Hybrid supercars are go
New McLaren P12 and Ferrari Enzo will take the fight to the Porsche 918 Spyder, as the hybrid supercar battle hots up
Porsche released pictures of its new 918 Spyder last week, and now we have details of two new hybrid rivals.
The 759bhp 918 Spyder will arrive in early 2014 - by which point it will have been joined by new hybrids from McLaren and Ferrari. Our spy photographers have already spotted the McLaren P12 and new Enzo testing, and these exclusive images show how they could look.
McLaren P12 hybrid
Power: 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo, KERS, 800bhp (est)
0-60mph: 3.0 seconds (est)
Top speed: 210mph (est)
Due: Early 2013
It was the MP4-12C that revived McLaren’s road car business last year, but it’s this car, the P12, which will be the true successor to the F1.
As you can see from our image, there are strong similarities with the MP4-12C, but the body is wider, with a more deeply sculpted bonnet and a dramatic air scoop in the roof. A carbon fibre structure and bodyshell will ensure the P12 is lighter than the MP4-12C, and there’s more firepower, too.
Nestled behind the driver’s head will be a development of the MP4-12C’s 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, producing well over 700bhp. A Formula One-derived KERS electric energy storage system will deliver additional acceleration in short bursts, via a wheel-mounted button. Unlike the F1, which featured an innovative three-seat arrangement, the P12 will have only two seats.
Ferrari Enzo hybrid
Power: 6.3-litre V12, electric motor, 850bhp (est)
0-60mph: 2.8 seconds (est)
Top speed: 220mph (est)
Due: Late 2012
The cleanest Ferrari ever will also be the fastest. Every 10 years, Ferrari likes to give fans something extra-special; in 2002 it was the mighty 651bhp Enzo, and by the end of 2012, its successor, shown here, will arrive.
We’ve already spotted a disguised prototype out testing, but it’s what’s underneath that matters with this car. At the recent Beijing Motor Show Ferrari revealed details of the hybrid powertrain, which combines a development of the F12 Berlinetta’s 6.3-litre V12 with an electric motor mounted on the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
The result is that this car will emit 40 per cent less CO2 than a petrol car with the same amount of power. Bosses have hinted that the car will offer a total of around 850bhp – more than Fernando Alonso’s F1 racer. And thanks to a lightweight carbon fibre chassis, it will eclipse the Bugatti Veyron for power-to-weight ratio, too.
