The McLaren F1... erh... P1 Thread

[Dijital Majik]

0Either way, a 24 sec difference is an insane amount of time around a circuit the size of Silverstone.

The comparison between the Focus RS and Porsche CGT at the ring still stands..
If the P1 is the CGT, what would in this case replace the Focus RS? The LP670-4 SV, Noble M600?
No matter how we put it, if it's true, we can just close this current chapter in automotive history and start the next one.

Agreed, the difference is insane. The thing is, I can't find any times besides the record at the Arena layout, and though Plato was pushing for the record (see link below for video), I wonder how much he could push, being a review/test afterall.

A factory effort like McLaren could employ a dedicated development test driver (Chris Goodwin?) to push 100%, for many, many attempts (days?), accepting the risk of a write-off.

But still, 24 seconds, is 24 whole seconds. I doubt Plato could have gone more than a second or two faster than his time anyway. Watching the video again though, Plato mentions there was no previous record (Arena-layout) before his attempt, so we don't really have a benchmark (before or since). Except that Plato is very talented, and driving a fast car.

Fifth Gear episode

 

[Robin]

I take it all back... its hideous apart from maybe the rear. Some higher res pics...

800K with that face, no thanks.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Really? I'd gladly pay that amount for this car. Especially in that color.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Really? I'd gladly pay that amount for this car. Especially in that color.

x2

 

[Nessy]

The air duct that runs along the bottom edge of the greenhouse and along the door, is a work of art.

 

[peter_vod69]

Wow, so much "90's world!" styling (jellybean shapes, F50-esque styling elements)! Still, it's a lot better than the generic-looking MP4-12C.

 

[sems4arsenal]

So evil ,I wonder though that it being a Mclaren will it also kind of drive itself on a track

 

[Slash]

It's meh. I think the roofline drops to fast. Other than that it's cool I guess.

 

[Eric1512]

I personally love the looks. It looks different I guess! 👍

 

[TVC]

That's not to say they couldn't do something similar. Sell the car totally legally, and then offer dealer 'upgrade' parts that make it what it's supposed to be. The F1 is the greatest road-going automobile ever made, and I sincerely doubt anything will ever supersede it from a driving-experience point of view. 2300lbs (less than my first gen RX-7!!!) and containing a ball of BMW fury producing 627hp. The numbers are still outrageous even today.

I hear this a lot but I have to disagree. The McLaren F1 is one of the greatest supercars ever made, there is no arguing that, but I don't think it's the greatest of all time.

What about the Dauer Le Mans? It went 251.4 MPH in 1998, weighs less, has more power, and is very closely related to the car that won Le Mans in 1994.

Or the Koenig C62 (top speed of 235 in 1991) and Porsche 911 GT1?

(I know top speed isn't all that important but it's hard to find any other stats, top speed adds to the allure of the car, and people often make a big deal that the McLaren F1 went 231 MPH.)

It's hard to compare all these cars because they are so rare (there's not a lot of information) but I think the Dauer Le Mans and Koenig C62 are on a different level from almost all other road going cars, at least performance wise.

Legacy wise maybe the McLaren is the greatest (though I wonder how that will change with McLaren making cars again) but in all other aspects I just can't agree. Even at it's high point it wasn't the highest performing street legal production car out.

I don't mean to go off topic from the thread, it's just that I read McLaren's press release for the P1 and they say basically the same thing. I understand it from a marketing perspective but I just couldn't help but think about the Dauer Le Mans.

I'd like to add, after thinking about it a little more and reading my post, it likely comes down to the definition of great. And that all the cars listed are the very top of the list. The F1 is easily one of the greatest cars and can likely be the greatest depending on the definition of "great." I am looking at it more from a performance stand point than anything else.

Back on topic:

I think like everyone else I am waiting to see what the stats are. And they say it will be the most technologically advanced supercar ever so I wonder if that means we can expect a hybrid like the 918 or Ferrari F70?

 

[niky]

Still don't see what everyone's complaining about. The front end is a bit overwrought, but that's because they had to cheekily work the McLaren logo into the headlights. The proportions are near-identical to the Zonda, the drop in the greenhouse is similar to the Zonda, but less severe. The whole cut-away naked bodywork is similar to work done on the Aventador concept, which, so far as I recall, nobody really hated.

I feel bad for McLaren. Do something conservative, like Ferrari and Lamborghini did with the 430 or Gallardo, and they're slammed for being unimaginative. Go all out, using proper proportions and fancy styling, CF all around, and LED lighting to enable freeform front and rear lights,and people call it ugly.

