When it comes to producing world-class supercars for the road, McLaren attacks its projects with the same unwavering enthusiasm it uses to build championship-winning race cars. Take the eagerly-anticipated McLaren P1 for example: the car was only revealed at last September’s Paris Auto Show, yet a “production-ready” model will be displayed in Geneva next month. By anyone’s standards, that’s moving quickly.
McLaren has also released this video, showing (for the first time) the P1’s racing-inspired digital instrument cluster. It’s even got a full on “Race” mode for the display, which gives the driver a bank of shift lights (ranging from green to red to blue) to optimize acceleration. We assume the display can be arranged in any way the driver sees fit, emphasizing the gear indicator (as shown), speedometer or, presumably, the rev counter. The P1’s standard display shows a sweeping bar graph tachometer, a digital speedometer and a gear indicator, as well as the car’s current mode.
Look for full details on the P1 (including drivetrain specs and power output) to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. We suspect the car will get a Formula One-inspired Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) for added acceleration, and rumor has it that combined output of the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 and electric motor will be around 800 horsepower. If that’s the case, the P1 will be one hybrid we can get excited about.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
