The McLaren BP23 Will Probably be Called the McLaren GT When it Goes Into Production

TopSpeed

By Kirby Garlitos

Published Mar 14, 2018

There goes any chance of the car being named the McLaren Hakkinen

It’s no secret that McLaren is developing a follow-up hypercar to the P1. Internally, the model is called by its prototype designation, “BP23.” Externally, it could be called the McLaren GT, if a recent trademark filing by McLaren is to be believed. If the filing is accurate, it would put to bed any speculation on what the new hypercar is going to be called. I suppose we’re going to have to wait a little longer for the McLaren Hakkinen to arrive.

While nothing has been confirmed from McLaren’s end, the British automaker has filed for trademarks in the U.S. and the U.K. for the McLaren GT name. The trademark entry in the U.K. confirms that the filing was, in fact, made on behalf of the British automaker. More importantly, it was filed with the intention of using it for “sale of motor land vehicles.” So unless McLaren filed a trademark for a different model that we still don’t know about, it looks like the BP23 hypercar will be carrying a less-than-exotic name once it makes its debut in the coming years. It’s worth noting, too, that McLaren filed this trademark shortly after announcing plans to build the model. If that isn’t a sign of things to come, I don’t know what is.

So unless something drastic happens, the McLaren BP23 will eventually evolve into the McLaren GT. It’s not the sexiest of names for a hypercar that’s supposed to cost in excess of $2.2 million, but it is reportedly what we’re going to get. Fortunately, the GT isn’t all about its name. It also has the potential of being the fastest and most powerful McLaren the British automaker has ever made. McLaren did say that the car is billed as a modern-day version of the F1 — regarded by many as the best car the automaker has ever created — right down to the three-seater layout.

The GT definitely has big shoes to fill. To McLaren’s credit, it’s developing the car to fill those shoes capably. We still don’t know what kind of engine it’s going to run, but reports have indicated that McLaren’s new 4.0-liter, double-turbocharged, V-8 unit could take center stage and deliver incredible amounts of power that will allow it to exceed the F1’s 243-mph top speed.

If that’s the case, it’s not going to matter if the car is called the McLaren GT or the McLaren Unicorn. This new hypercar is going to blow all of our expectations out the door. Little wonder then that all 106 models McLaren plans to build already have owners who are eager to get their hands on this three-seater hypercar.