Skip to main content

Upcoming P1 supercar is proof of McLaren’s carbon fiber fetish

McLaren P1 Interior

A couple automakers over the years have aimed to have interiors reminiscent of jetfighters. Saab was the first, as it bragged it was “born from jets.” Then MINI came along adding some jetfighter interior touches only to half-heartedly give up on the idea.

Now it’s McLaren’s turn. The infamous English supercar automaker has released a few photos of the interior of its new P1 supercar that it calls “shrink wrapped.”

Related Videos

McLaren opens the accompanying press release as it has many others, restating its intent to build “the best driver’s car in the world on road and track.” While other automakers have made similar claims, McLaren seems to mean it.

Mclaren P1 interior

McLaren really seems to take care with its designs, agonizing over every single line and detail – and it shows. The carbon fiber, which was used generously throughout the P1 body and interior, has been installed without the final layer of resin, which not only gives the carbon fiber a distinctive natural finish, it also saves 1.5kg throughout the car.

The designers at McLaren worked tirelessly to minimize trim on the interior, further saving weight. McLaren states that it will offer carpet as an option, which we’re sure it does reluctantly. Should the buyer specify the carpet option, it’ll be fitted with a special lightweight backing.

McLaren’s obsession with carbon fiber doesn’t end with the chassis, bodywork, or interior accents. The racing bucket seats, too, are constructed from a carbon fiber shell. These lightweight seats feature minimal foam and lightweight runners. While these seats are wonderfully light, no doubt Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson will complain about how uncomfortable they are.

Mclaren P1 interior

Furthering its obsessive attention to detail, McLaren brags that the steering wheel was modeled after the McLaren world champions’ grips on a CAD system. The specialized steering wheel is finished with Alcantara and – you guessed it – carbon fiber inserts. That surely makes for an impressive story but it just looks like a regular steering wheel to us.

Nevertheless, McLaren says it’ll release more about the P1 soon. We can only guess, however, that the words “carbon” and “fiber” will comprise over 16 percent of the subsequent press releases.

Editors' Recommendations

In McLaren’s 600LT Spider, the engine is the only sound system you’ll need
McLaren 600LT Spider

Previous

Next

Read more
Special-edition McLaren 720S honors 50th anniversary of legendary racing victory
McLaren 720S Spa 68

Previous

Next

Read more
Pininfarina Battista is a 1,900-horsepower, 250-mph electric supercar
Pininfarina Battista teaser

Italian firm Pininfarina has designed some of the greatest cars in history for other companies, but now it's building one of its own. The car, set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019, will be an electric supercar. Pininfarina claims it will be the fastest and most powerful thing on four wheels to ever come out of Italy. Previously known by the code name PF0, Pininfarina announced the car will be named Battista, after company founder Battista Pininfarina (born Battista Farina).

Pininfarina is one of the most famous names in car design. Over the years, the company worked with the likes of Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati, designing legendary cars like the Alfa Romeo Spider, Cisitalia 202, and Ferrari 275 GTB. The company eventually fell on hard times, and was purchased by Indian conglomerate Mahindra. The new owner established a car-building division called Automobili Pininfarina to build the new supercar. Selling a car with his name on it was always a goal of Battista Pininfarina, his grandson Paolo, who currently runs the business, said in a statement.

Read more