New McLaren Sport Series V6 hybrid previewed
Ferrari F8 Tributo in McLaren's sights as new Brit supercar set for car-maker's most advanced electrified powertrain yetOfficial pictures of the next-generation McLaren Sport Series supercar in testing have emerged as the British marque prepares to introduce a new carbon-fibre architecture and advanced hybrid V6 powertrain.
Created to replace the current Sport Series range of supercars that includes the 540C, 570S and 600LT, the Woking-based British car-maker has teased two pictures of the camouflaged Ferrari F8 Tributo rival testing ahead of its launch in Europe in 2021.
When it arrives, the big news is the new Sport Series will retire its long-serving Ricardo-developed twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 for an all-new electrified turbocharged V6 that's being developed under the 'High-Performance Hybrid' banner.
Little has been revealed about the new engine, other than that the battery and electric motor on board will enable the vehicle to run for at least 35km in pure-electric mode.
The next important technological leap forward is the as-yet-unnamed small McLaren will be the first road car to use its next-generation McLaren Lightweight Carbon Architecture.
Replacing the old Monocell, the new ultra-lightweight rigid architecture has been developed to package both the batteries and electrical architecture needed for the shift to hybrid power.
The new platform will also be made in-house for the first time, rolling off McLaren's all-new Sheffield composites plant that's based in the north of England.
Claimed to offer even more weight savings, the new structure is set to offer even higher levels of rigidity compared to Monocell-underpinned supercars.
Despite the swirly camo wrap, it is possible to make out that the new McLaren Sport Series will get a look inspired by the latest GT, with a pair of slim LED headlights and air intakes that look lifted from the more expensive supercar.
Commenting on the official tease, McLaren Automotive boss Mike Flewitt described its new model as “a new kind of McLaren for a new era, an extraordinary driver’s car that offers blistering performance as well as an all-electric range capable of covering most urban journeys”.
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