The McLaren P11 could be called the McLaren MP4-12C on its 2009 Frankfurt motor show debut next week. The Times has revealed that the presentation of the supercar is only the start in the creation of a new global brand of supercars.

As the name would suggest, the McLaren “P11″ is inspired by the MP4-12 Formula 1 car of 1997. It was a legendary year for the brand, winning the F1 and bringing the “silver arrow” back to icon status.

The MP4-12C name is set to acknowledge the partnership with Mercedes both in the past, and also with this new McLaren P11 model. With a couple of Formula 1/supercar touches such as gullwing doors, the MP4-12C will be powered by a V8 engine with a seven-speed gearbox and self-adjusting suspension.

The new model is set to be the first in three models to be released, with McLaren aiming for yearly production of 4,000 models, selling 1,000 in the first year. The other models to be introduced prior to 2015 will be entry-level models competing with the Porsche 911 and then filling the gap left by the Carrera GT, discontinued by Porsche. We’ll be waiting for next week’s Frankfurt show to get the details.

Source | The Times via Autoblog

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