Almost nine years after its launch, British race team finally takes a gas axe to McLaren P1 hypercar
Lanzante has unwrapped a McLaren P1 Spider at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK this week.
McLaren never created a drop-top version of its LaFerrari alternative when the McLaren P1 was launched back in 2013, so the new run of just five Lanzante-produced McLaren P1 Spider hypercars will be based on existing coupes.
Ensuring the British engineering firm creates something that comes as close to mimicking factory specification, Lanzante says it recruited one of the designers of the original P1 to help with the task.
One of the biggest tasks facing the team of engineers and designers was not only removing the roof and glass panels but re-routing the roof’s central snorkel air intake.
McLaren P1
Other challenges include maintaining the P1’s structural integrity – a task that saw Lanzante add subtle mods to the front fenders, door and rear clamshell, plus adding extra strengthening to the lower section of the carbon-fibre tub.
Within, designers also took the opportunity to improve the cabin with new satin carbon-fibre trim and gloss black switchgear, while new rain- and UV-resistant fabrics have also been added.
Not pictured is the removeable roof that has been developed to protect owners from the elements should they get caught in a downpour.
Unchanged is the P1’s mighty 674kW/900Nm 3.8-litre V8 hybrid powertrain that offered, back in late 2013, near unbeatable performance, seeing the hypercar sprint from standstill to 100km/h in 2.8 seconds, 200km/h in an incredible 6.8 seconds and 300km/h in a downright shocking 16.5 seconds.
No pricing has been released for the new conversion but the bill of converting a P1 is expected to near seven figures.
Lanzante, which is most famous for its 1995 Le Mans 24 Hour win with a McLaren F1, also offers conversion kits that have reportedly seen five track-only McLaren P1 GTR race cars converted to road cars.
Featuring a modified rear wing, larger front splitter and anti-dive planes, the new LM version is claimed to come with as much as 40 per cent more downforce compared to the P1.
The LM also comes with a full carbon-fibre roof, new body panels and orange brake callipers.
Removing the GTR’s air jacks and the introduction of lightweight seats, a titanium exhaust, Lexan windows and titanium bolts and fixing has also cut 60kg from the kerb weight.
Air-conditioning remains, while the steering wheel is said to be a version of the 2008 McLaren MP4/23 F1 car’s wheel that was driven by Lewis Hamilton.
Lanzante says the GTR’s more powerful 1000hp (736kW) twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 petrol-electric hybrid engine carries over unchanged.
Again, prices were never revealed for the conversions.
Lanzante says it will deliver its first P1 Spider before the end of this year.
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Keyword: McLaren P1 Spider unleashed