"Gimmicky" is not the right word to use when LMP1 and F1 cars have that feature too. You have the choice to either use it or let the car do the work for you. It's called an option.
in LMP1 and F1 it's a feature to spice up the show and for strategy cause they are in a race but we are talking about road cars the person wrote this got a point
He has got a point, but you can look at it from different perspectives. A lot of potential customers who have driven the car were surprised by how fun it was to use IPAS manually. It gives a sudden kick in the neck when you press it. It's like launching the car from 0-60 all over again.
You quoted him and you seemed to agree with what he said, so what I wrote was directed at you. Unless if he was reading this thread, I have zero interest in changing his opinion.
Indeed it is gimmicky because it's completely unnecessary and a totally weird gadget. The P1 is not a race car! You could mount a full-on fighter jet HUD display in a car - it would still be a gimmick, even though you can find the equivalent in a real F-16.
The fact that owners have the option to operate it manually is a good thing, no matter how you spin it. Owners have showed satisfaction from the feature and it completely makes sense. LaFerrari probably doesn't have a KERS function due to its relatively smaller battery.
And it doesn't need it either because LaF owners use a little pedal on the floor that you operate with your right foot. In case you are unfamiliar with the concept - you push the pedal to go faster. If you for instance want to overtake a car, you push to pedal with your right foot until the car gains adequate speed. The pedal travel can vary, but for maximum speed it's possible to push it nearly all the way down to the floor. McLaren are trying to replace the last bit of pedal travel with a button distractingly placed on the steering wheel? No, that does not make sense. I get the DRS button, but not the IPAS.
KERS button has a sense in F1 because of limited use. It's poorly thought for a car that is freely designed and can be freely used.
As if I don't know. McLaren have included it because it enhances the driving experience and not for overtaking. For the best result on a track, the car can do it all for you, just like the 918 and LaFerrari.
They can use an over-boost button to deplete the battery faster than usual. But its purpose on P1 is totally different and it's there because it makes going in a straight line more exciting and a lot of fun.
No they have a rotary dial that selects the level of discharge, but not a "boost" button. What the P1 does, is exactly what the others do with the throttle pedal, instead of a meaningless boost button.
Same function. That's what I meant. And what everyone seem to be ignoring is that it can also do it with the throttle pedal.
Exactly. I found this definition of gimmick which I found quite appropriate: Now, do you understand why IPAS is a gimmick? It's a redudant and useless feature. But I have a question; if you are at full throttle in say third gear or above, will the activation of IPAS have any effect? Does McLaren "hide" extra power (even under 100% throttle load) for the IPAS function?
IPAS is always working in Sport, Track or Race mode unless you press the 'Boost' button on the center console which will then make IPAS available at the press of a button in any of the car's driving modes.
So by pressing the BOOST button, you limit the car's maximum power for there to be extra power available when you push the IPAS button?
You only need 903hp on the straights and that's where IPAS comes into play. You can press it to get full power when you're nearly full throttle. It's actually a pretty fun feature and professional drivers might be able to use it more efficiently rather than letting the car do it for them.
This. I will try and post a manual picture tommorw, so you guys get the fully picture about Mark explanation. Mbn