McLaren BP23 reveal date confirmed

On December 10th 2017, we will finally get a good look at McLaren’s upcoming Hyper Series car known only thus far as ‘BP23’.

The McLaren BP23 will be a three-seater, track-focused car with heritage running back to the McLaren F1 of the ‘90s.

As such, the driver will sit in the middle of the car with two passengers able to sit either side and to the rear.

Additional rumours indicate the BP23 will likely utilise the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from the 720S, backed up by the use of a McLaren 720S as a BP23 test mule.

McLaren Asia/Pacific managing director George Biggs says he want to see the BP23 make it to Australia too, telling MOTOR some buyers could be from Down Under.

“We’re a global company so we make sure that all of our markets are served correctly. So on that basis ... I would expect that we may see the car here.”

“Understanding the various regulations and rules for the market, whether it’ll be appropriate regulation or not for that particular market, it’s an ongoing conversation.”

“From our perspective, we operate obviously in (many) countries now.”

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“We work with the local government and the regulators in that market and we respect the rules. We’re a manufacturer that has to work within those rules.

“Obviously, we're in some dialogue but largely, it’s about, what are the rules? How do we comply with them?”

Though the BP23 shares similarities with the F1, McLaren Auto CEO Mike Flewitt said the car will be more of a track-style Grand Tourer than a hard-core weapon.

“BP23 will borrow the three-seat layout with the central driving position made famous by the iconic McLaren F1, and it will be housed in a streamlined, shrink-wrapped carbon fibre body of great elegance,” Flewitt said.

“We are calling BP23 a ‘Hyper-GT’ because it’s a car designed for longer journeys, but with the high levels of performance and driver engagement expected of any McLaren.”