2015 McLaren P1 vs. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder! – Head 2 Head Ep. 64

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On this very special episode of Head 2 Head, presented by Tire Rack, we present a hypercar battle for the ages: the McLaren P1 versus the Porsche 918 Spyder. Both of these cars have carbon fiber tubs and body panels. Both have small displacement, high revving V-8s packed between their passenger compartments and rear axles. Both use twin-clutch transmissions, carbon ceramic brakes, and active aerodynamics. Both have roughly 900 hp. Both are plug-in hybrids. And today, with the help of pro racing driver Randy Pobst, we find out which one is fastest around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca!

Read more here: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/exotic/1503_2015_mclaren_p1_vs_2015_porsche_918_spyder/

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Comments

Motor Trend Channel says:

Supercar showdown! Randy Pobst pits the McLaren P1 against the Porsche 918
Spyder at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca!

GHOSTJERKER says:

That was awesome!

mugdays says:

Looks like Woking are gonna have to lick their wounds…again! At this
point, I honestly don’t know why they’re surprised when the 918 is faster.

cheapo911 says:

I feel like McLaren was like “Oh shit give them the car, best tires we
have, and a bunch of McLaren tecs to help out”. Porsche on the other hand
was like “Na just give them the car. That will do”. And do it did.

Sandouras says:

The McLaren has almost race spec tyres and non road legal ride height and
it barely loses. “I-it’s the t-tyres you guys. Let us adjust them 100 times
and maybe at some point we’ll beat the Porsche.” Meanwhile Porsche doesnt
give a fuck. One try, boom it won. Try full slicks next time. 

cristiandemirel1918 says:

THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE!

Porks says:

hot damn, forget the cars, Randy Pobst is world class. 

bototheone1 says:

Porsche 918 all the way. It’s quicker around a technical track, it seems
more refined, it probably is a little better engineered and will it be
worth more 20 years from now.

Browning9744 says:

Is it just me or is Ferrari just scared because they know their car would
get demolished by the Mclaren and the Porsche in a race? Because it seems
that way to me (-_-) 

olbear303 says:

They should have brought an Enzo just to beat up on. 

Thairradactyl Kennex says:

The P1 actually wins a track test against the 918, april fools lol. Lame I
know ! Love the excuses that are rolling in for the P1. Bottom line is the
p1, a car that was supposed to destroy the 918 or any other car on the
street or the track gets embarassed again on the track shod with track
tires and a full support team. Absurd! Porsche drops off the car and says
have fun. Mclaren fan boys get over it, 918 is the superior car road and
track. Don’t even get me started on the awful twin turbo engine sound and
kit car like interior. Ferrari is lame for not showing up but the Laferrari
is still bad ass. Porsche is sublime, even if it was slower than laferrari
or p1, its still my pick. The fact that it destroys the p1 is icing on the
cake. For those that think trofeo r tires are not that much stickier than
sport cup 2tires are in complete denial. Trofeos are worth atleast 2
seconds on this type of track. Top gear head 2 head, 918 wins, evo head ‘2
head 918 wins. Now this? Mclaren needs to stop overhyping their cars. P1 is
still a cool car but just not even close to the 918’s level in terms of fit
and finish and engineering execution. Did I mention the supposed track
specialist car wearing trofeo r’s gets killed by a heavier and less
powerful car shod with eco, low rolling resistance tires? That should’ve
been the title for this head2head. Motor trend is so kind to still reprint
test figures from a validation prototype p1 so mclaren fans can have
something to cling to. That prototype p1 is still slower than a production
918 tested by car and driver in 0-60, and dead heat to 1/4 mile. Apples and
oranges test from two diff mags but you get the point. P1 is good but 918
is simply much better executed.

Engineering Explained says:

Surprising outcome, and incredible performance from both cars. Props to
Porsche and McLaren for allowing some friendly competition, it’s what it’s
all about.

Arthur Silva says:

Dudes complaining agains Randys driving, WHAT A JOKE from internet driver
sets!
The dude almost killed himself (just observe the tires on the corners
almost popping out of the wells) trying to push the P1 beyond it’s limits.
They all wanted-or-expected the P1 to win (as it’s read illegally lower,
has slicker tires, less weight and more power) but it didn’t, it’s alright
maybe it’ll win in other videos.
Just enjoy the show and keep dreaming about your favorite car.

