The McLaren P1 Concept is the most important debut of the Paris Motor Show 2012, and possibly the most important car to be launched over the next few years. The car is now officially revealed at the show, but McLaren is still reluctant to released performance data for the astonishing hyper car.  For now they just want to boast about the P1’s technical features.

When speaking about the car’s engine, McLaren only says it will be very powerful – with a power to weight ratio of more than 600PS per tonne. The first priority in developing this car, apparently, was the top speed. Which is why McLaren has spent a great deal of time working on its aerodynamic. They say it generates downforce in lumps that are hard to believe!

The most striking feature on the car’s striking, apart from its alien-like design, is the active rear wing which is similar to the DRS system they use in Formula 1. The large rear wing adjusts automatically to boost downforce and optimise aerodynamics. It can extend rearwards by up to 300mm on a racetrack, and by up to 120mm on the road. The pitch of the rear wing can increase by up to 29 degrees. The double element rear wing profile has been developed using exactly the same methods and software as the current McLaren Formula 1 car.

Besides the active wing, P1 supercar also features two flaps mounted under the body ahead of the front wheels. These are also actively controlled, and change angle automatically to optimise performance, boosting downforce and aero efficiency, increasing both speed and driver confidence. This is probably inspired by Pagani Huayra.

McLaren is also very proud of this car’s lightness. Besides using high-end materials, the design and build are also very sophisticated. There are also very few body panels. The McLaren P1 has large clamshell single-moulded front and rear panels, which are attached to the central carbon MonoCage, and that’s it, apart from two small access flaps in the rear, a front bonnet and the two doors.

So yes, there are lots of interesting, sort of, details about the McLaren P1. But we want to know most of all is how much power it makes, and how fast it can go. Guess we have to wait a bit longer for that.