McLaren

McLaren P1 Performance Figures Revealed

February 26, 2013 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

The new McLaren P1 is to become the flagship of the Formula One turned supercar manufacture at its official reveal in Geneva. Slowly the media has been drip-fed tantalising details about the car that replaces the fabled F1. Today the numbers we have all been waiting for have been announced and they are nothing short of astonishing.

From the top. The McLaren P1 is to be powered by a 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 engine that is mid-mounted. The total power output for the car including an electrical power boost is 903BHP. Now things get interesting… 0-62MPH is completed in under 3 seconds and the P1 will go onto a top speed of 218MPH. 0-124MPH is vanquished in under 7 seconds and 0-186MPH in a mind boggling 17 seconds! Only 375 P1’s will be produces at a cost of £866,000.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 2013, British, F1, Geneva, McLaren, motor show, P1, supercar

903BHP McLaren P1 Steps Out of its Fathers Shadow

February 20, 2013 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

The McLaren P1 will be one of the cars that will define this decade of automotive achievement. The successor to the legendary F1 supercar has some big shoes to fill as well as having the added pressure of going toe to toe with Ferrari’s next-generation flagship. There were concerns that maybe the P1 had been over hyped and that the only realistic outcome would be disappointment. I am glad to say that after opening an E-Mail from McLaren this morning disappointment is one of the very few things this car can’t do.

McLaren have revealed the beating heart of the P1 to be a 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 engine. This mid-mounted unit produces 727BHP but is also paired to a 176BHP electric motor. This total output for the McLaren P1 is a mighty impressive 903BHP. The KERS inspired IPAS button boosts the cars power instantly increasing performance. It is capable of running on electric power alone for up to 6 miles. McLaren have also equipped the car with Formula One derived DRS that can reduce drag at high speeds by 26%. All of this incredible performance comes from a car that emits less than 200g/km of CO2.

Official benchmark figures will be revealed at the Geneva motor show.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 2013, 3.8 litre, British, DRS, engine, Geneva, KERS, McLaren, motor show, P1, Specifications, supercar, twin-turbo, V8

McLaren P1 Shows Off Cockpit

February 12, 2013 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

The McLaren P1 is one of the most anticipated cars of 2013. The twin-turbo V8 successor to McLaren’s legendary F1 supercar is promised to go every bit as fast as it looks. Aiming to be the fastest road legal performance machine on any race track, the British firm has packed it with Formula One technology. The interior of the car has been kept secret up until today.

Revealed for the first time, we can now see from the perspective of prospective P1 owners. The carbon fibre drenched cockpit is minimalist but still offers creature comforts such as air conditioning, sat-nav and a media system. The carbon is missing a layer of resin that McLaren say saves 1.5KG. Also in the interests of saving weight the car has no sound deadening what so ever. Its glass canopy allows for plenty of natural light to fill the drivers safety cell. Seating can be pitched at highly raked angles to allow for better visibility when wearing a helmet.

The McLaren P1 will be shown in full at the Geneva motor show.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 2013, Geneva, interior, McLaren, motor show, P1, supercar, V8

Rowan Atkinson’s £910,000 McLaren Repair Bill

February 8, 2013 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

Cars are indeed costly items to behold. Be it their initial purchase price, maintenance, tax, fuel .etc The biggest cost, however, can come in the form of an unfortunate accident that leaves your pride and joy worse for wear. Then again that is what we pay our insurance premiums for and famed comedian Rowan Atkinson is thanking his luck stars that he did.

Mr Atkinson is a well documented “petrol head” and is very proud of using his McLaren F1 as a day to day car. He often speaks of how he hates people who buy such machines and never use them. Last year, whilst out driving, Rowan hit a slippery patch of road that sent his McLaren off and into a tree. The accident cleaved the rear end of the car clean off taking the engine block with it. He has just got the car back from spending a year in McLaren’s repair shop and his insurers have just paid out £910,000 for the work that was carried out. This is the biggest insurance claim in the UK by some margin.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: British, crash, F1, McLaren, supercar, V12

McLaren Tease Production P1 Hypercar

February 6, 2013 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

A real backbone to my argument of 2013 being the best year for cars ever is the launch of the McLaren P1. The successor to the legendary F1 of the 90’s is set to become every bit a household name as its predecessor. The completed production P1 will be seen for the first time at the Geneva motor show, but before then McLaren couldn’t resist sending us some teasers of this epic machine.

Though we know what the car will look like externally, nothing has been shown of the P1’s interior. Though it will not follow the in the F1’s footsteps of having a central driving position, it is promised to be one of the most high-tech cockpits of any performance car. Revealed in these images is the cars Formula One inspired gear change indicator and 3D rendered car showing the driver changes to the machine as different modes are engaged.

