The new McLaren P1 has been unveiled, with the vehicle being hailed as the natural successor to the iconic McLaren F1.

With a launch date of 2013 having been set by the luxury sports car manufacturer, the company hopes to take on the likes of the Pagani Huayra, upcoming Ferrari Enzo and heavyweight hypercar the Bugatti Veyron with this latest release.

McLaren Automotive’s executive chairman Ron Dennis stated the new P1 will build on the lessons learnt by the company over the past 20 years, with McLaren aiming to have the same impact on the hypercar sector in 2013 as it did with the launch of the F1 in the 1990s – pushing the envelope for design and aesthetics and setting a new standard for other manufacturers to follow.

“Our aim is not necessarily to be the fastest in absolute top speed, but to be the quickest and most rewarding series production road car on a circuit,” commented McLaren managing director Antony Sheriff.

McLaren P1

“It is the true test of a supercar’s all-round ability and a much more important technical statement. Our goal is to make the McLaren P1 the most exciting, most capable, most technologically advanced and most dynamically accomplished supercar ever made.”

The P1 was unveiled at the recent Paris Motor Show as a design study, with McLaren stating that a production model of the car will go into operation from next year.

Mr Dennis added that the P1 will be the culmination of 50 years of racing heritage at McLaren.

Details of the final performance and pricing of the new vehicle have not yet been announced, but it’s fair to say that should McLaren achieve their lofty goals a six or even seven-digit price tag might not be out of the question.

McLaren P1

Meanwhile, rumours abound that the manufacturer may install a Formula One-style KERS system to the new P1, further boosting its power and performance for lucky drivers.

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Posted by Mark Thompson

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