McLaren P1TM design study makes its debut in the United Arab Emirates

Designed quite simply to be the best driver's car in the world on road and track, the McLaren P1TM is one of 2013's most highly anticipated cars, and was revealed in front of VIP guests and executives from McLaren Automotive and Al Habtoor Motors, the British sports car manufacturer's retail partner in the UAE.

Chief Designer for the McLaren P1TM, Frank Stephenson said: "The development of the McLaren P1TM brings together the best assets from McLaren: our people and racing technology. The McLaren P1TM has been built to be more than a supercar; we have sought to design and build the best driver's car in the world by combining aerodynamics, engineering and exceptional design elements in creating something timeless, much like the McLaren F1 before, which many consider to be the world's greatest ever supercar."

McLaren Automotive's Regional Director for the Middle East & Africa, Mark Harrison added, "Presenting the new McLaren P1TM in the United Arab Emirates is a fantastic beginning to 2013, the year of the 50th anniversary of McLaren. This remarkable supercar is set to redefine the automotive scene and the UAE will be a key market. We are looking forward to working with Al Habtoor Motors, who were one of the most successful McLaren dealers in the world in 2012, as we prepare for its arrival."

Sultan Al Habtoor, Al Habtoor Motors Chairman, said: "The arrival of the McLaren P1TM is a thrilling moment for us. Since its initial unveil at the Paris Motor Show last year, we have received many enquiries from potential customers through our McLaren retailers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. When it goes on sale here later this year, the McLaren P1TM is certain to cement McLaren's reputation in the region, following the success here of the 12C and 12C Spider models."

Speaking about the development of the car, McLaren executives showcased a video of the new McLaren P1TM undergoing dynamic testing at a secret location.

The McLaren P1TM
Developed as a road car that offers genuine Formula 1-inspired racing car track performance, the McLaren P1TM showcases McLaren Automotive's advanced motorsport-based engineering, prioritising high performance through state-of-the-art technology. It will feature notable advances in weight reduction, packaging, high-speed performance, materials (especially carbon fibre), powertrain and in aerodynamics.

The new model was designed from the outset to prioritise aerodynamic performance, and has benefited from the same testing technologies used on McLaren's Formula 1 cars. It has much higher levels of downforce than any current road car - 600kg is achieved well below maximum speed, and is similar to current sports racing cars.

As with the legendary McLaren F1 road car, the McLaren P1TM is a mid-engine design that uses a carbon fibre monocoque and roof structure safety cage concept called the MonoCage, which is a development of the MonoCell used in the current 12C and 12C Spider. All the body panels are carbon fibre to reduce weight.

Displaying a compact, fluid, yet thoroughly unique design, the McLaren P1TM adheres to the company's philosophy of everything being done for a reason. Neat touches abound, such as the gold leaf heat shield around the exhausts - gold being the ideal metal to reflect heat; or the glasshouse that was inspired by the canopies of fighter jets, and which gives occupants similar sensations to a pilot as well as levels of visibility that are exceptional for a supercar.

Inspired by Formula 1
While every single body panel, air intake and air exhaust is designed to optimize aerodynamics, the most noticeable feature is the large, 'active' rear wing. It can extend rearwards by up to 300mm on a racetrack and by up to 120mm on the road, and has been developed using McLaren Formula 1 processes and software. The McLaren P1TM also has a DRS (drag reduction system) function, just like a Grand Prix car, to reduce downforce and increase straight line speed.

The McLaren P1TM follows in the footsteps of the classic McLaren F1 as the 'ultimate car' offering. The name ties in with Grand Prix racing. P1 means first place - and McLaren has won 182 Grands Prix since its debut in 1966, more than any other Formula 1 team. There is also heritage in the name: the McLaren F1 was initially known as Project 1, or P1.

The McLaren F1
Twenty years ago the McLaren F1 raised the supercar performance bar at its launch, and it is still regarded by many, especially those who have driven and owned one of the road car versions, as the greatest supercar ever to touch tarmac.

The McLaren F1 was the first road car to be based on a carbon fibre chassis: a technology that McLaren introduced into Formula 1 in 1981, and one that was rapidly adopted by all Formula 1 teams. At 240.1 mph, it was the world's fastest production car; it remains the world's fastest naturally aspirated (non-turbo) production car, a record likely never to be beaten. The racing car version of the F1, the GTR, won the famous 24hr Le Mans road race on its debut in 1995: another feat that will likely never again be achieved by a racing car version of a road car.

With the McLaren P1 TM, the goal is to take the achievements of the McLaren F1 as inspiration and redefine the criteria by which supercars are judged.