And yet they hold the McLaren F1, with headlights and tail-lights from the industrial parts bin (and they look entirely the part) but with nearly the same proportions, and very similar detail work on the sides, as a paragon of design.

This is why Chevrolet and Nissan can use nothing but round tail-lights on their 21st Century supercars.

 

[Jahgee]

I normally hate those ugly super cars that look "cool" because they use black, but it works for this car. As soon as it is released, it will shoot up to the top of my GT5/GT6 DLC Wishlist

 

[TVC]

I normally hate those ugly super cars that look "cool" because they use black, but it works for this car. As soon as it is released, it will shoot up to the top of my GT5/GT6 DLC Wishlist

Yeah I think this car does it right. It kind of seems like it's showing a layer underneath what would normally be there, at least on the doors.

 

[Wyvern_64]

I like how the headlights are shaped like the McLaren logo. Overall, looks great to me.

Edit: Gulf anyone?

 

[TVC]

I actually like it better in blue, the orange is kind of too bright, at least in the pictures. It might the lighting though.

Also if those tail lights are in the final version could this be a new trend?

 

[Slash]

Gulf??? Its now car porn.

 

[Nessy]

Edit: Gulf anyone?

*pic snip*

Yep!, as of tomorrow i shall be ordering 3 of them, all in Gulf livery.. 1 for the road, 1 for the track, and 1 for my extensive garage/museum..
*wakes up from dream*

 

[sumbrownkid]

I wanna flag Wyvern for presenting porn in this thread.

 

[Jahgee]

The LED's and the Gulf Blue don't mix very well

 

[McLaren]

I hear this a lot but I have to disagree. The McLaren F1 is one of the greatest supercars ever made, there is no arguing that, but I don't think it's the greatest of all time.

What about the Dauer Le Mans? It went 251.4 MPH in 1998, weighs less, has more power, and is very closely related to the car that won Le Mans in 1994.

Or the Koenig C62 (top speed of 235 in 1991) and Porsche 911 GT1?

(I know top speed isn't all that important but it's hard to find any other stats, top speed adds to the allure of the car, and people often make a big deal that the McLaren F1 went 231 MPH.)

It's hard to compare all these cars because they are so rare (there's not a lot of information) but I think the Dauer Le Mans and Koenig C62 are on a different level from almost all other road going cars, at least performance wise.

2 cars that are barely-legal race cars have more performance than a F1? How shocking....

 

[Shinshiki]

The LED's and the Gulf Blue don't mix very well

If it does race, (which it probably won't) they would most likely go with some type of solid light blue, like most gulf liveries now, to save weight, since metallic paint weighs more.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Don't they use vinyl stickers now instead of actual paint?

 

[Dennisch]

Since Photoshop has entered the thread :

I think that would look a lot better with all the black painted the same color as the rest of the car.

Make it all orange. Please.

Edit. Or all black.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Since Photoshop has entered the thread :



Make it all orange. Please.

Edit. Or all black.

And have a Batcave to go with it as well?

 

[Shinshiki]

Don't they use vinyl stickers now instead of actual paint?

They probably do. It would help to save time when it comes to making repairs.

 

[Dhalism]

I like how the headlights are shaped like the McLaren logo. Overall, looks great to me.

Edit: Gulf anyone?

Oh dear, that is fantastic. I'm so excited for... 10s? Is that what you call this decade? 00s were really a bad one for my taste in supercars.

 

[TVC]

I wonder if the driver's seat will be in the middle like the McLaren F1? Maybe that's why the windows in the picture are completely black?

Just searched and apparently it will just be a two seater which isn't surprising.

 

[Wyvern_64]

I wonder if the driver's seat will be in the middle like the McLaren F1?

I would've liked it if they did that. Something unique to the F1 that would set the P1 apart from others like it.

 

[TVC]

I would've liked it if they did that. Something unique to the F1 that would set the P1 apart from others like it.

I agree. It would have also carried over some of the character of the F1 to the P1.

 

[Bigbazz]

snip

(I know top speed isn't all that important but it's hard to find any other stats, top speed adds to the allure of the car, and people often make a big deal that the McLaren F1 went 231 MPH.)

391 KMH or 243 mph actually, 231 was the showroom number. The Mclaren also had incredible acceleration, sounded and looked amazing and was a very capable car around a track, like no other production road car had ever been before it. The F1 still holds the fastest NA top speed record. If you want to compare racing cars, how about comparing it to the Mclaren F1 GTR, Le Mans winning race car which is road legal, rather than the road going production model?


As for the P1, I think it looks great if a little strange. A mix of classic and modern styling, it looks like a sports running shoe/trainer from behind.