McLaren Automotive has already revealed that one of the key strategies of its Track 22 business plan is the development of a pure electric vehicle (or EV) to one day sit in its Ultimate Series. Meanwhile, a pure EV based on today’s McLaren P1 is now available, but only to a limited group of potential customers – those under the age of six. At least that’s the official guidance.
The peewee McLaren P1 differs from its larger brother in two important areas. Firstly, it has a central driving position, just like the iconic McLaren F1. Secondly, the young will be able to experience what adults never could: an open-top McLaren P1.
Yet, the design has cleverly retained McLaren’s signature dihedral doors. And like every McLaren, its acceleration is startling – the zero to maximum speed dash takes just two seconds.
The car surges into life via a one-button stop/start function, which automatically activates the lights and “air-conditioning” unit. An MP3 audio player is standard and, helpfully, already pre-programmed with every popular nursery rhyme. The car also features a reverse gear in addition to its three-speed forward transmission. Handy if the kid drove to the wrong playground.
In contrast to McLaren’s usual policy of offering limitless colour and trim combinations, this time the choice for the busy six-year-old is made easy with only one colour on offer: Volcano Yellow.
The ride-on, electric P1 is the first officially licensed product from McLaren Automotive to enter this growing market segment and is the most compact car yet to wear the McLaren badge. Hence, customers ideally should be between three and six years old to drive it, although young drivers beyond this age group might also fit.
The £375 electric toy car will be available from the end of October, first from selected McLaren Automotive retailers around the world, followed by recognised global toy retailers. 
Read our Sepang track test of the McLaren 650S.
Read about the world’s first electric car developed for kids between the ages of five and 10.
