How will McLaren follow up the awesome, 903-horsepower P1 hybrid supercar? By going in the opposite direction, of course.
The British carmaker has confirmed that it will build an “entry-level” supercar to compete with the Porsche 911 Turbo and Audi R8. Internally known as the P13, its lower price of entry should help expand McLaren’s reach.
McLaren’s design sketch shows a car that applies P1 styling cues to a smaller platform. The shape of the headlights and front fascia will certainly create a family resemblance between the cheapest and most expensive McLarens and solve one of the major criticisms of the otherwise superb MP4-12C: generic styling.
Underneath the more interesting styling, the P13 will reportedly ride on a shortened version of the 12C’s carbon fiber MonoCell chassis, which should make it much lighter than its rivals. Keeping the parts-bin theme going, it will also be powered by a detuned version of the 3.8-liter V8 that does duty in the 12C and P1.
That means the P13 will produce around 450 hp, not the 12C’s 616. McLaren has a hierarchy to maintain, after all. Still, with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission shifting gears, the P13 should be able to get out of its own way.
The P13 will reportedly go on sale next year as a 2015 model. Previous reports pegged annual production at around 2,500 units–more than twice the total number of cars McLaren is expected to sell by the end of this year – with a sticker price of around $200,000.
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