Finally McLaren
Automotive has released detailed information on the engine and powertrain
to be used by its next hypercar, the McLaren P1. The most interesting aspect
of the engine is that it will be a hybrid
system and deliver an astounding amount of power, translating into sensational road performance. Put on
your seatbelt and brace yourself for
the numbers.
Using the same, but highly revised 3.8-litre twin turbo engine as the MP4-12C’s, McLaren is now able
to gather a total of 674kW and 900Nm of torque. This is thanks to 542kW and 720Nm at 4000rpm credited to the petrol V8, while an electric motor
that’s mounted onto the engine itself, contributes 132kW and 260Nm of
instant torque. The associated gearbox is a 7-speed double-clutch affair that sends all power and torque to the
rear wheels. No numbers have been released yet, but the “lesser” MP4-12C can
skip from 0 – 100km/h in a mere 3.3
seconds under ideal conditions.
Because this is a hybrid car it means there is a battery
pack somewhere backing up the engine and providing electric power when needed.
For the P1 this battery is located
under the undercarriage and weighs
only 96kg. The petrol engine will
recharge it while in motion and it can power the P1 completely for up to 10km in slow-moving traffic. Moreover
it can be recharged from a wall
power socket from empty to full in about two hours.
The hybrid hypercar seems to be the next flavour of the
month as Honda (NSX), Porsche (918 Spyder) and now McLaren
announce plans to semi-electrify their next godly creations.
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