McLaren releases sketch of F1 successor

BRITISH supercar manufacturer McLaren has released a single sketch of its BP23 hypercar, the spiritual successor to the legendary F1 three-seater, that will go on sale in 2019 and take the fight to the Mercedes-AMG Project One and Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Based on the teaser sketch, the BP23 will take a similar shape to its aforementioned rivals, showing the same bulging wheel arches, low cabin and sweeping tail that contribute to what McLaren is calling its most aerodynamic road-going car ever produced.

The sketch shows a car with smooth flowing lines that accentuate the front and rear wheel arches, a low-slung and elongated roof line, and a wide, swooping tail that leaves plenty of room for whatever engine will be fitted to the hybrid monster.

The rear of the car finishes in a low tail-line with thin, horizontal tail-lights and what looks to be a sizeable carbon-fibre diffuser with room for a centrally-mounted exhaust.

McLaren also says that the BP23 will be its most powerful model ever, eclipsing the 673kW/900Nm output of the 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain in the P1, which was put out to pasture at the end of 2015.

The British car-maker has confirmed that the BP23 will feature hybridisation, with the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 in the recently-revealed 720S being the most likely candidate for petrol propulsion.

Under the bonnet of the 720S, the new V8 pumps out a sizeable 530kW of power and 770Nm of torque, which McLaren could push even further when combining it with an electric motor.

Only 106 examples of the three-seater will be made (the same number as the F1), with construction being overseen by McLaren Special Operations (MSO).

The BP23 gets its name from being the second bespoke project undertaken by MSO, and the fact that it has three seats.

Owners of the already-sold-out BP23 will be able to work alongside MSO to customise their vehicle, choosing colours, trim materials and other personalisation options to make their hypercar unique.

A limited number of BP23s will be coming to Australia according to McLaren Automotive Asia marketing manager Geoff Tink, with the viability of right or left-hand-drive not being a concern with its centrally-mounted driving position.

Deliveries of the completed BP23 are expected to commence in 2019.

In other news, McLaren has announced that it is building a new factory to produce and develop its Monocage and Monocell carbon-fibre chassis that will feature scalable architecture to house different body styles and powertrains, including hybrid and full electric vehicles (EV).

The Composites Technology Centre, located in Sheffield, England, will help facilitate the development of 15 new cars or variants by 2022 under McLaren’s Track22 business plan, and the scalable architecture could possibly also lead to larger cars being developed, including a two-plus-two coupe or four-seater.

It will also allow the fitment of different powertrains, one of which is rumoured to be a hybrid-V6, which has never been done before in a McLaren.

A full EV is also expected, as Track22 stipulates that over half of the new vehicles released by 2022 will be supported by batteries.

Employing 200 people, full production from the facility is expected to commence by 2020.