Brand new images of the McLaren P1 have been released, showing the vehicle in the midst of testing in extreme desert heat.

If the first uncamouflaged pictures of the car are anything to go by, it is sure to raise some temperatures when it comes off the production line.

McLaren Heat Test Feature

The new P1 is being delivered as part of the manufacturer’s 50th anniversary celebrations, with customer deliveries set to conicide with McLaren’s milestone date.

In a promotional video to accompany the launch of the images, the car can be seen speeding across the  California desert landscape, handling the rough road terrain with ease. The vehicle is designed to be “the ultimate driver’s car” when on the road, and to perform exceptionally on the track.

McLaren P1 Extreme Heat Test

Hitting race mode, the car tackles track corners with consummate ease, with the sleek clack body and the rear tail wing giving the look of a scorpion as it scythes it’s way through the surrounding sands.

The McLaren tackles the challenging conditions with aplomb, with Californa temperatures soaring to as high as 52 degrees celsius (126 degrees fahrenheit).

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Temperatures testing is one of the final stages of McLaren’s preparations before all 375 models of the P1 are released for customers.

According to McLaren, the P1 is “everything the company has ever done” and is the culmination of its 50 years of technology and expertise.

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Testing has been intended to push theboundaries of the car to the very limits in order to ensure it is perfect when finally released.

“Throughout the hot weather testing phase, and the development programme as a whole, McLaren Automotive has worked closely with its technical partners to develop and engineer bespoke products and solutions for a car that challenges what has been produced previously, redefining the boundaries for high performance cars,” the company has revealed.

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McLaren has been working with Akebono and Pirelli during the development process to achieve optimum levels of performance. The manufacturer has boasted that both the braking system and tyres are the most advanced of any road car that has ever been produced.

It has already been revealed that the car is expected to reach 300 km per hour in less that 17 seconds, making if five seconds quicker that the McLaren F1 when it comes to reaching this speed.

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The 3.8 litre, twin turbo V8 petrol engine will push the car to a limited top speed of 350 km per hour, delivering 903 horsepower in the process.

Furthermore, McLaren’s MonoCage system is one of the lightest carbon fibre full-body structures of any vehicle to hit the road, weighing a mere 90kg.

Paul Mackenzie, McLaren P1 programme director, said. “We believe the McLaren P1 is the most exciting, capable, technology advanced and most dynamically accomplished supercar ever made.

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“It make not be the fastest car in the world in absolute top speed, but that was never our goal. Rather, we believe it is the fastest ever production car on a racing, a much more important technical statement, and far more relevant for on-road driving,” he continued.

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“It is a true test of a supercar’s all-round ability. Plus many owners will use the car on the circuit, at special track and test days.”

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