifications of its owner, in consultation with the
team at McLaren Special Operations (MSO), ensuring that no two cars are the same.
Running at full capacity, the bespoke Ultimate Series production line within the McLaren
Production Centre (MPC) finished one car per day, with each individual model taking 17
days to complete on average.
The final production example of the McLaren P1™ is finished extensively in stunning
pearlescent orange, achieved through a unique tinting process. The colour echoes the
shade of the 64th and final McLaren F1 roadcar, chassis #075, which went on to inspire
Volcano Orange, available today across the McLaren Automotive range. It features
subtle styling elements in raw carbon fibre weave, with the finish only visible externally
on the splitter, diffuser and the aerodynamic blades along the lower body, while the
super-lightweight wheels are finished in silver. A blend of refinement and purposeful
intent is evident inside the cabin with bespoke styling touches by the team at McLaren
Special Operations (MSO) including gloss black detailing for the switchgear, instrument
bezels and air conditioning vents. The lightweight carbon fibre-shelled racing seats
include further MSO craftsmanship, with the final McLaren F1 roadcar again the
inspiration for the final design. Upholstered in black and orange Alcantara®, the
contrasting details are carried across to the stitching on the steering wheel.
Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer at McLaren Automotive commented: ‘The McLaren
P1™ has achieved more than we ever expected of it since it was first previewed little
over three years ago, both as a new generation of supercar, and in enhancing the
McLaren brand globally.
‘As the direct ancestor to the fabled McLaren F1 – and the first in a new breed of hybrid-
powered supercars – it had big shoes to fill, and it has more than succeeded. It has
established itself as a true contender, proving to be more than a worthy rival on both
road and track against long established rivals. It has done a fantastic job of becoming
the halo product for the McLaren Automotive brand as we have grown the business into
the three tiered, profitable outfit that we are today.’
THE McLAREN P1™: THE ULTIMATE SUPERCAR
Combining a highly efficient petrol engine and lightweight electric motor, the McLaren
P1™ was the first of a new breed of supercars, debuting in production form at the 2013
Geneva Motor Show. The strictly limited production supercar was the first model in the
exclusive Ultimate Series, which crowns the recently announced three McLaren model
tiers, above the Super Series and the Sports Series. It rewrote the rulebook and
challenged what people believed was possible, as the iconic McLaren F1 had done 20
years previously.
The McLaren P1™ introduced a number of new technologies to the supercar world,
using techniques and developments from the world of motorsport to enhance
performance. Through the pioneering use of weight-saving technologies and materials,
including the extensive application of carbon fibre, the McLaren P1™ has a dry weight
of just 1,450kg. The carbon fibre MonoCage chassis – which incorporates the roof and
lower structures, roof snorkel air intake, battery and power electronics housing – weighs
just 90kg making it one of the lightest carbon fibre full-body structures used in any road
car to date. The aerodynamic design, coupled with the groundbreaking RaceActive
Chassis Control suspension system, offers a stiffer and more track-focused set up at
the press of a button. ‘Race’ mode stiffens the suspension by 300 percent, pulls the car
50mm lower to produce ground effect aerodynamics, and extends the large active rear
wing by 300mm. The result is 600kg of downforce at well below its maximum speeds
(257km/h / 161mph) , which is considerably higher than most other high performance
supercars, and more in line with the levels of downforce generated by a GT3 racing car.
This downforce improves cornering ability, especially in high speed corners.
The powertrain comprises a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 petrol engine with a lightweight,
highly powerful electric motor which, together, produces 916PS (903bhp) at 7,300rpm,
and 900Nm (664lb ft) of torque. Through the seamless integration of the 179PS
(176bhp) electric motor, 130Nm (96lb ft) of torque is available immediately, providing
‘torque fill’ to offset any turbo lag as a result of the larger turbos fitted to the combustion
engine. Through this innovative approach, the McLaren P1™ is propelled from a
standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in 2.8 seconds, with 200km/h reached in 6.8 seconds and
300km/h achieved in just 16.5 seconds – a full five seconds quicker than the legendary
McLaren F1. Top speed is limited to 350km/h (217 mph). This performance is kept
under control through a bespoke braking system, developed specifically for the
McLaren P1™, using materials previously used on the Ariane space programme.
Formula 1™ technology and expertise ensure optimal performance in every area,
providing progressive and predictable braking in the most extreme of conditions, such
as high speed track work.
The groundbreaking powertrain also excels with regards to efficiency, returning
34.0mpg (8.3l/100km) on the EU combined cycle with CO2 emissions of just 194g/km.
The McLaren P1™ can also run solely on electric power, with a range of 11km (6.8
miles) and emissions reducing to zero. As with all models in the three McLaren model
tiers, the McLaren P1™ is exempt from gas guzzler tax in the US.
