This New Toy Advert Is The First Sign Of McLaren's Electric Plans Becoming Real

McLaren looks to be paving the way for more electric models with a cute new short video that, unless we’re very much mistaken, is barely even trying to hide the message that it doesn’t matter whether the car is petrol-powered or not.

The single-shot scene filmed in the pit lane at Goodwood starts with a message that reads: ‘The new McLaren P1: Embracing alternative fuels.’ Of course, the P1 isn’t actually built any more, so you could forgive our double- and triple-checking the upload date on the video.

Then the P1 roars off out of the way to reveal a child-sized, battery-powered mini-P1, which whines away out of the tightening shot to reveal a small kiddy on a push-along version. Its driver/rider/pusher scoots off, at which point we see the last and smallest: a small-scale metal model that a man pushes away while making engine noises.

The full advert text reads:

“The new McLaren P1: Embracing alternative fuels. Fuelled by petrol, or electricity, or biscuits… or bacon and eggs.”

Are we reading too much into this, or is this the first step of a fresh marketing push towards the electrification we know is coming? It’s subtle, sure, but it’s there.

Maybe we are, because the actual purpose of the ad is to showcase the new McLaren P1 ‘foot-to-floor’ edition, so named because your feet touch the floor. It’s the ride-on plastic self-propelled car you see in the video, and its 0-200 metres per hour time is, McLaren says, ‘entirely biscuit dependant.’

Yep, we’ve officially started the Christmas present season. Brace yourselves: winter is coming. The push-along P1 is £35.99. Also available is the electric Tecnomodel powered version for slightly older kids, along with a host of die-cast models, Scalextric slot cars, remote control cars and Hot Wheels racers.