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