While it’s hard to believe that the McLaren P1 is already over 10 years old, the hybrid has already surpassed the double-digit mark in the past year. That means it’s time for a successor, and one that looks set to break away from some McLaren traditions. Automotive News report that McLaren executives presented information about the new hypercar, codenamed the P18, to dealers at a conference in Las Vegas last week. Perhaps the most notable detail—the new V-8 engine.
With the exception of the V-6-powered Artura and the track-only V-10 Solus, modern McLaren Automotive has always used a twin-turbo V-8. Derived from Nissan’s 1990s racing engines, the V-8 in 3.8-liter and 4.0-liter forms has powered everything from the MP4-12C to the current 750S. It’s been a source of criticism for the company. The company makes a lot of different models, but they all feel similar because of its common engine.
Dealer sources said Automotive News The P18 V-8 is a “new, overhauled design” that is unrelated to the old V-8, and the Artura’s 120-degree V-6. In the P18, the V-8 is paired with a hybrid system that is reportedly 70 percent lighter than the one in the Artura. Output is expected to be more than 1,000 horsepower.
The car appears to ditch McLaren’s signature dihedral doors in favor of gullwing doors, and there are a variety of neat aero details including an active splitter and rear wing. There’s also a roof-mounted snorkel and cutouts in the buttresses to channel and cool the V-8. McLaren recently previewed its new design language, and while the brand is looking to 1990s F1 for inspiration, the P18 will be a two-seater.
Automotive News said the car would arrive in the US in the first half of 2026, priced around $2 million. We previously reported that the car might debut before the end of this year.
