Paris: To say the McLaren P1 super car was awaited would be a gross understatement. One of the showpieces at this year’s Paris Motor show, the car did not disappoint with most auto aficionados raving about the integration of technology used in Formula One cars, including complex aerodynamics and lightweight alloys.
And who better to speak about the latest car, than former McLaren designer Peter Stevens, who was in charge of the team that designed the first McLaren supercar F1, 20 years ago. What is the F1 you ask? Oh arguably just one of the best super cars ever designed. (Read more about why here)
So what was Stevens’ reaction on seeing McLaren’s latest super car?
“What was important to see about the car was that it had some of the DNA of McLaren, so that people feel what they’re looking at is a continuation of the very dramatic car that the F1 was,” Stevens said.
The McLaren P1 was the centre of attention at the Paris Motor show.
The good thing is its not pretending to be a new F1, he said, adding that the P1 has stuck to the philosophy of the original super car.
The overhangs were very small like the F1, and it used the aerodynamics in very refined detail, he noted while speaking in detail about how the aerodynamics of the car worked.
“I think it’s necessary for every super car to be much more efficient…For this car its plainly going to be more efficient car and thats fascinating,” he said, adding that it would use some hybrid technology.McLaren are still tightlipped about what the technology will be, though Stevens believes it could be a electric motor to power the front wheels.
“I think its a design language we’re going to see in other McLaren products in the future…I think this car moves them to a different area. Its pleasing to see that its not a tiny ‘I can do a tiny bit better than you’ compared to Ferrari,” he said.
Watch the complete interview with Stevens about McLaren’s P1 above.
(Incidentally if you’re planning to get one, get in line quickly. According to BBC’s Top Gear there are only 500 that are going to be made. Read more about the P1 here)
