McLaren’s CEO said that they don’t want to make a car that is “2,000 kg and 2,000 hp” as “anybody can do that”
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Those seeking a new flagship hypercar with electric propulsion will be pleased to learn that the successor to the McLaren P1 is currently in the works. The model, yet to be named, is anticipated to debut before the close of the decade, prioritizing low weight and driving dynamics over the immense power output often linked to electric vehicles.
The electrified McLaren P1 was originally introduced in 2012 as a member of the “Hypercar Holy Trinity” alongside the Ferrari La Ferrari and the Porsche 918 Hybrid rivals. With Porsche and Ferrari already developing their new flagships and vehicles like the Rimac Nevera shaking up the hypercar game, it is good to know that McLaren has not given up the top segment. After all, while the Senna, Speedtail, Elva, and Solus GT are members of the automaker’s Ultimate Series, none of them is considered a member of the F1’s and P1’s bloodline.
When asked by Autocar about an electric flagship hypercar set to rival Porsche’s upcoming Mission X, McLaren’s CEO, Michael Leiters, admitted they are “quite busy”. Initially, the firm was not sure about going electric for the P1’s successor mostly due to weight concerns but technology has progressed, creating new possibilities.
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Leiters said they “don’t want to make a car that is 2,000 kg and 2,000 hp”, stating that “anybody can do that” and it is not in “the DNA of McLaren”. Instead, the company is already working on electric concepts with a weight “comparable to the McLaren 750 S”. The EV must “outperform” the ICE-powered McLarens not only in output and performance figures, but also in terms of handling, agility, and fun-to-drive character.
According to the CEO, the new EV will arrive “maybe at the end of the decade”. Judging from his comments about introducing new technology from the “top-down”, McLaren’s new flagship will show the way for future products in the lesser segments. However, before that happens, there is another step of evolution. Leiters said that the sales success of the McLaren 750S shows that their customers “love ICE cars”, although he added that times are changing and “maybe there are other customers interested in other stuff”.
Despite that, the company will continue working on combustion and hybrid powertrains. Earlier this year, McLaren announced a renewed partnership with Ricardo for a new generation V8 to form the base of a hybrid system for “lightweight, high-performance hybrid supercars”.
