Exterior
The styling of the P15 is a complete mystery at this point. Although McLaren did release a teaser photo showing the figure of a car seen from above, it’s far from revealing. All we can draw from it is that it will have a pointy nose, flared wheel arches, a fighter jet-style canopy, and an aerodynamically shaped engine hood. It’s not much, and even though I’m tempted to say that the new 720S could be used as inspiration, McLaren will probably go with a unique design. As you may remember, the P1 inspired both the 650S and the 570S, so this range-topping supercar will probably introduce a brand-new design language rather than borrow from an existing model. Which makes a lot of sense.
While I can’t go into specifics without any design direction to cling on, I think it’s say to say that the P15 will boast a wild design. In addition to the sleek, maybe Le Mans-like design, the supercar should also sport a number of innovative aerodynamic devices. McLaren has launched quite a few features like this on its recent vehicles, and I’m sure that the P15 will get its fair share of spectacular and advanced aero elements. Of course, the body will be made almost entirely of carbon-fiber, so look for bare carbon option in addition to the regular color palette.
Autocar describes the P15’s styling as “brutal” and says that the car is said to be the “ultimate distillation of form following function. The outlet’s rendering indeed shows a brutal design, but there is no proof that that what we see here is based on the real deal. As far as I know, the P15 has yet to be unveiled to customers and the car has been a well-kept secret until now. But yeah, much like in the rendering, look for a massive diffuser and a huge rear wing with all sorts of adjustable elements.
Interior
Note: McLaren F1 interior shown here.
The interior of the P15 is an even bigger mystery, with no teasers or renderings to run by. The only thing we know about it is that it will have a seating configuration similar to the McLaren F1. As a brief reminder, the driver’s seat is placed in the middle, a feature inspired by single-seater Formula One and IndyCar racers, with two passenger seats on each side. The latter are placed slightly behind the driver seat.
Much like in the F1, the driver seat will be custom fitted to the specifications desired by customer for optimal fit and comfort. So regardless of height and weight, all buyers will feel comfortable behind the steering wheel. The seats will most likely be made of carbon-fiber.
According to the latest reports, the P15 will be heavily oriented toward track performance, so it’s safe to assume that it will come with a stripped out interior. Granted, it won’t be completely devoid of premium features, but don’t expect it to be as friendly for long trips as the McLaren 570GT. Despite its ruggedness, it will have plenty of Alcantara and some leather, contrast stitching, and loads of exposed carbon-fiber.
The infotainment screen in the center stack will be kept as small as possible for the sake of lightness and practicality, while the instrument cluster might come from the 720S. Called the “Folding Drive Display,” McLaren’s latest instrument cluster is slim and rotates around its horizontal axis, giving drivers a choice of two screens. One includes a more comprehensive range of information in its upright position, while the Slim Display mode shows only essential data on a small strip.
Drivetrain
Note: McLaren P1 drivetrain shown here.
Interestingly enough, Autocar claims that the P15 will use a tweaked version of the company’s acclaimed twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V-8. The engine is reportedly rated at 789 horsepower, which accounts for a 72-horsepower increase over the P1. However, the P15 won’t have the P1’s total output of 903 horses when the electric motor kicks in.
But, even though it will be less powerful, Autocar says that the P15 will have a better power-to-weight ratio, due to a curb weight of less than 1,300 kg (2866 pounds). By comparison, the P1 tips the scales at 1,547 kg (3,410 pounds), which makes it 247 kg (544 pounds) heavier.
As a result, the P15 is expected to match, if not beat the P1’s performance figures. As a reminder, the P1 needs 2.7 seconds to hit 60 mph and 10.2 clicks to complete the quarter mile, to go with a top speed of 217 mph. All told, the P15 could reach 60 mph in 2.6 seconds and run the quarter mile in less than 10 ticks. Top speed should increase too, but not by much. My best guess is a new top speed of around 220 or 221 mph.
While all the figures above make sense, I’m not convinced that McLaren will use a 3.8-liter V-8. McLaren has already created a bigger, 4.0-liter unit for the 720S and it’s no mystery that the Brits are working on new drivetrains. So the P15 could either use a beefed-up version of the 4.0-liter V-8 in the 720S or a brand-new V-8 engine. Heck, A V-6 isn’t out of the question, especially if paired with two or three electric motors. Anything is possible here really and I wouldn’t be surprised if the P15 actually arrives with at least 1,000 horsepower combined. In this case, the 0-to-60 mph sprint could drop below the 2.5-second mark.
Prices
This where we also get contradictory information. Whereas a report from March 2017 said that the P15 will cost around $2.5 million and spawn 106 units, Autocar’s quotes a price tag of around £840,000 (about $1.1 million) and a production run of 500 examples.
Quite the discrepancy, huh?
So am I leaning into one direction or another? It’s a tough call really, and I’ll explain why. For starters, the $2.5 million sticker is definitely plausible. Carmakers are launching increasingly more exclusive and expensive supercars, so a $2 million+ price tag isn’t unheard of. Koenigsegg, Bugatti, and Ferrari are only a few automakers that ask that kind of hard-earned for their range-topping supercars. The 106 production run also makes some sense, as it’s identical to that of the McLaren F1. It’s often that companies speculate on great achievements from the past for new products.
Moving over to the second scenario, I can’t say that a $1.1 million successor to the P1 isn’t plausible, but this sticker will make it only a tad more expensive than its predecessor. And, judging by the amount of cash spent in the development process, it’s likely that it will cost more. A 500-unit run is plausible too, but is McLaren willing to build so many units of its range-topping supercar? Let’s not forget that the P1 was made in 375 examples and that McLaren isn’t very keen on dropping the ball as far as exclusivity goes.
Okay, so maybe I favor the first scenario with the more expensive sticker and the more limited production, but until McLaren comes up with a statement, taking guesses is all we can do.
Competition
Ferrari LaFerrari successor
Given the exclusive and track-focused nature of the P15, there aren’t many competitors to talk about. While the Bugatti Chiron is too heavy and not too agile at the race track, the Koenigsegg Agera is no longer in production. This leaves us with the next-generation Ferrari supercar, which will succeed the already iconic LaFerrari. Although nothing more than a rumor and a rendering right now, the LaFerrari successor should sport a wild exterior design with race-inspired features and active aerodynamics. The drivetrain will most definitely feature some sort of electrification, with most hints pointing toward a gasoline V-12 paired to a few electric motors. However, it’s not out of the question for Ferrari to create an all-electric supercar. With some modern EVs good for at least 1,000 horsepower, an all-electric Prancing Horse would be more than capable of competing against the McLaren P15. And much like any Ferrari supercar, it will cost a fortune and will become available in very limited numbers. As usual, sales will be restricted to Ferrari owners that already own a handful of Maranello-made sports cars.
Read our speculative review of the Ferrari LaFerrari successor.
Conclusion
Needless to say, we don’t know that much about the next-generation McLaren hypercar. And it’s a bit frustrating given that the unveiling is rumored to take place later this year in front of existing McLaren customers and potential buyers. The public reveal is likely set for the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, which is some nine months away. Meanwhile, this car hasn’t been spotted on public roads and McLaren has managed to keep the paparazzi away. We will find more in due time, but what I can label as certain at this point is that the P15 will be the wildest, quickest, most powerful McLaren ever built. And if that’s not exciting enough, be sure that it will be followed by a track-only GTR version.
References
Read our full review on the 2014 McLaren P1
Source: Autocar UK