It's easy, if expensive, to make a very fast car by dropping an enormous engine into a light chassis - but it won't go round corners. The secret of the McLaren P1's superlative performance, insists designer Frank Stephenson, is aerodynamics.
“Our main objective with the McLaren P1,” he said, “was to design the best driver's car in the world, on road and track.
“Managing airflow in and around the car's bodywork and optimising aerodynamics was the key to achieving this goal - and that's what led to the unique, emotive shape of this car.”
Now Stephenson has shared that process with petrolheads everywhere on an interactive website, the first in a two-part series telling the story behind the car's design.
DESIGNED BY AIR
The website gives a detailed insight as the car is 'born' from raw metallic and carbon elements and shaped by airflow, right through to the final shape, shown in the wind tunnel and highlighting the aerodynamic focus of the design.
Expanding into further sections, the story behind the design of the P1 reveals an interactive 3D model with more details on the car's aerodynamic.
The website was inspired by Stephenson's biomimicry design philosophy and shows the P1 in simulated urban, alpine, highway and track environments, detailing how the active aerodynamic systems adjust and adapt for differing driving conditions.
The final section is called 'Future Chapters' and invites users to 'like', share and register ahead of future updates on the car's interior and performance features.