"Would love for this to be true but since the source is Autocar..." was the first comment on our
McLaren BP23
story in July, that particular PHer clearly in an especially cynical mood that day. Well here's some news, straight from McLaren too - the three-seat car is going to happen!
What it could look like. Here's hoping!
"BP23 will borrow the three seat layout with central driving position made famous by the iconic McLaren F1, and it will be housed in a streamlined, shrink wrapped carbon fibre body of great elegance" said CEO Mike Flewitt of the new car. It will also have a hybrid powertrain, claimed to make it one of the most powerful McLarens ever produced but also one that will deliver "the highest levels of refinement".
Therefore the car is being pitched as a 'Hyper-GT', combining the performance we've come to expect from McLaren with a more luxurious general remit. That's a course already pursued with the new 570GT, but expect the BP23 to take that further still.
Bespoke Project 2 - the first being the X-1 concept - with 3 seats will be developed and built by McLaren Special Operations. McLaren says all the switchgear will be bespoke to the car, with each owner also able to uniquely specify their car (colour, trim, personalisation) in collaboration with MSO. Interestingly, this car will keep the dihedral doors seen on all other McLarens but with power assistance for the first time.
MSO will produce 106 cars and - you've guessed it - they're all pre-sold already. Kudos if you clocked that 106 is the number of F1s produced as well - a very deliberate point. Deliveries are due to begin early in 2019, so expect plenty more on this very exciting project soon.