Enthusiasts commonly refer to the McLaren P1 as a “Holy Trinity” member of hybrid supercars that kickstarted the mega-horsepower race. The elite circle comprises the Ferrari LaFerrari and Porsche 918, but the McLaren P1 stakes the claim of being the world’s first mass-produced hybrid supercar.
Moreover, the P1 is McLaren’s first hybrid vehicle after flirting with greatness with its MP4-12C, the brand’s first roadgoing production car and the unofficial successor to the legendary McLaren F1. The P1’s legendary hybrid powertrain combines a twin-turbocharged gas engine and a battery-electric hybrid powertrain that the brand calls IPAS or Integrated Power Assist.
Combined with the P1’s space-age engineering, optimized aerodynamics, and balanced mid-engine layout, it scoots harder than a supercar on steroids, rushing from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, numbers that were unheard of in a production sports car in the mid-2010s. Thanks to its proprietary drag reduction system with an adjustable rear wing, the P1 takes under 6.8 seconds to reach zero to 124 mph. The top speed is 217 mph.
The McLaren P1 has a modified and optimized 3.8-liter M838TQ twin-turbo V8 gas engine inherited from the MP4-12C. It produces 727 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque while spinning to a heady 8,500 rpm redline. However, the P1’s IPAS system features an electric motor and a 4.7 kWh lithium-ion battery, which adds 177 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, higher figures than the KERS or Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems in a modern Formula One racing car.
