McLaren P1
2013–2015 · McLaren P1 — Hypercar, V8 Twin-Turbo, designed by Frank Stephenson.
The Story
The P1 was McLaren’s answer to the only question that mattered after the legendary F1: what now? Revealed in 2012 and built from 2013, it fused a 3.8L twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor for 903 bhp, wrapped it in active aerodynamics lifted from Formula 1, and capped production at 375 — every one sold before the first customer car was built.
It arrived as one third of the “Holy Trinity” alongside the Ferrari LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder, and of the three it feels most like a weapon. A push of the IPAS button dumps the electric motor’s torque in instantly; DRS stalls the giant rear wing for top speed, then slams it into a 600 mm airbrake under braking. McLaren’s final development target was a sub-7-minute Nürburgring lap — duly achieved.
A decade on, the P1 has done what the others did: stopped depreciating and started climbing. It’s no longer just a hypercar; it’s a blue-chip asset that happens to cover 0–186 mph in 16.5 seconds.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Hypercar class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Frank Stephenson
Led the F430 (with Pininfarina); credited among the 612 team; the 430 Scuderia derives from his F430. Later McLaren design chief.
Studio Motors POV
Of the Holy Trinity, the P1 is the one we’d take to a track and the one that’s aged into the purest driver’s tool. It’s already blue-chip — but it still feels like a getaway car from the future.
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About P1
Worth Knowing About the P1
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1. IPAS and DRS come straight from F1 — IPAS is push-to-pass instant electric torque; DRS stalls the rear wing for a straight-line speed boost. Almost no other road car dared either.
- 2. The active rear wing extends up to ~300 mm and adjusts pitch for up to ~600 kg of downforce, then flips into an airbrake under heavy braking.
- 3. McLaren set one public development objective for the P1 — a sub-seven-minute Nürburgring-Nordschleife lap. It achieved it, then never released the exact time.
5 Fast Facts
- 1. 903 bhp combined (727 bhp V8 + 177 bhp e-motor); 217 mph electronically limited.
- 2. 0–186 mph (300 km/h) in 16.5 s — about 5.5 s quicker than the McLaren F1.
- 3. 375 road cars, all sold before launch; a track-only P1 GTR (58) followed.
- 4. "Holy Trinity" member with the Ferrari LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder.
- 5. Listed at ~$1.15M (£866,000); now commonly $1.5–2M+.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
Jenson Button — the McLaren F1 world champion owned a P1 for roughly three years, covering about 500 miles before selling it in 2018 (documented via its later sale, PistonHeads).
Studio Buyer’s Brief
Every P1 is a hybrid: battery condition and McLaren’s high-voltage servicing history are paramount. Low, careful mileage and complete provenance command the premium. Don’t confuse the road P1 with the track-only P1 GTR (or road-converted GTRs). Values are firmly appreciating — buy on condition and history, not on shaving a few dollars.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- McLaren P1
- Class
- Hypercar
- Production years
- 2013–2015
- Units built
- 375
- Variants
- P1 GTR (track-only, race variant)
- Engine layout
- Mid
- Engine
- V8 Twin-Turbo
- Engine family
- McLaren M838 (V8)
- Displacement
- 3.8L (3,799 cc) V8 + e-motor
- Power
- 903 hp
- Torque
- 664 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 2.8 s
- Top speed
- 217 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 584 hp/tonne · 3.8 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 7-Speed Dual-Clutch
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive · Hybrid
- Curb weight
- 3411 lb
Questions
P1 FAQ
How many McLaren P1s were made?
McLaren capped P1 production at exactly 375 units. All allocations sold out approximately eight months after the car’s 2013 Geneva Motor Show debut, per Top Gear.
What is the McLaren P1’s total horsepower output?
The P1 combines a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 with an electric motor in McLaren’s IPAS hybrid system for a total of 903 bhp and 664 lb-ft of torque.
How fast is the McLaren P1 from 0 to 60 mph?
McLaren rates the P1 at 2.8 seconds to 60 mph and 6.8 seconds to 124 mph, with a top speed electronically governed to 217 mph.
How much is a McLaren P1 worth today?
McLaren P1 values cluster around $1.5 million on average across recent public sales, with exceptional examples exceeding $2 million. 2024 results spanned a broad range — RM Paris realized €1,017,500 while RM’s Dare to Dream sale reached $2,095,000, with lower recorded sales also on Classic.com.
Can you lease or finance a McLaren P1?
Yes. Specialty lenders structure collector-car leases on appreciating hypercars including the P1.
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