Mclaren released the details, and photos, of the production version of their new P1 hypercar today ahead of its official debut at next week’s 2013 Geneva Motor Show. In short it is a hybrid with a combined output of 903hp, it will do 0-60mph in sub 3 sec, 0-124mph in sub 7 sec, and its top speed is limited to “only” 217mph. I emphasize the “only” because one of the first comments I read about the car on Jalopnik was “1.3 mill and its “limited” to 217.  Thanks.  Pretty much told us its not as fast as the Veyron”. That, right there, people, is the problem I have with both a car like the Bugatti, and your typical superficial sort car enthusiast. Keep in mind, a Formula One car is “slower” than a Veyron as well, yet you don’t see the Bugatti setting lap times even remotely close to the times of Vettel and Hamilton at any circuit. It is this ignorant, one-dimensional mindset, that I can’t stand, and that gives me a big reason to love the Mclaren P1.

You see, real speed, that takes a real driver, involves corners. 250mph is great, but there aren’t many places on Earth you can do it. What the Mclaren P1 offers is far more accessible, and therefore substantial. In an earlier report I heard that it will be capable of producing 1200-1600lbs of downforce, at speeds under 160mph. While these rumors havent yet been substantiated, the performance of the P1, as well as this entire upcoming generation of hypercars, is said to be able to rival that of GT3 racing cars…. and this is a car you can drive to the grocery store! That means that P1 owners will enjoy the ability to absolutely demolish most of their rich friends at club track days… far better than merely bragging about a top speed that you will never actually achieve, if you ask me.

The P1 will also feature F1 style KERS and DRS systems, so F1 fans will be in heaven while behind the wheel. Its interior is also filled with bare carbon fiber, and is clearly focused on one thing, driving. The P1 is a very focused hypercar, not quite as pure as the Mclaren F1 before it, but far more so than many of its modern contemporaries, like the Bugatti. I also love how it hasn’t been watered down from the concept P1 we saw last year. Its design is striking, even for a supercar, and Mclaren did well to leave it that way for production.

The P1 is a proper sort of hypercar, built for actual race-car-like performance. No, it isn’t “the fastest production car”, and I am glad for that because this thing belongs on a racetrack, not on the red carpet, or in some rap video. Not being “the fastest” or “the most” lowers the yuppy appeal of this car greatly, and that makes it a real winner in my book. That said, Mclaren is only building 375 P1s, for $1.3 million each, and they’re already sold out. So, clearly this isn’t a realistic thing to bicker about, but for car enthusiasts, it sure is worthwhile.

I love the P1.

-Nick Walker