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Richest pickings at Geneva

Built from carbon fibre with a shape honed in a wind tunnel, the P1 boasts the full range of F1 technical trickery.

Europe’s annual motoring event, the Geneva motor show, opened this week with a rich list of debuts from elite brands topped by the opening rounds in a performance showdown between Ferrari and McLaren that is unmissable for any motoring enthusiast.

The Italian and British makers each revealed limited-edition supercars of breathtaking ability, moving their rivalry from the Formula 1 racetrack to the road.

McLaren chose Geneva to unveil the final form of the P1, a car it showed as a prototype at the Paris motor show last year. Its flagship model, the third it has released in two years since renewing its efforts in road cars, has changed little after an “overwhelming” response in Paris.

The P1 is the spiritual successor to McLaren's famous F1 from the 1990s, which held the title of world's fastest car until toppled by the Bugatti Veyron almost a decade ago, after it pushed top speeds beyond 400km/h.

McLaren stresses that racetrack ability rather than straight-line speed is the goal of the P1, together with everyday driveability. However, there was no disguising the confidence of McLaren chief Ron Dennis, who says the P1 will beat all-comers. “This is going to be the fastest car in the world and that includes what's gone before today and what will come after,” Dennis says. “We're very confident no one's going to get anywhere near the performance of this vehicle.”

Built from carbon fibre with a shape honed in a wind tunnel, the P1 boasts the full range of technical tricks that a Formula 1 racer can deploy. The rear wing adjusts its shape for minimum drag on straights, with the P1 able to hit 100km/h in less than three seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 350km/h.

The hybrid powertrain combines a turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 with an electric motor in a similar way to the KERS system used in F1, and develops 674kW. Its battery pack allows it to travel about 20km on electric power alone. Just 375 will be built at a price of pound stg. 866,000 ($1.28 million) each.

Dennis says the famous 21km Nurburgring test track in Germany is the benchmark for performance cars and the P1 will set a sub-seven minute time, unheard of for road cars, with only the quickest dipping below eight minutes. At another famous track, the one used by BBC TV program Top Gear, he has broken the lap record by 10 seconds, he says.

Across the Geneva exhibition space only a few moments later a huge crowd gathered to witness the debut of McLaren's Ferrari rival after the Italian maker succeeded in keeping details about the car -- even its name -- secret until the event. “We chose to call this model LaFerrari,” Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says, “because it is the maximum expression of what defines our company: excellence.”

LaFerrari also employs a hybrid system consisting of two electric motors, with one powering ancillaries and the other boosting outputs from a naturally aspirated 6.3-litre V12 to develop a total of 708kW.

Like the McLaren, it is built from carbon fibre and has active aerodynamics, similar to Ferrari's F1 racers. It also has similar vital statistics to the McLaren, with a sub-three-second time to 100km/h and sub-seven-second time to 200km/h.

Just 499 will be built with a price expected to be E1.3m ($1.65m). Although it is left-hand drive only, like the McLaren, four Australians have already placed orders.

The supercar contest was also joined by Lamborghini, which unveiled an extreme version of its Aventador supercar called the Veneno. Also made from carbon fibre and with 552kW from its 6.5-litre V12, the Veneno can match the two F1 rivals in most vital statistics, but Lamborghini is limiting production to just three examples, all sold at E3m each.

The high-performance theme of the show was echoed at the Alfa Romeo stand, where it unveiled its long-awaited 4C sportscar, and at Chevrolet, which revealed a convertible version of the latest Corvette Stingray.

ALFA ROMEO 4C

What is it? A lightweight carbonfibre sportscar that aims to reignite the Alfa Romeo brand and reinstall it in the US.
Driveline? 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mounted behind the cabin driving the rear wheels via a doubleclutch automatic.
When and how much? Early 2014 for Australia, priced around $100,000.

 

BERTONE RAPIDE JET 2+2

What is it? A version of Aston Martin's Rapide fourdoor stretched into a shooting brake by styling house Bertone to celebrate the British brand's 100th anniversary.
Driveline? The same 355kW 6.0litre V12 as the standard Rapide, driving the rear wheels.
When and how much? Custom built for an Aston collector, price not revealed.

 

CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY CONVERTIBLE

What is it? The drop-top version of the reborn Corvette Stingray revealed in Detroit in January, with the same carbon fibre chassis. The roof operates at speeds up 50km/h.
Driveline? The same 6.2-litre V8 as the coupe develops at least 335kW and achieves a four second sprint time to 100km/h, the same as the coupe.
When and how much? Left-hand drive only, unfortunately, although it reaches Europe by late this year with prices still to be revealed.

 

LAMBORGHINI VENENO

What is it? The fastest, most extreme Lamborghini ever made restyles the Aventador via the wind tunnel to mark the brand's 50th year.
Driveline? A 552kW 6.5-litre V12 drives all four wheels and rockets the carbonfibre Veneno to 100km/h in 2.8 seconds.
When and how much? Just three are being built, each with unique paintwork, priced at €3 million ($3.8m) each. All have been sold.

 

FERRARI LAFERRARI

What is it? The first limited-edition Ferrari since the Enzo is also the brand's first road-going hybrid. It's shorter, lighter than its predecessor and the quickest road Ferrari ever.
Driveline? A 6.3-litre V12 revs to 9250rpm and, boosted by an electric motor, develops 708kW and flings LaFerrari to 100km/h in less than three seconds, to 200km/h in less than seven and on to a top speed above 350km/h.
When and how much? 499 will be built in lefthand drive only, priced about €1.3 million ($1.65m) each, with four destined for Australia.

 

BENTLEY FLYING SPUR

What is it? The second generation of Bentley's junior limousine is a pitch for the Chinese luxury buyer and the brand's fastest four-door ever.
Driveline? 6.0-litre turbocharged 12-cylinder engine develops 460kW with drive going to all four wheels via an eightspeed automatic. It reaches 100km/h in 4.5 seconds and continues to a top speed of 200mph (322km/h).
When and how much? Bentley doesn't say, but next year looks probable and price is unlikely to rise much from the current $375,000.

 

ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH

What is it? A two-door fastback based on the Ghost, the "affordable" Rolls. The most powerful Roller ever.
Driveline? A 465kW 6.6-litre V12 engine drives the rear wheels via an eightspeed transmission fitted with shifting software controlled by GPS mapping.
When and how much? First overseas deliveries begin in the fourth quarter with prices starting at €245,000 ($312,000), or an estimated $750,000 here.