Photo: Gabriel Brindusescu
The time has come for McLaren P13 sportscar to leave its development name behind and emerge as the Sports Series, a designation the Brits have already confirmed. Woking's upcoming entry-level model is worth every bit of our attention, simply because this is a car that will see McLaren reinvent itself once again.
Time for a bit of history
McLaren started making road cars in the early 90s, when they came up with the majestic F1, a hypercar that remained unbeaten for about a decade or so. More recently, they've given us manic stuff like the P1 hybrid hypercar and the 12C supercar, which was subsequently transformed into the 650S.
With the F1, McLaren basically took the uncompromising solutions of the motorsport world where the company had been born and adapted them to the road. After quite a long hiatus, the carmaker returned with the three models listed above and these still featured its no-compromise philosophy. In both the supercar and the hypercar segment where the P1 and the 650S activate, there are more emotional and more beautiful contenders, but the McLarens remain the most focused on RWD performance.
Well, for the Sport Series, which will play in the sportscar arena, McLaren has to learn how to truly juggle with the performance they love so much and the everyday usability this segment requires. McLaren's racing-bred machines already are easy to drive under normal conditions, the challenge that's laid out for the Sport Series is to also be entertaining to drive below, say, 7 out of 10.
The P13 has been spotted in various stages of development starting about one year ago, which means we still have some waiting to do before we can get behind its wheel.
Still, McLaren will borrow/adapt the most important bits of the car. For instance, the carbon fiber chassis and the twin-turbo V8 engine Woking products have accustomed us with will be present. Of course, the V8 will be downtuned to deliver somewhere in the 450 to 500 hp area.
All the members of the competition offer multiple power levels, which, mixed with other variables, lead to a bouquet of versions - this, of course, culminates with the 911, which will eventually be offered in over 20 versions.
Excepting the track specials, McLaren has accustomed us to a one-car-two-versions scheme so far, but the Sports Series could come in more than just the coupe and the convertible forms. Should this change take place, you shouldn't expect too many incarnations though, as mustn't forget the size of the independent British carmaker.
As for the price of the Sports Series, this should sit at about £120,000 in Britain or €140,000 in Germany, which would make it about as expensive as a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS. The Jaguar F-Type, Mercedes-AMG GT and the Chevrolet Corvette are also waiting to battle it out with this Mac and they should be afraid of it.
McLaren started making road cars in the early 90s, when they came up with the majestic F1, a hypercar that remained unbeaten for about a decade or so. More recently, they've given us manic stuff like the P1 hybrid hypercar and the 12C supercar, which was subsequently transformed into the 650S.
With the F1, McLaren basically took the uncompromising solutions of the motorsport world where the company had been born and adapted them to the road. After quite a long hiatus, the carmaker returned with the three models listed above and these still featured its no-compromise philosophy. In both the supercar and the hypercar segment where the P1 and the 650S activate, there are more emotional and more beautiful contenders, but the McLarens remain the most focused on RWD performance.
Well, for the Sport Series, which will play in the sportscar arena, McLaren has to learn how to truly juggle with the performance they love so much and the everyday usability this segment requires. McLaren's racing-bred machines already are easy to drive under normal conditions, the challenge that's laid out for the Sport Series is to also be entertaining to drive below, say, 7 out of 10.
What we know about the Sports Series so far
McLaren has already begun the deep transformation process we mention above. The sheer idea that they've gone from their motorsport-like designations to something that's composed of actual words demonstrates this.The P13 has been spotted in various stages of development starting about one year ago, which means we still have some waiting to do before we can get behind its wheel.
Still, McLaren will borrow/adapt the most important bits of the car. For instance, the carbon fiber chassis and the twin-turbo V8 engine Woking products have accustomed us with will be present. Of course, the V8 will be downtuned to deliver somewhere in the 450 to 500 hp area.
All the members of the competition offer multiple power levels, which, mixed with other variables, lead to a bouquet of versions - this, of course, culminates with the 911, which will eventually be offered in over 20 versions.
Excepting the track specials, McLaren has accustomed us to a one-car-two-versions scheme so far, but the Sports Series could come in more than just the coupe and the convertible forms. Should this change take place, you shouldn't expect too many incarnations though, as mustn't forget the size of the independent British carmaker.
As for the price of the Sports Series, this should sit at about £120,000 in Britain or €140,000 in Germany, which would make it about as expensive as a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS. The Jaguar F-Type, Mercedes-AMG GT and the Chevrolet Corvette are also waiting to battle it out with this Mac and they should be afraid of it.
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