McLaren previews Sport Series electrified chassis

McLaren has begun teasing the all-new replacement for the McLaren 570S and 600LT by pulling the drapes off the bare bones that will underpin the next-gen British Audi R8 rival.

Revealed in a single image, the all-new carbon-fibre architecture replaces the old car's Monocell, which was an evolution of the tub first introduced back in 2011.

For the first time, the carbon tub will be manufactured at the car-maker's $100 million composites manufacturing facility in Sheffield in the north of England, and designed with future technologies like electrification embedded within it.

It was created specifically for the Sport Series models, the first new example of which will be launched in 2021 and powered by the car-maker's next-generation hybrid powertrains, which are thought to have been designed around a new twin-turbo V6.

McLaren hasn't released full details of the new platform but claims it's so light that it will offset the extra weight of the electronics and batteries that hybrids demand.

Described by McLaren boss, Mike Flewitt, as "every bit as revolutionary as the Monocell", the new carbon-fibre monocoque is claimed to offer both greater structural integrity and higher levels of quality.

When the 570S-replacing second-generation Sport Series McLaren arrives, as well as offering performance a step up from the current car, the Woking-based brand is expected to offer buyers ultra-low emissions and, thanks to its plug-in hybrid V6, a pure-electric range of more than 30km.

Commenting on the Sport Series range, Flewitt said: "Our advanced expertise in light weight composite processes and manufacturing combined with our experience in cutting-edge battery technology and high-performance hybrid propulsion systems means we are ideally placed to deliver to customers levels of electrified high-performance motoring that until now have simply been unattainable."