2017 Mclaren 570 Coupe on 2040-cars

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Say goodbye to the McLaren P1

McLaren just built the 375th and final example of the P1. And with it, production of the hybrid hypercar draws to a close, sealing the chapter on one of the most capable performance machines ever to grace the road. Now that all 375 have been completed, the company is retiring the model entirely. It still has a handful of track-bound P1 GTRs to finish, but expects to complete those early in the new year ahead. Speaking with Autoblog recently at the launch of the 570S, spokesman Wayne Bruce confirmed that no further versions of the P1 would follow – no convertibles, no road-going take on the GTR, nothing. So once the P1 GTR is finished, the production line will be shut down and the Ultimate Series will be no more. He also told us that no plans for a successor are on the table at the moment, a notion echoed by his boss, chief executive Mike Flewitt, in the statement below: "The McLaren P1 has already established itself as an icon and any car that is to continue the lineage of the Ultimate Series will need to be a worthy successor - a significant step change in technology or performance is required to ensure this is the case. The future is undecided at this stage." Envisioned as the spiritual successor to the legendary McLaren F1, the P1 debuted in concept form at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, and in production form at the Geneva show the following year. It was designed around the same building blocks – carbon monocoque, 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8, seven-speed DCT – as everything else McLaren produces, but features a hybrid powertrain to boost output up to 903 horsepower. The result is a 0-62 time of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 217 miles per hour. McLaren limited production to just 375 examples made available for public consumption (on top of factory 21 prototypes), making it more exclusive than either the Porsche 918 Spyder or Ferrari LaFerrari with which it has invariably been compared. Each of those 375 examples took 105 workers 800 man-hours across 17 days to complete, rolling off the dedicated assembly on the side of the McLaren Production Centre at a rate of one each day. The paint process alone could take up to five days, depending on specification, with yellow emerging the most popular color choice. Every last one was made to order and customized by McLaren Special Operations, ensuring that no two were alike. The first example pictured above rolled off the assembly line in September 2013, finished in silver with contrasting carbon-fiber trim.

McLaren GT spied in detail running around the streets of Spain

The McLaren GT is on its way, and today we get a more detailed look at the British supercar. McLaren previously released a few photos of the car in camouflage, but these are much more revealing with close-up shots included. We'd like to turn your attention to the middle and rear of the car, where this McLaren stands to differentiate itself most with the rest of the lineup. There's a bit of a stretching effect from the long, gently tapering engine cover and rear deck. It's unclear how much of that area will be usable storage space, but there's bound to be more than the 570 GT allows for now. McLaren has said it's aiming for a full set of golf clubs or two pairs of 6-foot long skis with boots. So for all you McLaren owners upset about not being able to drive your supercar to the golf course or into snowy mountain passes, rest assured that McLaren is remedying this problem. Even though McLaren is calling this a grand tourer, the general supercar shape and supercar characteristics appear ever-present. It's still extremely low to the ground, positions the engine right behind the driver's ears and it'll probably have even more power than the current 570 series of cars. Autocar recently chatted with McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt about the car, and he said it will have a more dedicated focus on the characteristics you want in a GT. That means high levels of comfort from the suspension and also increased cabin luxury. He went on to say that there will be more McLarens like this to come. The DRL, headlight and taillight signatures are clear for us all to stare at now, too. McLaren hasn't showed much restraint when it comes to the air intakes behind the doors, as they're as large as ever. Camouflage on supercars like this McLaren never looks all that bad — we wouldn't be surprised to see somebody do a wrap like this for a rally, as those are generally pretty out-there designs. McLaren is expected to launch the car relatively soon, presumably as a 2020 model year vehicle. It's looking ready to go in these spy photos, so don't expect to wait terribly long to see the new McLaren GT.

FIA levels F1 playing field for Honda

Formula One may place a high emphasis on technical innovation, but it also demands an equal playing field. So after the FIA regulations handed Mercedes a technical advantage for next season, a loophole was opened up to allow Ferrari and Renault to update their engines throughout the year. That left engine-supplier-to-be Honda in the dust, but now the motorsport governing body has awarded the Japanese automaker the same courtesy. As is often the case, the issue revolves around the specific wording of the regulations. Ferrari and Renault successfully argued that, contrary to its spirit, the letter of the law (or regulations, in any event) didn't actually specify when existing engine suppliers had to complete their revisions for the upcoming championship. The thing is that the rules were more clear when it came to new suppliers, so Honda was told that it would have to complete its design before the start of the season – unlike Ferrari, Renault and Mercedes, which would be allowed to continue development (albeit on a limited basis) throughout the year. Recognizing the inherent injustice of the resulting regulations, the FIA has consented to Honda's request that it be afforded the same opportunities as its rivals. The Japanese manufacturer, which returns to the paddock this season with McLaren, will therefore be allowed to make adjustments to its engines as its first season back on the grid progresses, just like the other engine suppliers. News Source: AutosportImage Credit: McLaren Motorsports Honda McLaren F1 fia regulations