The McLaren P1 pioneered electrification in supercars 10 years ago when it was launched at the Geneva Motor Show.
Believe it or not, the McLaren P1 is now 10 years old, and Mclaren is celebrating its first decade anniversary since the P1 first appeared at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. This was also coincidentally 60 years after Bruce McLaren founded the firm.
Exclusive and highly desirable (due to limited numbers) when it was first revealed, the McLaren P1 sold out within mere months, and all 375 cars were allocated soon after and sent to the far ends of the globe.
The first of the 375 McLaren P1 models, finished in Ice Silver, was completed in September 2013, while the final customer-ordered car was completed in December 2015.
The final chassis was unique too, in that it was completed in Pearlescent Orange, a colour achieved through a unique tinting process. This paint subsequently became available in other McLaren models, dubbed Volcano Orange.
I’m sure most of you know the Mclaren P1 inside and out by now, but for those who don’t, the P1 came equipped with a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 punching out 727bhp. Combined with a lightweight electric motor producing 176bhp, the result was a heart-stopping, gut-wrenching 903bhp.
Its acceleration figures still remain impressive today, with the century sprint being done in just 2.8 seconds.
This strong performance, its instant throttle response, and torque infill conclusively proved that electrification could enhance modern turbocharged powertrains, paving the way for modern high-performance hybrid vehicles such as the McLaren Artura.
The Autura represents a new era for Mclaren, and the supercar industry as a whole too.
As McLaren marks its 60th anniversary, the supercar maker has teamed up with the LEGO Group to release the first-ever double pack of LEGO Speed Champions featuring two of McLaren's most iconic supercars: the McLaren F1 LM and McLaren Solus GT.
Even if you couldn’t snag one of the 375, you can pick this set up with relative ease at your local toy store.