McLaren has released the first photos of the interior of the P1 - it's clearly designed as a driver-focused and no-frills environment. There is plenty of exposed carbon fibre and serious attention has been given to saving weight.
Trim and decoration has been kept to a minimum, both to eliminate unnecessary weight and to allow the driver to remain focused on driving. With a wrap-around design to the dashboard, glass roof and deep windscreen the environment is likened to that of a fighter jet. Although the interior is simple the P1 does come with climate control, satellite navigation and a bespoke sound system by Meridian.
One thing you don't get are reclining seats; the backrests are fixed at 28 degrees, though they can be set to 32 degrees for racing, as that gives extra room for a crash helmet. Seat height will be set at the factory to suit each customer with subsequent adjustments made in the workshop. Clearly P1 customers are not expected to regularly share the driver's seat with people who need to change the seat height.
Another omission is interior sound deadening, eliminated in the name of weight saving, while carpet is optional and comes with a lightweight backing. Most of the interior panels are carbon fibre, both reflecting the structure of the car and because it is the lightest material for the job. The top layer of resin has been deliberately omitted to save 1.5kg and give a 'more natural look'.
P1 drivers should feel in touch with McLaren's racing heritage as the steering wheel has been modelled on the grips used by the company's past world champions. The wheel is wrapped in Alcantara with carbon fibre inserts.
More details of the P1 will be released over the next few weeks, leading up to the car's launch in Geneva next month.
John Lambert - 14 Feb 2013