Top Gear is famous for being at the forefront of motor trade news. Earlier this month it well and truly lived up to its reputation when it showcased what could quite possibly be the most luxurious taxi on the planet!
Taking the form of a canary yellow McLaren P1, the exclusive photographs were snapped in Taiwan by professional photographer Wesley Cars. The luxury set of wheels is worth an estimated US$1.2 million and according to the manufacturer there are just 375 in the world. No doubt any motor trade business servicing this taxi would want to be covered with a comprehensive motor trade insurance policy!
The Top Gear website muses, “Naturally, information surrounding this yellow P1 is thin on the ground. It could be a P1 with a taxi sign slapped on its roof just for kicks. It might just be an elaborate Photoshop. It could even actually be a real-life taxi. We’re secretly hoping it’s the latter. Because what better way to transport one person from home to kebab shop than in a twin-turbo V8-engined rear-wheel-drive supercar with enough downforce to make you go home and rethink your life?”
Unfortunately the car has yet to be seen on the streets of Taiwan which leads us to believe that the addition of the ‘taxi’ was nothing more than a playful joke from the owner. Of course, this doesn’t mean that we can’t fantasise about what a taxi ride in a McLaren P1 would be like…
The manufacturer is famous for its implementation of F1 technology which is well and truly present in this model. McLaren maintains that the P1 is “designed, built and engineered to be the best driver’s car in the world,” following in the footsteps of the iconic F1.
When it comes to performance the McLaren P1 leaves the competition eating dust. The car underwent a underwent a comprehensive test programme at Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife motor racing complex in order to meet its sub-seven-minute lap target. The car was also test driven in the icy cold air of the Arctic Circle as well as the searing heat of California’s Death Valley to ensure optimum performance in any environment.
The 3.8-litre, 727-hp V-8 paired with a 177-hp electric motor can take the car from zero to 186 mph in just 16.5 seconds while hydro-pneumatic suspension, electro-hydraulically assisted steering and a 12 inch rear wing offer drivers exceptional on-road handling. If you ever needed your taxi drivers to get you to the airport in a hurry, this would definitely be the cab to call!