Words: Charlie Thomas
We have well and truly entered a new age when it comes to speed. This year marked one of the biggest regulation changes in Formula One as the engines were downsized, turbo-charged and, more importantly, bolted on to two electric motors, making them hybrids, which is all in the name of saving the environment, of course.
F1 technology has a tendency to filter down into the cars we see on the road and as such, this year also marked the time that we saw three of the most revolutionary cars to ever hit production; the McLaren P1, the LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder. Whilst it’s not likely we’ll physically see any of these on the road very often, they, like their Formula One relatives, represent the future. Although they are spawned out of a time when CO2 emissions are as important as the horsepower figure though, they are actually more exciting as a result.
MCLAREN P1, The spiritual successor to the legendary F1, the McLaren P1 is a technical marvel and arguably the best-looking car of the bunch. Its 903bhp power unit propels the car from 0-60 in a staggering 2.8 seconds and, whilst it tops out at a relatively modest 217mph, its active aerodynamics can generate 600kg of downforce through the corners, which basically means it can handle like nothing else.
LAFERRARI, The LaFerrari was perhaps the most hotly anticipated car of the bunch and with the most power, a £1million price tag and a V12 engine that screams all the way up to 9250rpm, it’s not hard to see why. That uber-aggressive engine dominates the car and with seamless shifting from the dual clutch ‘box and active front and rear diffusers, this could be the quickest of all three.
PORSCHE 918 SPYDER, Fighting the corner for the Germans is the Porsche 918 Spyder and, although it is the slowest, at least on paper, the car from Stuttgart is the most user-friendly and could quite easily be used every day. Power is down on the other two but torque is up, and with a maximum of 940lb ft at your disposal, the 918 is far from slow.
By Charlie Thomas Twitter @charliethomas
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