Ferrari F150 vs McLaren P1: PH Blog
OK, the cars have yet to meet but who's winning the battle of the PR machines?
Ahead of that, I’ve been pondering who’s been winning the war of words and (leaked) pictures. That the two have very different ways of achieving the same ends is no mystery. But the approach to presenting these two ostensibly similar, million-pound, carbon-built, hybrid-enhanced hypercars couldn’t be more different. And those differences perfectly symbolise the caricatured corporate characters we seem so familiar with.
Out in the open, or as near as damn it
Back to the car itself, though. We now know what it looks like on the outside. We know what it looks like on the inside. We know how much it’ll cost, how many they’re making, how its hybrid system will work, the inside leg measurement of the bloke who designed the gearbox, how fast it’ll go and all sorts of other stuff, and it hasn’t even made its motor show debut yet.
The Ferrari? By contrast, we still don’t even know what it’s going to be called. Official bet hedging continues with the presence of quotation marks around the “F150” name, with even potential customers are being teased with presentation packs badged “F150 Project”. As yet, nothing more certain than that. Yesterday was the first official acknowledgement the thing even exists:
Meanwhile, lurking in the shadows....
And that’s it.
And, hand on heart, though the P1 has gone from ‘meh, it’s a hybrid 12C with knobs on’ to ‘wow’ over the drip feed of releases, videos and info, I’m still genuinely fascinated by what Ferrari’s got in store for us. You can roll your eyes at the Italians and their sense of theatre, but you’ve got to hand it to them: whether by accident or design, I can’t help but feel the big buzz ahead of Geneva is around the F150, or whatever it’ll be called, and not the clinical Terminator whatsit from Woking. In engineering terms the two cars and the technology behind them are likely to be closely matched. But when it comes to hype, drama and intrigue, let’s face it: Ferrari’s been in the game longer, and it shows.
The lazy stereotype is that those in the market for a seven-figure supercar aren’t in the business of having to decide either/or. But one has to be declared the moral victor, and until we get to drive the things, the battle is for hearts and minds. Right now, I think the Italians might just be in the lead.
So much for my view – where’s your million going at this stage?
Dan
Of course McLaren has to try harder, and I reckon it's done a pretty good job. Ferrari just has to get up in the morning.
Both are mighty experts compared to Jag's PR disaster with their hybrid...
However...here's a question. I understand many deals are done at the motor show, many cars sold. Have McLaren released details so that punters will go wanting to buy already?
Your suggesting that the P1 shouldnt be the best it can around the track and that the owners can get to the limits of the car....So your suggesting a 1.6l Focus then?
Christ the world would be dull if there where not mad motors like these about. Thank god there are some people out there able to afford them so us mere mortals get to drool and dream.
Your suggesting that the P1 shouldnt be the best it can around the track and that the owners can get to the limits of the car....So your suggesting a 1.6l Focus then?
Christ the world would be dull if there where not mad motors like these about. Thank god there are some people out there able to afford them so us mere mortals get to drool and dream.
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