McLaren P1 Previews F1 Successor

McLaren has pulled the wraps from its long-rumoured P1, a hyper concept it promises will preview the world's quickest series-production car. 

As the fabled successor to the legendary McLaren F1, once the world's fastest production supercar, there is a lot riding on the P1. 

According to McLaren boss Antony Sheriff though, the goal of the P1 is not to be the fastest at the top end, but simply the "quickest and most rewarding" series-production road car ever put to the circuit. Easy, right?

McLaren remains tight-lipped about exactly what is driving the P1, meaning that until its proper unveiling in Paris later this month, fans can only watch and wait.

Speculation is rife, of course. Reports out of Europe suggest the P1 will draw power from an up-rated version of the MP4-12C's 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8, combined with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System to develop more than 520kW.

By the time it enters production late in 2013, the P1's rivals will include not only the 515kW Lamborghini Aventador and Ferrari's 545kW F12, but also the new hybrid-powered Porsche 918.