McLaren’s->ke284 CEO Mike Flewitt has said he wants his company to develop a new hybrid->ke147 hypercar.->ke177 The fresh offering would cost roughly £400,000 ($630,780) and slot in between the 2015 McLaren 650S and top-dog 2014 McLaren P1.

Powering the new hypercar would be a detuned version of the P1’s->ke4608 turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8, complete with a supplemental electric motor. Acceleration figures would look like less than three seconds to 60 mph and a top speed above 200 mph.

Flewitt says the car will have a different focus than the P1, suggesting it’ll be more road-oriented than the spaceship-esque halo car.

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Why it matters

The market these days isn’t exactly forgiving when it comes to sports car->ke506 manufacturers. While global auto sales seem to be improving rather consistently, it’s still a pretty risky proposition to offer ultra-high-end performance vehicles like those that make up McLaren’s catalog. Competition is fierce, but McLaren remains steadfast, content to blaze its own trail. 

First, the automaker has reiterated it wants to remain independent, which should help it stay lean and flexible in the face of stout opposition from mass-market rivals like Ferrari,->ke252 Lamborghini,->ke44 and Porsche.->ke1 

Second, while many manufacturers turn to sporty crossovers->ke288 to bolster sales (Lotus,->ke49 Lamborghini, Porsche, etc.), McLaren has said it doesn’t need a tap-dancing elephant on its roster to continue operation. And while it has developed the Sports Series->ke4981 as a means of offering customers a lower entry-point, the emphasis clearly remains on producing sports cars and racing.

The announcement of McLaren’s intentions to build a new hypercar is further evidence of this focus, with hybrid technology taking the lead for future developments. 

According to Auto Express, Flewitt also said McLaren is on track with its strategy of offering one new model or model derivative every year, although unfortunately, we won’t be seeing any new hybrids any time soon. Next in the pipeline is an expected follow-up derivative of the 2016 McLaren 570S, possibly as a GT next year before the drop-top arrives in 2017.

However, the strategy seems to be working, as McLaren saw an 18-percent increase in sales for 2014, with 1,649 units sold. Operating profits increased by 68 percent over the same period, coming in at £20.8 million ($32.83 million). The automaker hopes to substantially increase sales over the next few years, with a target of 4,000 cars sold annually by 2017. 

2014 McLaren P1

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