Did McLaren’s Former Design Chief Just Improve or Deteriorate the P1? | Carscoops

      Frank Stephenson led the team that developed the P1 more than ten years ago and is revisiting it for a special project with YouTuber Tavarish.

      Former McLaren design chief Frank Stephenson is currently working on an updated version of the P1. The P1 Evo project is a partnership with YouTuber Freddy ‘Tavarish’ Hernandez. Frank Stephenson Design is using this build to generate interest in its automotive services.

      When modifying a supercar like the McLaren P1, there is always a risk that, despite enhancing its speed, some of the authenticity and credibility that made the original vehicle great may be lost. However, a clever and exclusive approach is to have the original creator of the car involved in the build.

      Frank Stephenson was McLaren’s design head in the early 2010s when the P1, designed by another team member, was launched. This year, he revisits one of his most notable creations through a collaboration with YouTuber Freddy ‘Tavarish’ Hernandez.

      Tavarish’s P1 project has been ongoing for quite some time—his friend, fellow YouTuber Mat Armstrong, has rebuilt more than a dozen damaged supercars during the two-plus years he’s had it. If you haven't seen his videos, Tavarish’s P1 is the well-known yellow car that was damaged by Hurricane Ian in Florida in 2022.

      Frank Stephenson Design mentions that the project is still in its early stages, with more significant work expected to begin this summer and road testing planned for 2026. Some initial renders have been released, showcasing a design featuring a large dorsal fin similar to those on Le Mans prototypes and a roof snorkel.

      The bodywork is made of exposed carbon and has a plum red tint. At first glance, it may appear that not much has changed, but modifications have been made to almost every surface. The frunk lid's spine has been made slimmer, there are new vents on the front fenders, reshaped door coves, and a redesigned rear, along with turbine wheels featuring flush aero covers. These updates have been executed so well that they do not compromise the original design's identity, although they may not appeal to everyone.

      Since leaving McLaren in 2017, you may have seen Frank’s popular YouTube design series or encountered his Babyarc child car seat or Atmo supercomputer. The Moroccan-born designer aims to re-enter the automotive world and hopes that the P1 Evo project will highlight what Frank Stephenson Design can offer to other clients, whether they are looking for unique builds or OEMs seeking a design partner for low-volume production.

      Stephenson is not the only prominent car designer drawn back to previous projects to explore potential improvements. Former Jaguar designer Ian Callum revamped the late 1990s Vanquish he originally created for Aston Martin and recently revisited his Jaguar C-X75 supercar. If Stephenson considers revisiting more of his past creations, he has many options, including the 2001 BMW Mini and the 2004 Ferrari F430.