New McLaren Super Car: No Longer Just a Rumor

[Digital-Nitrate]

Spy Photos: McLaren's New Supercar Successor to the SLR
SEMA eNews, Vol. 12, No. 5 - Feb 05, 2009

McLaren's elusive P11 has moved from rumor to reality with these photos of the first prototype, shot during cold-weather testing in Sweden by Brenda Priddy's spy shooter network. Priddy says the P11 is tentatively scheduled for an introduction later this year, with production beginning in 2010, and is McLaren's replacement for the SLR.

Priddy says the heavily camouflaged silhouette resembles the renderings that have leaked over the past few months. Specs are sketchy, but recent speculation calls for the lightweight supercar to be powered by a Mercedes-Benz-sourced V8 putting out 550 hp, possibly mated to an F1-style sequential transmission.

 

[TheCracker]

It's quite a generic mid-engined shape isn't it (almost a Gallardo/R8/F430 hybrid). Although having said that, the front and rear end treatments are quite well covered and with no corporate face to adhere to it could end up quite striking.

 

[Philly]

I wonder how well those body panels will resemble the final deal. That's got some pretty serious rear tires. RWD no doubt. Good to see that this thing is coming along though!

 

[DaddyVDUB]

Front Facia looks a little F430ish,yeah that is some serious rubber out back.

 

[Keef]

So is this thing going to have aero and mechanical technology like the F1 did? It sure doesn't look like it. What I want is an F1 with modern supercar tires and suspension tuning. That would be a winner.

 

[Nicksfix]

Trying to get a vision of a one color version of this thing ,nice car,but it is a bit Ferrari-ish. Bet it would have been fun taking a 550hp test drive on the ice and snow by the pics.

 

[YSSMAN]

Hmmm, internet grumbings haven't exactly been great, and consequently, I'm ho-hum about it as well. The F1 was great, but the world has moved along quite a lot since then.

 

[JCE]

I'm going to have to see it in the final flesh to make my judgement. I am thrilled that it will use a Merc AMG V8. My guess is a bored out 63 series engine.

 

[kikie]

I wonder if the driver's seat is mounted in the centre of the cockpit like in the previous model.

 

[Freddie]

What appears to be a centrally mounted rear-view mirror hints that won't be the case.

 

[-ultraflow-]

The text said that the car have a heavily camouflaged silhouette,

but I expect the final model will not have this ugly tractor tail light. 👎

As some members have said before, the overall look fo the car is very similar to the F430!

 

[J-PaP]

The P11 is no real successor to the mclaren f1. It is toned down and set to compete with the f430 replacement etc. Mclaren though want to produce the p12 which will be something much more extreme and involving massive weight loss over the p11 with increased power output.

These images are what the car is expected to look like based off some clay model images leaked a while back : http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret...hots/New-McLaren-P11-supercar-the-spy-photos/

 

[C-ZETA]

If I'm honest, the new McLaren looks a bit like a Lambo Gallardo.

 

[Jim Prower]

There's a couple F1 cues in there. It's kinda...dare I say it...cute. A cuter McLaren.

 

[Nicksfix]

And how much of this $$$$$$ will it take to put one in somebody's garage ?

 

[J-PaP]

Regarding the price:

While today’s SLR, jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and widely considered a disappointment, costs an eye-watering £320,000, McLaren’s new baby will cost somewhere between £150-200k.

I can see how the front tail light assembly and the front lights have that mclaren resemblence to them. However I always thought the p11 looked more like an ascari kz1

 

[wrcsti]

To me it looks like a Carrera GT and Koeniggsegg baby.

 

[Fujiwara-kun]

It's quite a generic mid-engined shape isn't it (almost a Gallardo/R8/F430 hybrid).

Summed up right there woo hybrids!

Looks nothing like a Mercedes brand...

 

[McLaren]

Summed up right there woo hybrids!

Looks nothing like a Mercedes brand...

It's not supposed to.

 

[Ardius]

Looks nothing like a Mercedes brand...

You mean like a Ferrari looks nothing like a Fiat brand?

 

[Fujiwara-kun]

It's not supposed to.

Point taken

You mean like a Ferrari looks nothing like a Fiat brand?

lol

 

[kikie]

I wonder if the driver's seat is mounted in the centre of the cockpit like in the previous model.

What appears to be a centrally mounted rear-view mirror hints that won't be the case.

Looking carefully at the first photo, you can see 2 man inside the car, thus it won't be a centre mounted driver's seat version this time.

 

[DeathSmiles]

It looks like it will be pretty badass, judging from the camo pics. Can't wait to see it unveiled.

 

[HEMIata]

I wonder if the driver's seat is mounted in the centre of the cockpit like in the previous model.

the picture shows two people in the front so i would say no

sorry kikie, didn't catch your re post

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

Follow up article and more photos:

Spy Shots: McLaren P11 supercar spied in the snow

We brought you similar spy shots of the McLaren P11 supercar undergoing cold weather testing a few days ago, but now we have our own high-res shots to share. Though the clean sheet redesign of McLaren's Ferrari fighter is obscured by camo and cladding, the basic shape and some design elements are clearly visible. You can browse the high-res gallery below yourself and pick out what cues the P11 may be borrowing from other supercars.

The car's designer, Frank Stephenson, is also rumored to be baking roadster and racing variants into the car's new design. Another thing that the P11 will borrow is its engine, which is rumored to be a version of the 6.2L V8 used by Mercedes-Benz in its high performance AMG cars. Power is expected to be in the 550-600 range, with the car's overall curb weight rumored to be less than 3,000 lbs.

McLaren is nearing the end of its commitment with Mercedes for the McLaren SLR, a car that is most assuredly fast but still not allowed in the super car club. The P11 will be more like a spiritual successor to the famous F1 that still reigns as one of the greatest super cars of all time. Whether or not the P11 can fill those shoes remains to be seen, but based on these spy shots, it will most definitely look the part.

 

[Roo]

Hmmm. I remain sceptical: what is there that the McLaren does that you can't get elsewhere? The F1 was unique - the fastest road car in the world for over a decade - and had that highly unusual seating arrangement. On the other hand we have the P11, which thus for looks like just another generic 2 seater supercar. It doesn't appear to be pushing boundaries like I feel a McLaren road car ought to.

 

[McLaren]

It's a little early to be making that call, don't you think? There haven't been exactly any interior shots, track times, or solid performance figures to really say it isn't pushing the boundaries.

 

[J-PaP]

Few new details out. The car is set to be revealed tomorrow at some time.

The name: Mclaren MP4-12c

At least when they called it the P11 it rolled off the tongue. Hate to see the badges for it.

Apparently has gullwing doors too.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/07/coming-this-wednesday-the-mclaren-mp4-12c/

 

[Dijital Majik]

First pic:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8238430.stm

 

[J-PaP]

I'll add a few more to that:

Introducing the Mclaren Evora!

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/08/mclaren-mp4-12c-first-batch-of-details-and-images-surface/