Automotive

LaFerrari, 918 Spyder and McLaren P1 go head to head ... on the auction block

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The P1 is a handsome car, but it's not the most subtle car in this shade of green
This orange P1 has covered less than 1,200 miles 
Bonhams is expecting between $1.9 million and $2.1 million for this car
The P1 combines a turbocharged V8 with hybrid power 
This particular car is chassis #90
Just 375 P1s were built 
The P1's cabin is stripped out, and the driver needs to slip in past the deep MonoCell carbon tub
The McLaren P1 originally cost over $1.3 million 
The orange brake calipers, paintjob and black wheels are a beautiful combination 
This particular LaFerrari is being offered up by Bonhams 
The LaFerrari combines V12 power with a hybrid boost
The red and black combination is classic Ferrari 
This V12 has only covered 230 miles 
This LaFerrari is finished in classic Ferrari colors
The LaFerrari was fitted with a digital instrument binnacle as standard
The LaFerrari, along with its toolkit and accessories
This LaFerrari is expected to sell for more than $3.5 million
Just three cars were ever finished in this color
This LaFerrari is red and black throughout 
These seats are full leather, as opposed to the Alcantara ones in the other LaFerrari up for sale
The carbon dashboard was an optional extra
Cavallo Infernale is embossed on the steering wheel 
This seat has only been used for 211 miles
In black on black, this isn't your average Ferrari paintjob
With 949 hp from the factory, we're impressed by the owner's self control. We'd be stacking up the miles 
This particular car is up for auction from Mecum
The LaFerrari puts all its power through the rear wheels 
0-60 mph takes just 2.4 seconds in the LaFerrari
Few badges are as special as the Prancing Horse
This was the first P1 delivered to a customer 
The original paintjob was actually naked carbon fiber, but the car was sent back to McLaren for this finish
The P1 is less powerful than LaFerrari, but just as special
The unique paintjob is expected to add some value to the P1
The original body is included in the price of admission
The P1 being offered by Mecum Auctions 
As the first customer car delivered, this P1 is finished with some special touches 
The P1 has over 900 hp, and this car has just covered 576 miles
This P1 is finished in a special green-metallic carbon fiber 
Even the interior is finished in the same green as the outside
McLaren's tub has been painted green too
The P1 is a handsome car, but it's not the most subtle car in this shade of green
RM Sotheby's auctioned this 918 at Scottsdale in 2016
Vicki Smith / Gizmag
The 918 Spyder is worth more when the Weissach Package is fitted 
Vicki Smith / Gizmag
The 918 Spyder is worth less than $1 million, but it's appreciating like the other hypercars 
Vicki Smith/Gizmag 
RM Sotheby's 918 Scottsdale 2016 image Vicki Smith / Gizmag
Vicki Smith/Gizmag 
This 918 is to be sold at auction
Patrick Ernzen/RM Sothebys
The 918 Spyder is one of the hypercars launched alongside the McLaren P1 and LaFerrari
Patrick Ernzen/RM Sothebys
The 918 combines a naturally aspirated V8 with electric power, and can even run in electric only mode
Patrick Ernzen/RM Sothebys
This 918 weighs 2.3 kg more than one without paint
Patrick Ernzen/RM Sothebys
This 918 is to be sold at auction by RM Sotheby's
Patrick Ernzen/RM Sothebys
This 918 is to be sold at auction by RM Sotheby's
Patrick Ernzen/RM Sothebys
This 918 is to be sold at auction by RM Sotheby's
Patrick Ernzen/RM Sothebys
Hypercar values are rapidly increasing, and the 918 Spyder is fast catching the more exclusive P1 
Patrick Ernzen/RM Sothebys
The 918 with Weissach Package was 40 kg lighter than the standard car
This 918 was sold by Barret Jackson earlier this year
Vicki Smith / Gizmag
The Barrett-Jackson 918 sold for $1,760,000
Vicki Smith / Gizmag
Barrett-Jackson sold this Weissach Pack 918 earlier this year
Vicki Smith/Gizmag
This 918 Spyder is expected to sell for between $1.9 and $2.3 million
Mecum Auctions is auctioning this 918 Spyder at Monterey
The V8 and e-power combo made for a seriously fast car around the Nurburgring
The cabin is black, and stripped out for maximum focus
Even though the 918 Spyder has always been heavier than the LaFerrari and P1, but it's value is growing fast
The 918 is part of an illustrious trio of special hypercars
Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013, the 918 Spyder's production kicked off in 2015
Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013, the 918 Spyder's production kicked off in 2015
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From humble beginnings, hybrid technology has been turned into a weapon of performance by Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren. Unfortunately, anyone who wanted to get their hands on that performance needed a manufacturer's invite for the LaFerrari, 918 Spyder and P1. And all three were only ever built in incredibly limited numbers. After a bunch of upcoming auctions, we're likely to know which of the three holds the most value in the eyes of collectors.

