The ultimate McLaren P1 gallery

The new McLaren P1 hypercar looks set to redefine what's possible on the road and on the track

Production of the McLaren P1 began in September, at the firm's Woking-based facility

It's one of a handful of cars to have a sub-3.0sec 0-62mph time; McLaren says it takes just 2.8sec

The top speed is electronically limited to 217mph

McLaren's P1 utilises a hybrid drivetrain, with a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine coupled to an electric motor

The powertrain's total output is 903bhp and 664lb ft

The standard steering wheel is trimmed in Alcantara, but buyers can specify a leather finish with carbonfibre inserts

The P1's roof-mounted snorkel feeds fresh air to the McLaren's turbochargers

Two flaps behind the roof panel give access to the fuel filler, oil and coolant fillers and a battery charger

McLaren has been exhaustive in its attention to detail; every element of the car has been aerodynamically optimised

The original brief for the P1 called for it to be a car that was about driver satisfaction in every respect

Considerable on-road testing was carried out in order to ensure the car's reliability and usability

The P1's powertrain generates a vast amount of heat; cooling it has been one of the biggest challenges

The mid-mounted engine and e-motor send power to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission

At low speeds the e-motor adds 369lbft at 1000rpm, compensating for turbo lag

The McLaren underwent punishing testing in the Mojave desert in order to ensure it could deal with high ambient temperatures

A day of data gathering from the prototype's 960-odd sensors would generate around 5GB of information

The McLaren's structure comprises a carbonfibre 'MonoCage' with aluminium front and rear frames

Its rear wing automatically adjusts its angle to deliver the correct amount of downforce

McLaren's twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 produces 727bhp and 531bhp on its own

The exhaust system has been carefully optimised to assist in creating downforce at the tail of the McLaren

Stopping power comes from a bespoke carbon-ceramic braking system; maximum adeacceleration is rated at close to 2g

The P1 features an electro-hydraulic steering system; buttons on the wheel are few, to avoid unwanted distractions

McLaren engineers wanted to make a car that was engaging

Predictability and precision were also important; much track testing has taken place as a result

McLaren claims that the P1 is capable of lapping the Nürburgring in less than seven minutes

Autocar's Matt Saunders was present to see McLaren's chief test driver, Chris Goodwin, push the P1 to its limits

The tyres and suspension settings were all standard showroom specification

The large rear wing helps generate the required downforce in corners, but drops to improve top-end speed on the straights

LED strip lights provide rear illumination

The P1 only has five body panels in total: the two clamshells, the front bonnet and the two doors

The P1 features a ‘minimalist’ interior design that is meant to feel like the ‘cockpit of a fighter jet’.

Digital instrumentation reveals all that the driver needs to know

Wheel-mouned paddle shifters allow for easy gearchanges

DRS and IPAS buttons are mounted on the wheel for quick access

'XP12' denotes that this model is one of McLaren's own 'experimental' prototypes

The whole interior of the McLaren weighs less than 69kg

Inside the McLaren you'll find simple and intuitive controls

The burning desire for the P1's weight loss can be seen throughout the cabin

McLaren's attention to detail extends to small features like beautifully finished air vents

The designers had a little freedom with the headlights, as they don't notably affect the overall aerodynamics

McLaren's design director, Frank Stephenson, says the basic idea was to make the car as aerodynamically effective as possible

"It's technical styling", he says

Wildlife, sci-fi and planes helped to inspire the P1's design

The P1 is a standard bearer for all that McLaren Automotive stands for