The good thing about McLaren is they continue to hang around and create epic hypercars. Everyone should thank them for the engineering marvel that was the F1 and their efforts in Formula One. Mercecedes should be thankful for the SLR McLaren.

The question now remains, with the automotive industry going green, will there be any space left for earth-shaking hypercars – which is the real business of McLaren.

In the works are the P11 (pictured) and P12 cars that McLaren have been working on since breaking ties with Mercedes. McLaren Chairman Ron Dennis unveiled plans for a new facility to build a new range.

Rumors have been abound whether or not McLaren will be factoring in efficiency in their designs. The much-awaited 500-hp P11 is rumored to have a hybrid system but remain as speculation. Hybrids might be part of post-P11 McLarens.

But what’s certain is that McLaren is factoring hybrid system into their plans. “It (hybrid technology) is something we want as a forward-thinking, technology-driven company. We have been considering it for future projects. All the advert means is that we are looking for a senior engineer in powertrain hybrid technology. Read into it what you will.”

McLaren is poised to bring back its McLaren F1 supercar, ready to retake its place at the pinnacle of high-performance automobiles. McLaren is looking at a whole new range of models, including an exclusive ultra-fast car said to be the successor to the famed McLaren F1 that would rival the Bugatti Veyron and the Koenigsegg CCX.

The McLaren F1 used to be the fastest production car ever built, until Bugatti came out with its own supercar, the Veyron, back in 2005. The F1, though, still holds the title of the fastest naturally-aspirated car.

The late-90’s era F1 had a mid-mounted 6.1-liter V12 engine, capable of pushing the car to 627 brake horsepower and achieving a 240mph top speed. Of course, the new model is still in its infantile stages, so no details are available yet.

While there were only 106 units of the original F1 manufactured, McLaren intends to make the new F1’s production run bigger. McLaren boss Ron Dennis just revealed that McLaren has allotted £250 million to the development of new supercars.

Source: Autocar

There is a revamped McLaren supercar designed Frank Stephenson, formerly the head of Fiat’s design team. Dubbed the P11, the car is scheduled to be launched sometime in 2010. There will be two versions—a coupe and a convertible, available in 2011. Both are being developed side-by-side, and share the same carbon fiber center with aluminum subframes on the aft and the front. The rear will bear the engine and transmission systems.

Mahle, a German engineering company, is tasked to alter the AMG 5.5-liter V8 drastically. The engine will then be repackaged as an entirely-new McLaren engine. The use of carbon fiber for the chassis definitely makes the McLaren P11 very light, which would put it among the lightest supercars.

McLaren has plans to produce 1500 P11 units per year from 2010 to 2015. This is an indication that the automaker is not fazed by the steep decline of vehicle sales, especially in the luxury sports car segment and even if the car doesn’t have a confirmed production facility yet. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if McLaren really does to push through with that volume of P11s.

Source: Autocar

In the previous Car Magazine, the McLaren replacement for the classic F1 looked like it will fail to impress. Today, we get to see more images of the P11 and I have to admit that it doesn’t look as f*ck-ugly as the last revealed images.

The car will be McLaren’s attempt on building cars under their own name. The SLR signifies the end of the McLaren-Mercedes partnership. Still that didn’t stop McLaren from sourcing the mid-mounted 6.2L V8 to be slapped on the P11 from Merc’s AMG division. Power will be channeled to the rear wheels via a semi-automatic transmission, complete with flappy-paddle shifters. As for the power figures, the car will have at least 500 bhp and would zoom from 0-60 in under four seconds and reach a top speed of 200 mph.

While it won’t be gunning for the title of fastest production car (a title its predecessor held for some time), the P11 is slated to go head-to-head with the Lamborghini Gallardo and the Ferrari F430. It is to enter showrooms by 2010 and will be priced between £150,000 and £200,000.

Source: McLaren F1

The last news we’ve read about the upcoming McLaren supercar dubbed as the P11, it was taken back to the drawing board to be influenced by Frank Stephenson – McLaren’s chief designer himself. They’re set to reveal the car hopefully later this year if not early next but thanks to the internet, we can definitely have some details as early as now.

Car Magazine‘s got first dibs in releasing preview of the supposed Ferrari F430 killer and claim that the pics aren’t done by some Photoshop junkie. I don’t want to have any more takes than what can be seen but why does it seem to look like a car with a Ferrari front and a R8 back?

Speculated to power the car is an AMG-sourced 550 hp V8 engine. No confirmation yet on whethera GTR version that gets a 600-bhp V10 will be offered. Continuing their tradition, the P11 is to be mid-engined, rear-drive layout.

Source: Car Magazine Online

Whoops. Looks like our hopes for landmark updates on the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren replacement would be marked by delays. This time, newly-appointed McLaren chief stylist(?) Frank Stephenson will be personally heading this new effort.

Developed to beat the crap out of the Ferrari F430, mules were seen going road the track last year. But with this latest development, it seems that the car will be very different from last year’s. The engineering layout will still be the same but the styling will change.

Powering the car is a 550 hp V8 engine and a GTR version will get the pumped up 600-bhp V10. Aside from the hard-top, Stephenson will also get to mess around with a topless design.

McLaren is eyeing to reveal the car later this year but they will most likely be ready by next year or even in 2010.

Source and Image Credit: Autocar

With the growing number of geek gearheads who have too much time and technology in their hands, you just have to make two takes or more whenever there’s an alleged spyshot or rendering that surfaces on the Internet.

Slovenian automotive site avtmanija.com just released a set of photos that just might be the McLaren F2 – the supposed successor to the famed classic, the McLaren F1.

Details are shaky about this but looking at the car and comparing it to the old F1, I’m not too sure I dig this design. I think the car looks too flat and the raised mirrors make them look like Shrek ears.

Right now, the development codename for the car is the P12 with the P11 designation going to the supposed successor to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren which ended after Merc and McLaren went their separate ways.

As for the F2 successor, the power output seems to make anticipation rise for more details. So far, we only know that the car will be sporting a V10 dishing out around 600 bhp and will be stripped down for lightweightedness to give it better performance.

Via WorldCarFans

With the recent end of the McLaren-Mercedes run, McLaren now starts a new phase to its existence. If there’s one car that Propelled McLaren to the lime-light, it’s the famed McLaren F1 – its first and only proper supercar to solely bear its name. After that, it has been a series of tie-ups and F1 runs.

News has been around that McLaren will be building its long-awaited second supercar almost a decade after seeing the F1. Early prototypes of the car (dubbed as the P11) have appeared since the middle of last month. A production version is set to debut late next year and they plan to have the car in showrooms by March 2010.

Powering the car. is a 550 hp V8 engine. It will also be available in soft and hard tops. Before the days of the Zonda, the CCR, and the Veyron, the McLaren F1 used to occupy the title of the world’s fastest production supercar. But McLaren isn’t targetting that spot with this one, obviously not with a 550 hp car. Insiders claim that the P11 will be targetting the F430 and other cars in the 600hp class. Perhaps a way for McLaren to claim a stake in the market after being always associated with Merc.

But the next car, the P12, is one to be seen. Powered by a 600 hp V10, and to be stripped down for lightweightedness, McLaren’s next car will give the old F1 a run for its money.

Source: Autocar