RE: McLaren P1: Driven

[revgrectifier]

After_Shock said:

Does it matter? Does anyone care? The performance of these cars on the road regardless which is slightly quicker will make no difference at all as you simply wont be able to extend them on the public roads.

I think at this level it kind of matters. it doesn't really matter that much in something like Fiesta ST vs Clio RS, or 911 vs Corvette, but when a company sets out to create the ultimate hypercar, really the best of what they can do, performance is relevant (imho). I hope the P1 would deliver.

[ukmike2000]

Didn't Clarkson say the electric-only range was only a couple of miles or so? Must watch it again but its in the bit where he is tootling about in Bruges.

An amazing car and I am full of admiration for the sheer depth of engineering and technology in both this and the other hypercars of today. Something about the P1 leaves me a bit cold though - and that is the bodywork design. I don't know if it isn't aggressive enough or whether its the swirly curves around its back end - but it doesn't inspire me like it should (not that I am ever likely to even see one on the road as I don't frequent football ground car parks). Having said that it is a lot prettier than a Veyron for instance. Just don't anyone chrome plate one PLEASE!

What is a tad worrying is the level of driver training you SHOULD have before attempting to take off in something as potent as this. Since Ronaldo stuffed his Ferrari, on what I know to be a virtually straight piece of road, there is clearly a lot of room for driver development.

[theAmerican]

A really well-written article and I thank you for it Mr. Harris. Coming from Stateside this is the kind of auto-extravaganza we could only dream about participating in which is a shame.

And well done McLaren. Really looking forward to the Geneva offering and P13 next year.

[Strawman]

ukmike2000 said:

Didn't Clarkson say the electric-only range was only a couple of miles or so? Must watch it again but its in the bit where he is tootling about in Bruges.

6 miles, watched it last night.

[vescaegg]

Other than some super trick 'protptype' tech, what separates something like this from a LMP1 car?

It doesnt even look much less futuristic.

Would one even have a chance of keeping up at La Sarthe say both being driven by Alan McNish? - Excluding the regs which would no doubt exclude it anyway.

217mph is faster than current LMP1 cars isnt it? Cornering must be quite a bit slower but there are not that many corners anyway.

Anyone have an idea or am I way off?

Edited by vescaegg on Tuesday 11th February 15:40

[After_Shock]

TonyHetherington said:

And for that reason it's extremely important.

But in reality on the raod it means naff all really! Never going to test either car to even half its capability on the street.

Im all for them competing at this level dont get me wrong, its an era of supercars which I dont think we will ever see again and its fantastic to watch/read about!

[Mastodon2]

smiffy555 said:

Whats did you expect from Clarkson?? A factual, mature & in depth report??

You silly boy Pike!

:-)

To be fair, I think Clarkson did a good job of explaining how it makes you feel when you drive it, and given TG's general audience demographic I'd say he delivered perfectly. The nerd factor of a Chris Harris report would that scintillates us here at PH would put the general public to sleep.

Great job Chris, the P1 is a stunning piece of technology, the fact they've managed to distil that level of performance into a road car that isn't some blatant track car with lights like a Radical is mightily impressive.

[Tuna]

Well done McLaren - not only is this car producing awesome statistics, but it's leading to some great journalism.

It seems clear that the company excels when they push every last piece of technology to it's limit.

[TonyHetherington]

After_Shock said:

TonyHetherington said:

And for that reason it's extremely important.

But in reality on the raod it means naff all really! Never going to test either car to even half its capability on the street.

Indeed. Stop trying to justify brilliant stuff The moment you do that, my V8 estate becomes utterly illogical!

[anonymous-user]

(Reaches for chequebook…)

Eh? Sold out you say? Oh well, that's annoying. Never mind.

(Puts chequebook back and browses Autotrader again)

Great review btw.

[thatdude]

AV12 said:

There is a 'leccy only mode - I think you can do 6-7 miles on it. The point of the P1 is not to drive it around on the leccy, use the full systems together to deliver.

"Sneak mode possible"

That's alright then; when i win the lotto next week and buy one (if I can find someone to sell one) then I can pop up to morrisons in it for milk and bread and not ever turn on the engine

[AV12]

thatdude said:

AV12 said:

There is a 'leccy only mode - I think you can do 6-7 miles on it. The point of the P1 is not to drive it around on the leccy, use the full systems together to deliver.

"Sneak mode possible"

That's alright then; when i win the lotto next week and buy one (if I can find someone to sell one) then I can pop up to morrisons in it for milk and bread and not ever turn on the engine

Was more thinking of driving the V8 through London, without charge...down embankment and through the tunnels...maybe!(at 30mph, of course)

[Dave Hedgehog]

Strawman said:

ukmike2000 said:

Didn't Clarkson say the electric-only range was only a couple of miles or so? Must watch it again but its in the bit where he is tootling about in Bruges.

6 miles, watched it last night.

the exact length of the emissions test simulation

[braddo]

TonyHetherington said:

Of course it does. Not for any tangible reason. But because both Ferrari and McLaren like to win. Especially against Ferrari or McLaren.

It won't effect sales. It won't effect anything at all. Except column inches and corporate bravado.

And for that reason it's extremely important.

I disagree and applaud McLaren for showing the maturity to not disclose it.

[anonymous-user]

Anyone still think "It would be much better without all the electrickery"??


No, Thought not! ;-)

[AV12]

theAmerican said:

A really well-written article and I thank you for it Mr. Harris. Coming from Stateside this is the kind of auto-extravaganza we could only dream about participating in which is a shame.

And well done McLaren. Really looking forward to the Geneva offering and P13 next year.

Welcome to PH - are you referring to the standard of journalism?

[TonyHetherington]

braddo said:

TonyHetherington said:

Of course it does. Not for any tangible reason. But because both Ferrari and McLaren like to win. Especially against Ferrari or McLaren.

It won't effect sales. It won't effect anything at all. Except column inches and corporate bravado.

And for that reason it's extremely important.

I disagree and applaud McLaren for showing the maturity to not disclose it.

The question another poster and I were discussing was "Can the La Ferrari go quicker?". Not "Can the La Ferrari go quicker around the 'ring?".

I think you just wanted to answer the latter

[saxy]

vescaegg said:

217mph is faster than current LMP1 cars isnt it? Cornering must be quite a bit slower but there are not that many corners anyway.

Anyone have an idea or am I way off?

Edited by vescaegg on Tuesday 11th February 15:40

No chance. The LMP cars can do 4G, stop on a dime. Of course though, the current LMP1 cars are much slower than ones of the past, but there are still quite a lot of corners, and heavy braking zones.

A Porsche RSR will corner and stop faster than this, yet if you look at footage from the LMP1 cars last year, through the Porsche S-curves, LMP1 cars made GT class cars look like sitting ducks.

[Gorbyrev]

Chris, you could always do a Drive video at Jay Leno's garage and have a go in his!

[OlberJ]

So potentially the fastest production car round the ring. But as it stands, it ain't.

Sounds mental all the same.