McLaren P1 hits the slopes – sideways

The final production version of McLaren's astonishing new P1 was revealed at the Geneva motor show in March but the British supercar maker has now released a video of its new flagship in full flight during cold-weather development testing.

McLaren says it took the XP prototype versions of the P1 to the frozen landscape of the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden as part of its final durability program just a few months before the first of 375 customer deliveries take place.

“This extensive work is being carried out to ensure that the McLaren P1 delivers on the target of being ‘the best driver’s car in the world on road and track’… or a frozen lake, for that matter,” said McLaren.

The P1, which has also been confirmed to feature at the 2013 Goodwood festival of Speed as McLaren plans its 50th anniversary, will be publicly demonstrated in anger over the British summer in a series of “dynamic displays.

As we’ve reported, the P1 will be capable of hitting 100km/h in less than three seconds and 200km/h in less than seven seconds on its way to a top speed of more than 350km/h, eclipsing the famous McLaren F1.

Priced in the UK from £866,000 ($A1.28 million), the P1 is powered by a mid-mounted 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine that bangs out a whopping 542kW at 7500rpm and 720Nm at 4000rpm.??This rises to 673kW and 900Nm with the assistance of a 131kW/260Nm electric motor, which also gives the P1 the ability to drive emissions-free for up to 20km at speeds of less than 50km/h.