THE MOST BESPOKE McLAREN TO DATE
Since the first production example was completed at the McLaren Production Centre
(MPC) in 2013, the McLaren P1™ has proved to be the most popular vehicle with
regards to bespoke tailoring. The specification of every one of the 375 production
models has been built in consultation with the team at McLaren Special Operations
(MSO). The world-class levels of craftsmanship ensured owners’ requirements could be
realised – whether it was an individual interior colour scheme or a highly detailed
exterior paint finish.
Paul Mackenzie, McLaren P1™ Programme Director and Executive Director - McLaren
Special Operations, explains: ‘The McLaren P1™ has proved itself to be the most
individualised model ever produced by McLaren Automotive. In the same way the
engineering and design teams have pushed what is possible in terms of performance,
our customers have pushed MSO to challenge what is possible and ensure that each
example is finished to their specific tastes and exacting requirements. The level of
bespoke work, paint finishes and tailoring has ensured that no two cars are the same,
making every one truly unique.’
In a fitting coincidence, as the finishing touches were being made to the 375th
production model, the team at MSO has started work on the first full-body visual carbon
fibre examples. This specialised conversion will see all painted panels replaced, with
the finish being an example of the highest level of craftsmanship.
THE ULTIMATE TESTING PROGRAMME
As the most extreme model in the McLaren line-up, it was only fitting that the testing
programme for the McLaren P1™ was the most extreme. The three stages of
development prototype – eXperimatal (XP), Validation (VP) and Pre-production (PP) –
were tested extensively on the frozen lakes in Northern Sweden during an Arctic winter
at temperatures of as low as -30˚C before being baked in the desert heat of Arizona,
California and Nevada. Temperatures soared as high as 52°C / 126°F, as the western
coast of America experienced some of the hottest temperatures on record.
The development programme also saw the McLaren P1™ testing extensively on circuits
across the world. The testing phase was focused on durability, refinement and
performance, and the final challenge of the development programme was arguably the
toughest of the entire programme – a lap time of the fearsome Nürburgring-Nordschleife
in less than seven minutes. The Nürburgring provides the ultimate test of any car, all
20.8 kilometres (13 miles) of twisting and undulating tarmac, and to achieve a sub-
seven minute lap, an average speed in excess of 178km/h (111mph) is required – along
some of the longest straights, tightest bends, steepest inclines, and more changes in
road surface than any other circuit. In achieving this final objective, the McLaren P1™
joined the exclusive sub-seven minute club, underlining the goal of being the ultimate
drivers’ car on road and track.
Chris Goodwin, Chief Test Driver explains: ‘The testing and development programme
for the McLaren P1™ was one of the most rigorous and challenging, but also one of the
most rewarding. We had learnt a lot through previous projects, and coupled with the
unparalleled experience in motorsport, this programme truly was the culmination of
everything McLaren has ever achieved. The integrated IPAS petrol-electric powertrain
has been developed to provide seamless power delivery, while the latest in
aerodynamics, lightweight materials and technology has been used to create a car
which is as at home in the city as it was setting lap times.’
Overall, during the development programme, the McLaren P1™ covered in excess of
620,000 kilometres (385,250 miles) of testing, equivalent to more than 15 times around
the world. With a focus on both road and track, more than a third of these test
kilometres were on tracks around the world.
THE ULTIMATE SERIES: THE FUTURE
With the completion of the final McLaren P1™, the Ultimate Series continues in
production with the limited-edition McLaren P1™ GTR. Production of the track-only,
1,000PS (986bhp) model is due to complete early in 2016.
Commenting on the next stages of the top model tier within the McLaren range, Mike
Flewitt concludes: ‘We are in the final stages of production for the McLaren P1™ GTR,
with the last car due to complete build in the coming weeks. The McLaren P1™ has
already established itself as an icon and any car that is to continue the lineage of the
Ultimate Series will need to be a worthy successor - a significant step change in
technology or performance is required to ensure this is the case. The future is
undecided at this stage, which is an exciting proposition.’
THE McLAREN P1™ IN NUMBERS
Number built: 13 x eXperimental Prototype
5 x Validation Prototype
3 x Pre-Production
375 x production cars
Build time 800 hours
Number of people involved in the build 105
Paint 5-8 litres of base coat colour (dependent on colour). 8-9 litres of lacquer
Paint process duration up to 5 days depending on specification
Most popular colour Volcano Yellow
Development mileage 620,000kms – 15.5 times around the world
Global split
The Americas – 34 percent
Europe – 26 percent
Middle East & Africa – 13 percent
Asia Pacific – 27 percent
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