McLaren F1 Successor In The Works?

Remember the three seater hypercar from McLaren? Yes, the same McLaren F1 that had a centrally mounted steering column and two seats on either side. Well, of course you do. The car came in 1992 and took the supercar fraternity by storm, with only 106 cars ever made and a top speed of 391 kmph. And now there are reports that suggest that McLaren is working on the successor to the legendary F1.

The proposed car could make it to the real world by the end of this decade and will carry the core F1 credentials. Such as three seats, mid-mounted engine, centrally mounted steering wheel and, may be, a gold-plated motor too. 

However, it will be very different from the old F1 in terms of technology and weight saving. The new hypercar will heavily benefit from a segment leading power-to-weight ratio, unlike the old car, which took advantage of a 6.1-litre V12. And, as a matter of fact, the car could use the tried and tested 3.8-litre turbocharged V8 from the P1 GTR. However, it won’t get a hybrid powertrain like the GTR, but it will still produce more power than the P1. How much? Easily over 700 PS, as McLaren would certainly want the F1 as its new halo car, displacing the P1 which produces around 690PS of power.

Moreover, according to the report, the car will also get bespoke interiors and will be made in a limited number of units. It will also benefit from McLaren dynamic chassis control, making the ride plush for the occupants. Evidently because McLaren wants it to be a GT car (Grand Tourer), which could decimate track times and go long distances without tiring the driver and occupants. The interiors will also be very luxurious as compared to other McLaren cars. 

The renderings showcased are produced by Autocar UK and imagine how the car could look like. McLaren, however, hasn't released any official images and is quiet on the possibility of any such car.

Source: Autocar UK