What could be more special than the first McLaren HV hypercar, the McLaren P1.
Back in 2012, McLaren Project 11 (the MP/4-12C) was in full swing, the dealer network was doing a sterling job in promoting the new brand, and there was a real buzz about McLaren. McLaren Project 12 was the hypercar, not designed to be the outright fastest car in the world, but to be the best drivers’ car, to deliver the best possible driving experience.
During our daily wash-up meetings discussing the 12C, we would occasionally discuss Project 12, and some of the numbers being bandied about were simply staggering. Near on 1000PS with unheard of levels of down force. This was going to be a very special car. I will never forget seeing this car for the first time. It was simply stunning, looked like something from another world.
Project 12 took everything to a completely new level; aerodynamics, HV power, weight, every single area was pushed to its absolute limit by teams of engineers harnessing the full force of McLaren’s engineering prowess. There was a real can-do attitude. F1’s KERS system had been around for a while, and the principal would be used to boost the P1’s power output to as close to 1000PS as possible. But it was decided that achieving 750PS from internal combustion with another 150PS from HV energy was sufficient, given the relative overall lightweight package of the carbon chassis.
During 2012, the aftersales department was given the task of creating the training courses and delivery programs of the P1, as it was our first halo model and also one that had a fair bit of new technology. Steve and I were part of the team that created the training courses for the dealer network, ensuring that we understood the P1 totally but could also deliver the courses in other markets if needed.
In mid-2013 we started delivering P1’s to European dealers. All dealers had to be equipped with the necessary HV safety equipment but also all techs had to have passed the stringent training courses the aftersales team had created. The launch was a big success. We had expected it to be far more of a challenge given the technicalities of the new car, but there were no issues during the early wash-up meetings. To this day, Steve and I remain very proud of that launch, but we were a small part of a great team of engineers and dealer partners (especially the techs) who delivered such an awesome car.
P1 ownership can be a daunting prospect. The technology and even the way the car operates and delivers its phenomenal driving experience take a lot of getting used to. We quickly found during those early deliveries that a technical handover and thorough explanation of the extensive features of the P1 was an absolute must. Drivers who understood the technology and the software/switchgear employed to just drive the car became incredibly satisfied with what was in their grasp.
Over the first few months of press reviews the P1 was hailed as a complete game-changer. One famous quote was “McLaren have weaponised hybrid technology”…a quote that we all found really cool, and when you think about it, the way the HV power delivery takes care of what would be turbo-lag (the P1’s turbo’s are simply massive), that quote really makes sense.
The P1 was never designed or built to save the planet, it was a technical exercise to provide the ultimate drivers’ car. The looks, the speed, and the overall package make it one of our all-time favorites and one that we are proud to have been involved in.
Whether you own a P1 or are simply thinking about buying one, it’s a car we know intimately and always enjoy talking about.
That is why we love the P1.