McLaren Readies Next-Gen Supercar

McLaren Automotive Ltd. plans to unveil its secretive P15 supercar later this year, Autocar reports.

Rumors about the car, which has never been officially confirmed by McLaren, have been circulating for at least three years. The carmaker aims to make the P15 its “most extreme, track-focused road car,” according to Autocar, which doesn’t cite its sources.

The two-seat hypercar’s minimalist styling is described as "brutal" with a clear focus on function over form. Carbon fiber will be used throughout the vehicle to keep weight down, while an active front spoiler and massive rear wing will enhance aerodynamics.

Power is expected to come from McLaren’s 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine tuned to make 789 hp. The engine generates 727 hp in the current P1 hybrid supercar, which has a total output of 900 hp with its electric motor.

While the P15 will lack the P1’s overall output, Autocar says eliminating the electric motor and other weight-saving techniques will make it nearly 550 lbs lighter. This will allow the new model to have a better power-to-weight ratio than the P1.

Current McLaren owners could get a sneak peek at the vehicle later this year before a public unveiling next March at the Geneva auto show, Autocar says. Production likely will be limited to fewer than 500 models with a base-price of nearly $1 million. Deliveries are likely to start next summer, the magazine suggests.