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McLaren 650S successor will get twin-turbo V8 hybrid

The trickledown theory is central to an automaker's justification of auto racing. It's the idea that stuff developed in competition informs how production cars are built or what features are included. It's why today you can get performance cars with carbon fiber bodies and carbon-ceramic brakes – and thanks to Formula 1 and endurance racing, it's why you'll soon be able to buy high-performance hybrids. McLaren is all about the trickledown theory. The energy recovery system that started in the company's F1 cars inspired the hybrid drivetrain in the P1 hypercar. And now, the British company has confirmed that a similar setup will grace the replacement for the 650S and 675LT. Code-named the P14, Car and Driver reports an updated 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 will be the centerpiece, but a focus will be on reducing the weight of batteries and electric motors. In fact, McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt said shedding weight is central to all of the company's hybrid pursuits. "The P1 had 375 pounds of [batteries/motors] if you added it up; I think that today we're within a 70- to 110-pound weight penalty for hybrid," Flewitt told C/D. "I want to eliminate that, get it to zero – and then really hack off my engineers by saying we want to make it even lighter than a conventional powertrain would be. But that's in the future, it's something we're constantly driving." Just because the next mid-range supercar from McLaren will get bits of P1, don't expect this kind of hybrid technology to filter into the company's more affordable offerings. Part of the reason McLaren is making this move with the successor to the 650S/675LT is because it will much faster, and in turn allow the company to create an even greater separation between its so-called Sports and Super Series cars. Still, McLaren is making some very good decisions for drivers. Moving such an advanced piece of technology downmarket and focusing on cutting weight out of said tech is proof positive that the trickledown theory of motorsports works. Expect to see this new McLaren hybrid at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Related Video:

Chris Harris spends a couple of days with the McLaren P1

Driving a supercar like the McLaren P1 during a launch event is one thing. And Chris Harris has done that, bringing his film crew along to document the experience. But driving one cross country on public roads over the course of days is another matter entirely. So to see how Woking's hybrid hypercar behaves as a daily driver, Harris drove one around and in between two of the UK's finest racing circuits. Documented in the video above, everyone's favorite British automotive journalist picks up a black P1 at Anglesey – that picturesque circuit by the seashore in Wales – and drives it to Goodwood, home of the Festival of Speed and so many other octane-drenched extravaganzas. Along the way (and in between track lapping sessions), he treats a stranger to a drive, drags it against an Audi RS6 and highlights the finer points of experiencing a supercar out in the wild. It's well worth the 19 minutes of play time, so check out the footage to see what it's like to live with nearly 1,000 horsepower under your right foot. Related Video: Related Gallery McLaren P1 News Source: Chris Harris on Cars via YouTube McLaren Hybrid Supercars Videos mclaren p1

McLaren 650S to start at $265,500 in US?

As the McLaren 650S inches towards US dealerships, one of the big questions on our mind is how much the mid-engined supercar will cost. We previously reported that European customers would be shelling out 232,500 Euros, which at the time was the equivalent of $318,000 (today, it's about $320,200). In that piece, we claimed US pricing would probably be well below that number, and thanks to some supposedly leaked intel, it looks like we were correct. DragTimes claims the hardtop 650S will start at $265,500, which actually strikes us as a bit of a bargain for a 641-horsepower, mid-engined super car. It should be noted that the list of optional extras, which is what will really drive up the price of the 650S, doesn't differ from the European options sheet we showed you back in February. That means there's a load of carbon-fiber trim pieces as well as plenty of performance options, like "super-lightweight" forged wheels, a carbon-fiber racing seat and a sport exhaust. Now, all this being said, we'd suggest taking these prices with a grain of salt. The European price leaks were accompanied by a physical price sheet that lent an air of credibility to the initial report - there's no such proof for these prices. We've reached out to McLaren to try and get confirmation on these, and we'll be sure to update this post as soon as we hear anything. Until then, head over to DragTimes for the full rundown, and let us know what you think in Comments. Is $265K a reasonable start price for a 650S? Which options from the price list would be must-haves? Have your say below. Featured Gallery McLaren 650S: Geneva 2014 View 18 Photos News Source: DragTimesImage Credit: Copyright 2014 Drew Phillips / AOL McLaren Coupe Performance pricing mclaren 650s