Ontourus says:

Well Ferrari, you’ve just lost 100% of my respect for you 

Liftedview says:

Porsche: “Do whatever you want with it”
McLaren: “Our techs will accompany the car”
Ferrari: “TEST IT AGAINST THE GERMAN AND BRITISH? FUCK YOU”

Markus Cerra says:

DA PAURA!!!!!! :-)))))

Jonadab Debe says:

I don’t care who’s faster my question is which one you think is a better
built car?

2015 McLaren P1 vs. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder! – Head 2 Head Ep. 64:
https://youtu.be/3fnTZKvX5jg

Matt Lawrence Romanes says:

Chris Harris’ reviews of the LaFerrari, 918 and P1 are still more valid and
the ones that I prefer. Lap times matter, no doubt, but it’s all about the
driving experience in a supercar, and I think the Ferrari and the Porsche
have that one thing the P1 lacks; soul, feel, drama…

Gimmi J says:

One day I hope they throw in a Koenigsegg Regera or One:1 in there.

Omar Aguayo says:

So it would have been Jennifer! Dang Top Gear..

Saleem Hodge says:

Two of my favorite cars lapped on one of my favorite tracks by some of my
favorite people! You just can’t go wrong with this combo. The 918 was
dogged constantly as being to porky, yet it has shown up several times and
spanked the competition with minimal input from a team of engineers! What
an accomplishment from the team at Stuttgart!

p.s. now get rid of the stupid EA exclusive license so the rest of the mere
mortals can enjoy that beast in the virtual world!

Πεορ Οπε says:

Now try Spa Francorchamps, a proper high speed track

bezor Ta says:

Mclaren sends a group of technicians and Ferrari is supposed to participate
with a owners car? How one sided can it get? Mclaren refused many times to
provide Top Gear a car for a 3 car test, so did Ferrari as both wanted the
best possible situation for their cars. So to see ignorant people once
again bash only Ferrari without any prior knowledge of the situation is
nothing new. With so many haters it’s certainly lonely at the top.

Matt Mccegan says:

I wonder if Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond will see this Video…..Oh
well Jeremy Clarkson…eat your heart out…The 918 won…..

Charlie Long says:

Is anyone even a supporter of the LaFerrari anyways? I mean I don’t think
I’ve ever seen someone say that is what they prefer from the three.
Nevertheless a comparison between the three. There are no losers from the
three, but the LaFerrari isn’t a winner either. 

sSkillaz336 says:

What is heat cycling? 

John H says:

Dang it just looked like the P1 needs more air in the tires. More then once
it looked like the tires where going to roll right off the wheels. great
video though.

SPEED senz AZN says:

918 laps the Nurburgring (13-mile config) @ 6m 57s.

Beats the P1 on Laguna Seca (2.2 mile track) by 0.87 seconds.

Indicated in this video, 918 trumps at cornering. With Nurburgring
consisting of +170 corners and almost 6 times the length of LS, it is
almost mathematically impossible to believe P1’s claimed Nurburgring lap
time of sub 7 minutes. Even in the long straight, P1’s top speed is 217mph
(vs 918’s top speed of >211mph) would barely make up for the lost time from
exiting all those bends.

Regardless, both Porsche and McLaren build awe-inspiring machines and
deserve many respect and acclamation for challenging each other.

Ferrari…. what a flake.

Kenyon Payne says:

Hmm, I find it weird that the p1 is a flat plane but sounds like a cross
plane, kind of like how the new gt350, audis, and E92s. I know people will
say it’s because it’s turbo’d, but that can’t be the case, because other
flat plane cars that are turbo’d (f40 and the new california t) still sound
like a flat plane, just quieter. The 918 has the normal flat plane sound.

namek1925 says:

Why does the P1 have blanks for rotors and the 918 have drilled rotors any
one else see that?

