Although it's been long rumoured that McLaren has a new supercar in the works, this secret project has been confirmed by Mike Flewitt, McLaren Automotive boss. The new car is currently code-named the P15, and is designed to fill the price gap between the 12C and the uber-luxurious P1. The P15 will most likely be direct competition to other supercars like the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 and the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.
At the moment, few details are available about the closely guarded P15, but Flewitt has shared some basic information with Autocar to keep us guessing. He's confirmed that the new P15 will have a carbon fibre monocoque chassis, along with a mid-mounted twin-turbo V-8 engine. It doesn't appear as if the car will be revealed any time soon, although more specific details may be shared before its official launch in 2017.
Both the 12C and P1 share a flexible MonoCell carbon chassis, as well as a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V-8 engine. From the basic details shared by Flewitt, it appears as though the new P15 will have these same qualities in common with McLaren's other supercars. How it will differ remains to be seen, but anticipation is already riding high among supercar enthusiasts and McLaren fans. The P1 was also hotly anticipated, and the limited run of 375 models sold out before the car had even officially gone into production. It's possible that the P15 will enjoy similar success when it's finally launched.
While we wait for the P15, there are other McLaren supercars on the horizon. This includes a revised version of the 12C, which is designed to rival the 458 Speciale from Ferrari. A brand new model is also due to be introduced in 2015, which is currently going by the code name P13. Like the P15 and other models, it will also sport the same Ricardo-sourced twin-turbo V-8 engine and the Monocell carbon tub. However, the P13 is being designed as direct competition to the Ferrari California and Porsche 911, as an entry-level car below the 12C. The new car will be smaller and lighter than the 12C, giving it improved dynamics and handling. It will boast engine power somewhere in the range of 450-500 horsepower, along with a seven-speed dual clutch. The P13 will also be able to zip from 0-60 mph in under four seconds, with a top speed of 185 mph.
McLaren is hard at work on these new models, including the P13 and P15. You can keep track of car news or look for used models with the Car Sales app, and keep your eyes peeled for the first reveal of these code-named projects. McLaren let a decade pass between the release of the F1 and the 12C, but now seems in prime expansion mode with these new models in the works. Although there's a bit of a wait for the new models, from these first details it seems they'll be well worth it.
