An Aging Modern Classic
It’s been over a decade since the last McLaren P1 rolled off the production line, and in the years since, it’s become a modern classic, boasting auction prices in the seven-digit range. Owners of this historic hybrid hypercar should already know that there is more to keeping this car than an oil change and whatnot.
Because batteries degrade over time, and while the P1’s production ran between 2013 and 2015, the battery packs were manufactured as early as 2010. In other words, it’s been 16 years at most since those batteries were born.
With the hybrid battery replacements in order, McLaren will happily provide you with one for about $160,000 back in 2022, but an aftermarket company thinks it can do better. V Engineering announces Project Continuum, a hybrid battery program for the McLaren P1 that promises better performance than the replacement that McLaren charges Porsche 911 money for.
V Engineering
Better and Lighter…
V Engineering has a track record of taking care of McLarens, and their new program wants to make a McLaren P1 and an even better car than McLaren made back then. It’s no secret that battery technology is far better now than it was in the 2010s. Some cars are even claiming over 600 miles of range, and some brands are already figuring out a way to put solid-state batteries in passenger vehicles.
This pack was developed in collaboration with the McLaren P1 engineers who were involved in the hypercar’s development. V Engineering says that its new solution offers improved energy storage, lower weight compared to the original battery, extended EV range, and no penalty to power delivery.
A glycol-based cooling system is also present in the system, which improves the heat rejection of the battery, allowing it to retain efficiency and not lose out due to overheating. The battery pack utilizes a 21700 lithium battery module that has been engineered to FIA Formula E standards. All of that is in a package that essentially bolts on and off and plugs and plays with a McLaren P1. No modifications are needed, as the kit was designed to work seamlessly with the vehicle’s existing hybrid architecture.
As for the numbers, the standard McLaren P1 battery has a capacity of 4.72 kWh. V Engineering was able ot almost triple that figure, with a total capacity of 12.4 kWh. Even with the increased energy density, V Engineering was able to drop 50.7 lbs (23 kg) compared to the McLaren power unit. With all that in mind, however, and considering McLaren’s $160,000 battery replacement, how much will V Engineering’s replacement cost?
V Engineering
… But More Expensive… ish
V Engineering announced that customer installations are scheduled for Spring 2027, with several owners from the Middle East, the UK, Europe, and the United States already in talks with the brand for their McLaren P1s. The brand offers global support for its customers, and this is just the first phase of a broader powertrain development plan for the McLaren P1. V Engineering also intends to provide long-term technical support for its customers.
However, the upgraded battery will cost owners more than what McLaren charges, but it’s not as bad as you’d think. CarBuzz reached out to a V Engineering spokesperson, and they were quoted at 160,000… GBP. With today’s exchange rate, that’s about $216,400 and over $50,000 more expensive than the 2022 price of the battery replacement McLaren sold to owners. Who knows how much the brand charges now? Perhaps closer to V Engineering’s price, maybe?
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