McLaren P1 XP2R “Prototype” Spied—All We Can Say for Certain is It’s Silver

The anticipation level couldn't be any higher the upcoming McLaren P1 hypercar. This, after all, is the offspring of a true racing company with a reputation for purposeful design and little tolerance for compromise. This being the spiritual successor of the F1—a true automotive legend that offered an unsurpassed level of performance in its day—doesn't do anything to dampen those expectations. Such anticipation likely is the reason why the interwebs are abuzz with speculation and uncurbed enthusiasm regarding the brand's XP2R Prototype P1 that's been spied at the Nürburgring. It's awfully hard to imagine creating an even-higher-performance variant of a car that claims such astounding numbers as 903 horsepower, 664 lb-ft of torque, a sub-three-second 0–60 time, and a top speed of 217 mph. Yet, rumors persist, the XP2R could be just that. Of course, it's also possible that McLaren simply was carrying out testing of the standard P1 and stuck on some decals and instructed its handlers to act overly protective (or so our photographers tell us) in an effort to drum up some attention. Visually, at least, there is little evidence to suggest that there are any substantial differences to the P1 we witnessed in Geneva. What's perhaps more interesting is that this car is painted silver—we've only seen the P1 traipsing around the world from auto show to auto show in toasted orange, yellow, and black hues. Silver is the perfect color to evaluate the car's sensual shape, which marks a pronounced departure from the simple lines of the 12C. Surrounding the carbon-fiber MonoCage, the complex and curvaceous shape generates more downforce—according to those in Woking—than any other production car. Comparison Test: 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia vs. 2011 McLaren MP4-12C, 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Feature: Chasing Perfection—1000 Miles in the McLaren MP4-12C First Drive: 2013 McLaren MP4-12C Spider Regardless of whether this is the standard-issue P1 or an even more radical derivative, the war in the ultra-high performance segment promises to get very interesting what with Porsche's 887-hp 918 and Ferrari's 950-hp LaFerrari both being introduced to the market at roughly the same time as the McLaren. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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