Ladies and gentlemen, the time for weird mules is over as McLaren has started testing the next-generation Sports Series with its production body.
Although hidden beneath heavy camouflage, fake panels and padding, the bodywork’s sleek proportions and feline-like stance are immediately noticeable. A closer look reveals details such as the LED DRLs doubling as turn signals and the shape of the taillights.
What we also learn by checking out these photos carefully is that this prototype sports a hybrid drivetrain, as certified by the round yellow sticker on the windshield and the more obvious sticker in front of the rear wheel that reads “Hybrid prototype”.
See Also: 2020 McLaren 620R Debuts As The 570S GT4 You Can Drive On The Street
We know that McLaren is planning a plug-in hybrid supercar for later this year and this might be it. This would be the brand’s second hybrid after the P1 hypercar. According to a report from Autocar, the PHEV will be part of the next-generation Sports Series lineup and could be unveiled as early as this summer.
Deliveries are believed to commence before the end of the year, making the plug-in hybrid supercar a 2021 model. We do have some doubts about that given that McLaren has just started testing the production body and it’s so heavily camouflaged at the moment. A more realistic estimated debut date would probably be 2021.
There are no official details available about the second-generation Sports Series but word on the street is it will pack a twin-turbo V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain that would enable an EV driving range of about 20 miles (32 km). Hopefully, McLaren will offer more details about the new Sports Series model soon. They’ve certainly got our attention.
![](https://www.carscoops.com/wp-content/themes/carscoops/assets/images/icons/arrow.png"){kind=icon}