2015 McLaren P1 Coupe

The McLaren P1 ushered in a new era for the supercar market, relying on electrification and hybrid powertrains and keeping weight to an absolute minimum. Its carbon monocoque chassis weighed a mere 200 pounds and its external bodywork and major cabin structures were constructed from a lightweight assemblage of carbon fiber panels. Stopping power was provided by carbon-ceramic disc brakes, developed in conjunction with Akebono and infused with silicon-carbide to help dissipate heat. They were capable of absorbing 50 percent more energy than those on the MP4-12C and utilized Brake Steer, a technology originally developed by McLaren for the 1997 Formula One season before it was banned. The system applied the brakes to the car's inside-rear wheel when cornering above a certain threshold, which brings the P1's nose closer to the apex.

The engine received an entirely new casting and boasts dry-sump lubrication with a low-sited flat-plane crankshaft. The mid-mounted 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine produces 717 horsepower at 7,300 rpm and 531 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. The electric motor in the P1 serves to 'torque-fill' the normal gaps where the conventional engine would fail to produce peak performance, such as when the turbochargers are spooling up or during gearshifts. The electric motor produced 176 horsepower, bringing the total output to 893 horsepower and a combined maximum torque of 664 pound-feet.

The car's aerodynamic features benefitted from its adjustable front and rear spoilers that offer as much as 1,300 pounds of downforce at speeds.

The McLaren P1 was introduced in March 2013, and total production was limited to 375 units including 128 examples sent to the United States. Each example was uniquely specified with an unbounded volume of special equipment available from McLaren Special Operations.

This McLaren P1 number 170 is a US-market example that wears a shade of MSO Flintgrau Metallic and was delivered new to its original owner via McLaren of Newport Beach, California, in October 2014. Nearly $60,000 of bespoke tailoring and optional equipment procured from MSO, including a suite of blue gloss carbon fiber exterior accents that feature prominently on the car's front and rear spoilers, roof, mirrors, and door panels. It rides on ultralight alloy wheels in a satin 'Stealth' gray finish, and the Akebono brake calipers have been rendered in McLaren's signature Papaya Orange.

The interior is done in MSO Oxblood leather upholstery fitted upon the dashboard, sun visors, steering wheel, seats, and doors. The steering wheel and custom embroidered headrests feature black stitching, and the rest of the cabin is finished with a red contrast stitch.

Currently, this McLaren P1 has fewer than 390 miles on its odometer.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2024