Report: McLaren Working on Three-Seat “Hyper GT” as Homage to the Original F1

Despite what many enthusiasts believe, the McLaren P1 is not, and was never designed to be, the successor to the timeless McLaren F1 hypercar. The P1 is an incredible hypercar, to be sure, but the British supercar company launched the hybrid powerhouse as a halo vehicle for its lineup, and not a car meant to claim the speed crown from the F1. Now, Autocar reports McLaren has turned its attention to the F1, and plans to create a successor are currently roiling in Woking.

Autocar reports the $2.6 million hypercar will be designed specifically as a rolling homage to the F1, incorporating various F1-inspired details in the design and construction of the unnamed car. As we have heard before, McLaren will return to a three-seat layout, with the driver sitting smack-dab in the center. The doors will of course be dihedral “butterfly” doors, complementing the roof-mounted snorkel, just as you would find on an F1.

There will be differences, however. Where the F1 was designed as a no-rules performance weapon, Autocar claims the homage will fit nicely in the “GT” category. The team behind the car was given the goal of creating the “fastest GT car yet built,” packing as much comfort as it does outright speed.

Autocar’s sources peg the powertrain as the ubiquitous McLaren 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, pushing out over 700 hp. Obviously, no performance data is available yet, but the report claims a top speed of well over 200 mph.

If you were hoping for a bespoke, naturally-aspirated V-12 monster, look elsewhere. Fortunately, Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing recently revealed the fruits of their legendary team-up in the mighty AM-RB 001. The brainchild of Aston Martin, Red Bull Racing, and F1 designer Adrian Newey, the AM-RB 001 is set to be “the hypercar of our time,” if Aston’s claim rings true. Look for a power output somewhere north of 1,000 hp, from a hybridized V-12 engine.

Check back in the near future for more details on McLaren’s “hyper GT.”

Source: Autocar

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