The P1 is to be powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine equipped with KERS. No official figures are yet known about performance, however, they are likely to be mighty impressive as this car must go toe to toe with Ferrari’s Enzo replacement.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 2013, British, Geneva, McLaren, motor show, P1, supercar, teaser, twin-turbo, V8

Inside Lane “the podcast” Episode 57

February 4, 2013 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

Episode 57 of “the podcast” brings news from Formula One as each team reveals their 2013 cars. Kia attempt to have a crack at building a hot hatchback to take on the likes of the Ford Fiesta ST. Have BMW lost their mojo? Tyler and Matt discuss the reality of Mercedes-Benz closing in. Also the very latest from the world of WRC.

Enjoy!

Download from iTunes or listen online. SEE PODCAST PAGE FOR DETAILS

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: BMW, F1, Ferrari, Formula One, Inside Lane, launch, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, podcast, Red Bull, Sauber, WRC

McLaren Launch MP4-28

January 31, 2013 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

McLaren had a rough time of it in the 2012 Formula One season. In year where they undoubtably had the fastest car for the majority of races, mechanical and human errors cost them a world championship that should have been theirs. An added blow at the end of the season came when one of their star drivers, Lewis Hamilton, announced he was to leave the British team and move to Mercedes AMG. McLaren has worked hard throughout the winter on their 2013 car and today we see the fruits of their labour for the first time.

The McLaren MP4-28 looks very similar to the 2012 car thanks to the regulations not changing dramatically, however, Jenson Button has said “under the skin, this is so, so different.” Celebrating their 50th year, McLaren hope that Button and young gun Perez can bring back another world title to the most successful team in F1. McLaren have completely overhauled the car taking a “risky” ground-up redesign and refinement. The chassis of the car looks to be higher to improve airflow underneath the chassis and the sidepods are closer to the rear in comparison to the MP4-27.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 2013, F1, Formula One, Jenson Button, McLaren, MP4-28, racer, Sergio Perez

McLaren P1 in Action VIDEO

January 24, 2013 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

The true successor to the legendary McLaren F1 will very soon be upon us. The P1 is to be the most advanced supercar ever produced incorporating the latest in technology and aerodynamics from Formula One. To be revealed in full at the Geneva motor show, this KERS equipped machine claims that it will be the ultimate drivers tool and the fastest road legal car around a race track. McLaren have released these images showing the P1 testing along with this amazing video complete with the car spitting blue fire!

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 2013, F1, Geneva, KERS, McLaren, motor show, P1, supercar, testing, V8

McLaren Tease MP4-28

January 8, 2013 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

McLaren are the most successful Formula One team in motorsport history, even more so than the legendary prancing horse. 2013 will see some big changes for McLaren, biggest of them all is star driver Lewis Hamilton leaving the team to join Mercedes-Benz. He is replaced by young gun Sergio Perez to complete the teams pair alongside Jenson Button. The car that McLaren aim to win the 2013 world championship with will be named the MP4-28.

Shown under a dust sheet, the MP4-28 is to be an evolution of the current MP4-27. Rule changes are minimal for 2013, unlike 2014, and so the team have been hard at work for months perfecting a successful formula. Really McLaren should have dominated the 2012 season as their car was blisteringly quick, alas, due to technical gremlins and human error the title slipped into the hands of Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel. Hopefully the British team can put their reliability issues to bed.

The MP4-28 will be revealed January 31st.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 2013, F1, Formula One, Jenson Button, McLaren, MP4-28, racing, Sergio Perez

2013, The Best Year For Cars EVER?

January 7, 2013 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

As 2013 is in its infancy, the cogs responsible for what is to come are beginning to turn. The good news is that if you are a petrol head there will be nothing unlucky about the number 13 what so ever as I foresee one of the greatest years in motoring. Let me tell you why…

Over the past two decades we have seen some fantastic, and now legendary, machines. But they have been separated by years with one shining star being compared to another that is already dated. This year, like planets alining in the night sky, the cogs mesh as we are in for a flood of remarkable cars. McLaren will reveal all about their F1 replacement, the P1. This car aims to be “the fastest on track” out of any supercar says the British firm. Packed with Formula One technology we don’t doubt them one bit. Porsche are welcomed back to the top-end party with the 918 Spyder, an important car not just because it is quick, but it also proves that such performance cars have a future in a world where we are running out of oil. Ferrari later this year will reveal their Enzo successor that promises to be the ultimate in what the prancing horse has to offer. Just as they do on track, Ferrari and McLaren will take their rivalry to the road in the most spectacular fashion.

It’s not just performance cars that are getting us excited this year. Fiat are set to show a funky 500 based crossover that will no doubt become just as popular as its little hatchback sibling. Ford will likely showcase their next-generation Mustang that is bound for Europe. Mercedes-Benz will launch the feverishly handsome production ready CLA. Alfa Romeo will at last have a sports car deserving of the badge in the 4C.

That is just the beginning, a few bits and bobs from what we know is coming, what we don’t know could be even more exciting! Roll on 2013!!!

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 2013, 918, environment, Enzo, F1, Ferrari, McLaren, motor show, P1, Porsche, spyder, supercar