Eden Ridley says:

The Porsche didn’t even have the weissach package and it still beat the
mclaren???
On a track with mostly extremely fast turns which should favour the Mclaren.
Not to mention the 918 is cheaper, more advanced, easier to live with,
sounds better, has a natural engine
P1 really never lived up to the F1

HEKTIC458 says:

The P1 is amazing! It is one of the most beautiful cars in my eyes

bezor Ta says:

For ALL it’s wings, diffuser, aero, more hp and lightness, the P1 is
slower. And in two H2H tests already done between P1 and LaF, the LaF was
chosen by test drivers as the better drivers car. So P1 is obviously nr3
with LaF as nr1. And I’m glad people now can clearly see how Mclaren tried
EVERYTHING to better their car, just as they did in the EVO comparison with
918 when P1 again was slower and they demanded a rerun with stickier tires.
So before you go accuse Ferrari again, which seems to be most losers
favorite activity, just open your eyes and see what is in front of you. 

Arnab Roy says:

So the Porsche 918 is better and faster than the P1. Shut up Chris Harris.
Shut up Jeremy Clarkson.

Mitch Ruben says:

So ferrari didn’t give motor trend a car, everyone is call ferrari a pussy.
If ferrari gave motor trend a car and won the test, everyone will be saying
ferrari cheated. So it does not matter what ferrari do, they will be still
hated by people on the Internet. 

cobramanphil says:

I have to say Randy has the best job in the world! Both incredible cars…

Mohammad Sadiqi says:

Im waiting for the first person to say a corvette is better, lol corvettes
are garbage 

Michael Van Heemst says:

Now everyone is going to look at the Porsche and say it is better than the
McLaren. But every track on earth is different. On some the McLaren P1 will
be fastest. On others the 918 will be fastest. They are both truly awesome
pieces of machinery. For me It’s the McLaren P1. It is a truly beautiful
machine with its huge wing and styling that wins it for me. It will be a
car to be reckoned with for some time along with it’s rivals.

PANTYEATR1 says:

DAMN SON! amazing is too weak of a word to describe these 2 cars.

darwandoo says:

Ferraris decision does a disservice to the whole Italian community by
opting out of such a great opportunity.
Even though I’d never be able to afford a Ferrari, if I did, I would never
buy one simply because of this cowardly decision.
Part of making such a car is to let everyone enjoy it. Or no?
Ferrari is dead to me and ill make sure to verbalize my views on social
media.


Dominik Vereno says:

Ferrari is so fucking scared of comparisons. The 918 is just amazing, i
think it could’ve been faster on some even stickier tires and maybe just 1
inch lower, like the P1 was in it’s non-road-legal race mode.
P1 is still an awesome car, maybe even more fun than the 918

Christopher Fermin says:

I’m not understanding why people are defending Ferrari. McLaren and Porsche
showed up. Why can’t the Ferrari? I wouldn’t a product if they
manufacturers are going to dictate what I do with it. I invested in your
company after those keys are in my hands let me do me! Anyways competition
breeds greatness Ferrari. I would personally love to see my car go up
against it’s rivals to see what needs to be improved. Don’t get me wrong I
LOVE Ferrari, but it’s absolutely ridiculous what they are doing right now.
People need to stop acting like what Ferrari is doing is ok. Because it
isn’t. A bunch of sore losers if you ask me. (Still adore Ferraris though
lol)

Marek Lorinc says:

Bring McLaren to Nürburgring to see whether it can beat GTR and LFA

LS7 says:

I would like to see a lap of the one:1. IMO its a better car than these
two…

its2realj says:

Motor Trend! You guys are awesome! With topgear being sacked recently, you
guys are now the top dog in automotive videopgraphy! Please say thanks to
your production crew for me :). Cheers!

TEH KOTAK says:

The porsche win my heart <3 .they still use michelin eco tire and was
surprised that it actually won lol. I wonder how fast it is using those
heat whatever trofeo race tire that mclaren use.
Heavier,gt car without trick suspension,has actual e mode,looks like a car
rather than racer...but it won,brilliant

Omar Buhagiar says:

If there have to be a real test it have to be an official test and every
company take its own test drivers with cars supplied from the company and
at least they have to test on three different tracks maybe Monza,
Silverstone and Spa. Then will be the best one.

New Subaru Guy says:

No surprice motor trend declares the porsche the winner. I’ll take the P1 

Robin Belven says:

I wanna se this guy in the REGERA

XblackwookieX says:

Ferrar does make great cars bug damn they can’t take criticism..Sound like
shiny little kids

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