Head to head

Although all three of these hypercars were launched around the same time, the battle between the McLaren P1 and LaFerrari is arguably the most interesting element of these auctions.

The two marques are fierce rivals on the track in Formula 1, a feud which boiled over into allegations of spying and industrial espionage in 2007. A record-breaking US$100 million fine was thrown at McLaren, and the team was excluded from the 2007 Constructors' Championship in the wake of the scandal, which centered on documents shared between Ferrari's Nigel Stepney and McLaren's Mark Coughlan.

Few badges are as special as the Prancing Horse

Today's McLaren-Honda Formula 1 cars pose little threat to Ferrari, but the rivalry carries over into the road car arena, where the supercars coming from Woking's (still young) road car division are invariably benchmarked against the latest from Maranello. This was at its most prominent with the P1 and LaFerrari, pitched by the media as deadly rivals from warring factions.

But both cars take different approaches to hybrid performance. The Ferrari is powered by a naturally aspirated V12 with an electric boost, whereas the McLaren combines its hybrid power with heavily turbocharged V8. It'll also run in a silent electric-only mode, something the Ferrari can't do.

That said, there are a few similarities. Both produce over 900 hp (671 kW), and both send their power to the rear wheels through paddleshift gearboxes. There were actually less P1s built, with just 375 making it into customer hands compared to the 499 LaFerraris produced.

In the red corner...

There are two LaFerraris going up for auction, both of which have the potential to make their owners some serious money.

Just three cars were ever finished in this color

Over at Mecum Auctions, one of just three cars finished in Nero DS Opaco is up for sale. It's got just 211 miles (340 km) on the odometer, and the black-and-red interior looks seriously classy in combination with the black-on-black exterior. The team at Mecum is expecting it to sell for somewhere between $3.9 million and $4.5 million.

The LaFerrari, along with its toolkit and accessories

At Bonhams Auctions, there's a 2014 car up for sale in the traditional Ferrari specification. In other words, it's red and fast. Inside, the black buckets are finished with red piping, and the previous owner specced a carbon dashboard, anti-stonechip film and Prancing Horse embroidery in the headrests. Bonhams is forecasting a sale price somewhere between $3.6 million and $4.2 million.

Even if those cars sell for the bottom end of that price range, the previous owners are looking at a serious profit on their initial $1.3 million outlay.

Meanwhile, in Woking...

Perhaps in the interests of symmetry, there will be two P1s put up for auction this year. The first has been hit hard by the customization stick, which could be a blessing or and curse for Mecum Auctions. Chassis #2 was the first car delivered to a customer, and there's no chance you'll miss it in metallic green with green wheels.

The original paintjob was actually naked carbon fiber, but the car was sent back to McLaren for this finish

The car was actually delivered with an exposed carbon fiber body, but the owner sent it back to McLaren to have the green body fitted. Interestingly, the sale price includes the original carbon fiber body in three pieces. That price? Expected to be somewhere between $2.5 million and $3 million, less than the LaFerraris on offer, but a hefty increase on the $1.925 million and $1.98 million previous cars have sold for at auction.

This orange P1 has covered less than 1,200 miles 

Meanwhile, Bonhams Auctions is expecting between $1.9 million and $2.1 million for Chassis #90. With 1,200 miles (1931 km) on the clock, it's covered more ground than the other hypercars being sold at auction, but the McLaren Orange paintjob and black wheels make for an attractive package.

Even though it's less than you'll pay for the LaFerrari, owners can still expect a hefty profit on their initial $1.35 million outlay.

The Weissach factor

It's not a part of the great McLaren/Ferrari rivalry, but the Porsche 918 Spyder is every bit as much a hypercar as the P1 and LaFerrari. Mecum Auctions is putting a matte black and carbon 918 Spyder up for auction with 1957 miles (3149 km) on the odometer.

Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013, the 918 Spyder's production kicked off in 2015

Fitted with the Weissach pack, the 918 comes with the original window price sticker ($931,975) tag still on there. There's also a matching duffel bag, although you wouldn't want to load it up with anything heavy. After all, the Weissach Package was $84,000 worth of weight saving.

Mecum is expecting between $1.9 million and $2.3 million for the Matte Black 918 Spyder. That's a healthy increase on the $1.76 million Barrett Jackson sold another Weissach Pack 918 for.

So, what does it all mean?

Well, it means anyone lucky enough to be invited onto the owners list is essentially being handed an appreciating asset. These cars have only been around since 2014, but already their values are on the up.

At the moment, owners of the LaFerrari are looking like the biggest winners, but all will be revealed at The Quail and Monterey Car Week when these hypercars go under the hammer.

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1 comment
KeithPhillips
It's the Mclaren for me absolutely stunning car!! Ferrari,s are getting old hat as time goes bye!