The McLaren P1, a masterpiece of engineering from the storied British manufacturer, emerged in the mid-2010s as a successor to the legendary McLaren F1. This limited-production plug-in hybrid sports car quickly captured the attention of automotive enthusiasts and collectors worldwide with its groundbreaking design and hybrid technology.
In addition to its hybrid capabilities, the P1 is renowned for its eye-catching aesthetics and extreme performance metrics. Boasting a combined output of 903 horsepower from its petrol engine and electric motor, the P1 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars of its era. With only 375 units produced, it holds a special place in the pantheon of supercars, offering both rarity and unmatched driving dynamics that continue to influence the design of future hybrid sports cars. The following is not financial advice.
How many McLaren P1 cars were built?
Previewed at the 2012 at the Paris Motor Show, and launched at Geneva in 2013, a production run of just over two years produced 375 cars, making it highly collectible. Designed by Frank Stephenson and known internally as the ‘Mega Mac’, its aims were track-oriented but did not target record-breaking top speed, as the F1 had achieved in its day.
What are the main selling points of the McLaren P1?
Following on from the renowned F1 model, the P1 features a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, producing 727 horsepower, but this is boosted to 903 hp by a 131-kilowatt electric motor, which can be deployed manually by the driver or the engine’s control unit. This pioneering hybrid technology set a benchmark in performance and sustainability for hypercars.
The P1’s body incorporates active aerodynamics, including an airbrake spoiler, and the ability to be lowered by 50 millimeters in its race setting. McLaren’s interlinked hydropneumatic dampers can also be stiffened by up to 300 percent in this mode, making the P1 hugely capable on a racetrack, yet still sufficiently supple for road use.
The P1 offers jaw-dropping performance, capable of 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 217 mph.
What do you need to know before you buy a McLaren P1?
As with all makes and models, you must focus on the condition, mileage, service history, specification and options. For instance, McLaren also launched variants of the P1, starting with the track-only GTR in 2015 that celebrated the 20th anniversary of its 24 Hours of Le Mans victory in 1995. It was first offered to existing P1 owners, and 58 were made in total.
UK-based specialist Lanzante Motorsport further commissioned McLaren’s Special Operations’ Bespoke division to build further specials, including the LM, GT, and Spider.
What are the known issues with the McLaren P1?
In January 2016, America’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a recall for 122 P1 cars (model years 2014–2015) manufactured between 1 March 2013 and 31 October 2015 due to a faulty secondary bonnet latch.
How many McLaren P1 cars were sold last year?
Per sales auction data from Hammer Price data, six McLaren P1s were sold in 2024, while another four failed to sell. There was a 50/50 split between 2014 and 2015 model years.
What is the average price of McLaren P1 sales in 2024?
Last year’s online sales auction total for the McLaren P1 was $7.9 million, with an average price per sale of $1.3 million. The highest price paid last year was $2,095,000 for a Gulf Oil-liveried 2015 car with 1913 miles on the clock. The sale occurred at RM Sotheby’s ‘Dare to Dream’ Toronto auction.
What is the record price paid for a McLaren P1?
The record price paid for a P1 was set at $2,425,000 for the second-to-last car ever produced of the 375 total at Broad Arrow’s Amelia Island auction in 2023. With just 130 miles on the clock, the exposed carbon fiber bodywork example features over $400,000 in selected options from McLaren’s Special Operations department. It had been prominently displayed on loan in various Petersen Museum exhibits.
What is the lowest price paid for a McLaren P1?
The lowest price paid for a P1 at auction was set in 2024 at $1,006,250 for a Mercury Red example, with Harissa Red/Slate Grey interior, at RM Sotheby’s Dubai auction. It had 7,205 kilometers on the clock, and just one owner since it was delivered to Kuwait. One aspect that likely impacted its price was that its hybrid battery was flat, and the car cannot run until this fault is rectified – with a fix estimated at $215,000.
Conclusion
While some P1s remained unsold at auction, only 21 have sold across the last five years, so their increasing rarity and legendary status among McLaren’s lineup make them a coveted asset for collectors. The McLaren P1 is poised to become a future classic, and the fact that it’s rarer than both of its contemporary rivals, the LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder, only adds to its allure.
