The first McLaren P1 hybrid supercar, finished in stunning yellow livery has just arrived for an Indonesia owner. It has been over a year since this supercar was officially unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.
The McLaren P1 is powered by a revised version of the twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine that is also found in the engine bay of the MP4-12C. The unit features a Formula 1-inspired dry sump lubrication system and a low sited flat plane crankshaft that helps reduce the center of gravity. By itself the eight-cylinder makes 727 hp and 7,500 rpms and 531 lb-ft. of torque from 4,000 rpms.
A 57-pound electric motor integrated into the V8 engine produces 176 hp and 190 lb-ft. of torque, providing an acceleration boost when needed and helping offset the low-end lag typically associated with turbochargers. The motor enabled McLaren engineers to use beefier turbos than they normally would without worrying about creating excessive amounts of lag.
The electric motor gets juice from a 211-pound lithium-ion battery pack designed with an emphasis on power delivery. Mounted between the seats and the engine bay for better weight distribution, the pack can be recharged using kinetic energy or in just two hours by plugging an on-board charger into a regular household outlet. Alternatively, the P1 packs a world-first “pit lane charging” system that uses the V8 as a generator to give the battery a full charge in just ten minutes.
The power generated by the V8 and by the electric motor reaches the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox that can be controlled with carbon fiber shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.
