Positioned at its introduction as “the new F1,” the McLaren P1 was a tour de force of the most advanced automotive technology.

It featured a carbon monocoque chassis, scarcely tipping the scales at only 200 pounds, and external bodywork and major cabin structures created from a stunning, lightweight assemblage of carbon fiber panels.

The mid-mounted 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-8 produced 717 horsepower at 7,300 rpm and 531 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm.

An electric motor, itself producing 176 horsepower, served not to improve fuel economy but rather to “torque fill,” supplementing the normal gaps where the conventional engine would fail to produce peak performance.

As a result, the P1 was always ready to provide maximum power to the driver—a total output of 893 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque.

Exceptional aerodynamic efficiency, achieved via adjustable front and rear spoilers to produce as much as 1,300 pounds of downforce, ensured all that power was transmitted to the road...