Now that McLaren’s automotive business has successfully launched the P1 hypercar and looks set to break even this year , it can focus on the next project ahead, the so-called P13. The Porsche 911 rival will be the most important for the company, since it will be McLaren’s entry-level model and should become the best-selling car for the UK-based automaker.
According to a report from AutoExpress, the mid-engined P13 will be priced from £120,000 in the UK, which at current exchange rates is equivalent to €140,950 or $194,000. According to a “well-placed source” quoted by the magazine, the P13 will feature the same 3.8-liter V8 turbocharged engine as the 12C, but detuned to produce around 450 hp.
Thanks to its smaller size and carbon fiber construction, the P13 will weigh less than the 12C (1,434 kg/3,161 lbs) and be considerably lighter than the 911 Turbo (1,600 kg/3,527 lbs). This means the McLaren should be close to the 911 Turbo’s 0-100 km/h time of 3.4 seconds.
The P13’s styling is said to be inspired by the P1 hypercar rather than the MP4-12C, so the car may feature P1-style wraparound headlights with LED strips underneath. The baby McLaren will have a shorter wheelbase than the 12C, but will be based on the same carbon fiber monocoque.
Most of the development work is reportedly finished, which means we may see the P13 in late 2014, with sales to start in early 2015.
By Dan Mihalascu
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS
