McLaren has thrown us all for a loop, announcing that the P15 is set to make its debut in the first months of 2018. More importantly, however, is the note that says deliveries of the already-sold-out supercar will begin prior to the debut of a third Ultimate Series model – one codenamed BP23 – that is billed as the world’s first “Hyper-GT.”

What in the world is going on here? McLaren has been quite shady lately, hasn’t it? Most of the world was expecting the P15 to be the world’s first Hyper-GT, and yet here we are finding out that it’s the BP23, a future model, that will sport that designation. Are our previously posted spy shots of a McLaren in camo really the P15, or are they of the BP23? Well, it’s hard to say, but I’ll talk more about that in the coming days. For now, let’s talk about the fact that the already-sold-out P15 has finally been teased, well if you consider exhaust outlets a teaser, that is. Of course, this does little in the way of filling us in with even the slightest information, but hey, it’s a start. In six months, we’ll know everything, so until then, we have to make do with the knowledge that it’s being billed as the “most extreme, track-concentrated, road car” that the British brand has ever designed. Usually, I would chalk that off as a lot of PR talk as I wiped the McLaren manjuice from my lips, but McLaren always delivers, and right on time, too.

The P15 will be produced in very limited numbers, just like the P1 and P1 GTR. It will be road legal, despite the focus of it being so track-concentrated. McLaren says it has gone so far as to sacrifice daily usability just to give the most intensive driver experience around a circuit. McLaren also says that the design is “brutal” and follows the company’s philosophy of “form follows function.” Keep holding your breath if you want to know more, but don’t worry, you’ll only turn 30 different shades of blue – McLaren has promised more details and the cars official name by the end of the year. Sounds like an exciting Christmas present, don’t you think?

Interesting in knowing more about the P1 and the Ultimate Series? Keep reading to get the full scoop.

The P15 Teaser

At this point, little is know about the McLaren P15, and this teaser only adds to the mystery. What we can see is that it has three exhaust outlets that are ever so gracefully planted within a hexagonal cutout that will likely reside somewhere in the middle of the rear end. The thing is, however, is that there will actually be two of these on the car – one for each bank of cylinders. Whether or not the 3.8-liter V-8 will be used for this model remains to be seen, but with the P1 delivers 903 ponies with an electric motor, McLaren has to one-up itself in one way or another. The most likely method of power delivery will be the 3.8-liter along with a more powerful electric motor or a pair of electric motors that deliver twice the power. And, with the BP23 coming up sometime in the future, it certainly can’t be the best McLaren can do, so keep in mind that the P15 – or whatever McLaren will really call it – could, in theory, be capable of doing more if the setup will carry over with tweaks for the BP23. But, only time will tell on this matter.

What the Hell is this Car?

These spy shots come directly from our 2019 McLaren P15 review, but the problem is that with the BP23 on the horizon too, we’re not sure what this really is. At first, we thought the P15 would be the “Hyper-GT” but, as it turns out, the BP23 is aimed at being the world’s first “Hyper-GT” so there’s no way of knowing for sure. It’s possible that it could be either, and since it is rocking factory test pipes for exhaust outlets, it is possible that the exhaust showcased in the teaser would fit into the rear – it’s just too early on to say for sure. What do you think? Is this the upcoming P15 that we’ll see if the first few months of 2018 or is this the BP23 that we’ll see sometime before the turn of the decade?

The Ultimate Series in a Nutshell

In all reality, the Ultimate Series is actually quite new in automotive terms. It all started with the McLaren P1 which was also McLaren’s very first hybrid supercar. For a company that had never ventured into battery-assisted power before, you really have to give it some credit. Fast forward a few years, and now there’s two more models on the docket – the upcoming P15 and the third model, the BP23. Both still carry code names and are shrouded in mystery, but one this is for sure: McLaren isn’t wasting any time turning the Ultimate Series into a multi-model component of its core business. And, you could even technically say there are 2 models already in existence if you count the McLaren P1 GTR, but we’ll leave that discussion for another day. How many models of the P15 will be produced remains a complete mystery, but we know the BP23 will be produced to the tune of 106 examples, and – you guessed it – those are already spoken for. Talk about clout; the McLaren brand has such a reputation that it can sell out a car that won’t debut until after the next model shows up. Talk about crazy, huh?

The McLaren P1

They say that looks aren’t everything, and they really aren’t, but the McLaren P1 really makes you question that philosophy. It’s elegant, sexy, aggressive, wild, and exquisite all in one extremely aerodynamic package. The interior is the same way, however, you’ll never see one that looks the same since every customer gets to specify their own materials. One may have leather-wrapped seats while another may have Alcantara – it’s all up to the customer’s taste. It’s a beautiful thing, but it’s also necessary when you shell out a hefty fortune for something that rolls on four wheels.

Let’s not dismiss the fact that the car is incredibly fast, though. That 3.8-liter V-8 – the same one from the McLaren 12C – was tuned to otherworldly levels that, when paired with the electric motor, delivers 903 horsepower and 1,100 pound-feet of torque. Word has it the electric motor itself delivers some 150 ponies and around 500 pound-feet, but we have yet to receives official specifics, so I wouldn’t bet your life on that one. All told, the hybrid supercar can deliver a 62-mph sprint in 2.8 seconds, a 124-mph sprint in 6.8 seconds, and a 186-mph sprint in a butthole-puckering 16.5 seconds. The quarter mile comes in 9.8 seconds at 152 mph while tip speed is limited to 217 mph. But, keep in mind, these numbers are only possible thanks to that crazy aero kit outside – it does deliver as much as 1200 pounds of downforce at high speed, so if you ever get the change to drive one, thank McLaren’s aerodynamics specialist for all four wheels staying on the ground.

McLaren P1 Drivetrain Specifications

Peak power

903 horsepower

Peak torque

1,100 pound-feet est

0 to 100 KM/H (62 MPH)

2.8 seconds

0 to 200 KM/H (124 MPH)

6.8 Seconds

0 to 300 KM/H (186 MPH)

16.5 Seconds

1/4-Mile

9.8 Seconds Ay 245 KM/H (152 MPH)

Top Speed

217-mph, limited

Fuel Economy (City/Highway/Combined)

TBA/TBA/34 MPG

CO2 Emissions

194 G/KM

100 to 0 KM/H (60-0 MPH)

99 Feet / 2.9 Seconds

200 to 0 KM/H (124-0 MPH)

380 Feet / 4.5 Seconds

300 to 0 KM/H (186-0 MPH)

806 Feet / 6.2 Seconds


McLaren P1 5th Anniversary Video

References

McLaren P15

Read our full speculative review on the McLaren P15.

Mclaren P1

Read our full review on the McLaren P1.

Read more McLaren news.