Wednesday 11th February 2009

VIDEO: McLaren P11 Testing in Snow

Return of the Mac...

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Here we have a spy video showing the new McLaren supercar, codenamed the P11, testing in the snow.

The P11 will be the first new McLaren after the company's partnership with Mercedes-Benz ends, with the last SLRs rolling off the production line later this year. Orders for the P11 have been taken since 2007, despite very little details about the car having surfaced since.

It is thought that it will have a 550bhp 6.2-litre AMG V8 from Mercedes, and the sounds in this video from website Worldcarfans.comcertainly back this up. Also notable in the new car's soundtrack is a very swift gearchange, suggesting a double-clutch sequential gearbox has probably been fitted.

This comes after Ron Dennis spoke earlier this week about McLaren edging toward higher-volume production and a wider range of cars. It is thought that the compact P11 will slot into a new line-up, possibly to be led by a flagship V10 supercar designed to rekindle the legend of the McLaren F1.

[FrancisR33]

Looks like an F430 at the front and a Gallardo at the back/sides.

[wab172uk]

Wonder if someone from Lamborghini has been pasing on there designs to someone at McLaren.

Looks a hell of a lot like a Gallardo.

[SleeperCell]

wab172uk said:

Wonder if someone from Lamborghini has been pasing on there designs to someone at McLaren.

Looks a hell of a lot like a Gallardo.

I think it looks more like a Lotus Evora really.

[LCR270]

is no one else wondering what the hell can the possibly be testing in those conditions of value for a supercar ? traction control ?

[oagent]

Obviously focusing on testing the screen demister and heating system this week.

[dpbird90]

Hmm, sounds good, is a McLaren, still don't know what it looks like.

But when it does come out, who's going to look at it and think "I know, I'll buy a F430". The P11 would need to be catastrophically ugly for anyone to want a 430 over it.

[DeadMeat_UK]

LCR270 said:

is no one else wondering what the hell can the possibly be testing in those conditions of value for a supercar ? traction control ?

Fast forward twelve months.
Post on PH.
"I just paid 100k for the new McLaren F2000. First sign of cold weather or snow it grounds to a halt and becomes unusable . Didn't they think of testing it in these conditions !? I'm going to get a 911 instead"

[the car nut]

why are they testing in the snow. somewere like the Nurburgring is better

[dkennedyvxt]

the car nut said:

why are they testing in the snow. somewere like the Nurburgring is better

I really hope you're joking.......

[RB Will]

Nurburgring covered in snow even better

[carsnapper]

didn't sound very much like a 6.2l V8? I was expecting deep rumbles and a thudding bass line...sounded more like a wankel in a couple of shots!

[PompeyM3]

Now this is the car I could of done with last week in the Snow, not a Range Rover !.

Looks like a cross between a Lambo and the new Lotus.

[Jgtv]

LCR270 said:

is no one else wondering what the hell can the possibly be testing in those conditions of value for a supercar ? traction control ?

What real good is it to a Renault Clio but they still have to do it to make sure that if some owner decides to take his P&J out in the snow it will work.

[RJDM3]

looks boring imo

[The Milfman]

DeadMeat_UK said:

LCR270 said:

is no one else wondering what the hell can the possibly be testing in those conditions of value for a supercar ? traction control ?

Fast forward twelve months.
Post on PH.
"I just paid 100k for the new McLaren F2000. First sign of cold weather or snow it grounds to a halt and becomes unusable . Didn't they think of testing it in these conditions !? I'm going to get a 911 instead"

Worth a

[V8 GRF]

Looks small to me and more in the Elise/Evora size as already mentioned, I'd be surprised if that's a V10 variant.

[Lordbenny]

Strange gear changing he seemed to be going through the box, up to 4th gear and not even doing 40mph! Also, don't tell me these are 'spy' shots, nothing gets out without the manufacturer knowing about it. Funny how there was a cemera on ever corner getting perfect angles!

[snorkel sucker]

looks like the kids on half term need a lesson on car testing!

[karluk29]

gallardo with proper doors (which lambo should have done in the first place, but i bet those pesky germans said no in the design stage as it would stand out to much lol"

[neh321]

RJDM3 said:

looks boring imo

Don't think it's quite the finished article..
Sure it'll look pretty nice when it's finally unveiled.