McLaren supercar

The Mac is back – and Auto Express has the spy shots to prove it! These amazing exclusive images show that McLaren engineers have hit the streets at last in the much-anticipated successor to the legendary F1 road car. Due to go on sale in 2010, the exciting new machine was caught undergoing testing not far from the Formula One team's base in Woking, Surrey by an eagle-eyed Auto Express reader. Although the prototype is wearing some heavly disguise, it's clear to see that it's every inch the compact machine McLaren has been promising. Conceived as a smaller and less expensive model than the original F1, it's gunning for the likes of Ferrari's F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo.   Codenamed P11, it has been designed and built completely in-house by a small group of engineers at the Formula One team's factory. Firm details on the newcomer are scarce, but it is likely to carry a price tag of between £150,000 and £200,000 and use a 6.2-litre V8 sourced from F1 engine supplier Mercedes-Benz.  With the help of a turbocharger, the AMG unit will produce around 500bhp, and together with the latest carbon composites for the body and the chassis keeping weight down to around 1,100kg, the new McLaren should do 0-60mph in around four seconds and post a top speed of 200mph. Formula One technology such as a semi-automatic paddleshift gearbox as well as carbon brakes are also likely to form part of the specification list too. Sales will start in around two years' time.