Remember those adverts for magazines promising a weekly delivery of parts to help you build your own scale model of HMS Victory, the Taj Mahal or The Flying Scotsman? And the concern said publication would disappear without a trace, leaving you with yet another half-finished project and heartfelt sense of betrayal? We probably don't need to fear an empty space where McLaren's new Super Series was meant to make its Geneva debut. But there is a sense of 'build your own supercar' in the drip-feed of components we've been told about.
We have our Monocage II carbon tub, we've got a hint of the styling (or more, depending where you look...) and we've got a ProActive Chassis Control II suspension system complete with Variable Drift Control confirmed. If only we had an engine...
Response, performance and sound to rival Ferrari's turbo V8
Ah, here we are! Confirmed today is news that the P14, Super Series or whatever you wish to call it will be powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine designated M840T. We'll take a punt on that being an evolution of the existing M838T, twin-scroll turbos not present on the 3.8-litre motor among a number of new features intended to sharpen throttle response and reduce lag. One performance figure has been teased, that being a 0-125mph acceleration time of 7.8 seconds. To put that into context it's a tenth quicker than a 675LT and over half a second faster than a 650S coupe to the same benchmark. It's also comfortably quicker than a 488 GTB, which takes 8.3 seconds to reach the same speed.
The previous 3.8 never wanted for power but the distinctly boosty power delivery and monotone drone are areas McLaren has clearly aimed to address for the new Super Series. As such much of the teaser release is devoted to telling us how good the engine will sound, albeit in very McLaren language. "The new 4.0-litre engine signals its performance credentials with an exhaust sound achieved through a sophisticated balance of harmonics and delivering a 'crescendo' characteristic, according to engine rpm and load," says the release, before almost grudgingly adding, "a sports exhaust is optional for those who want still more aural excitement."
Further concessions to the more superficial surprise and delight elements of supercar powertrain engineering include the ability for owners to "showcase the heart of their new car" with engine bay illumination to display the McLaren 'Speedmark' cast into the top of the new intake plenum.
And with that we're about a set of wheels away from our completed McLaren Super Series aren't we. Fear not, only a few more weeks until we get to see it in all its glory...