Name’s a little iffy, though.
Respected British supercar marque McLaren may not have a direct replacement for its landmark F1 hypercar, but they sure are getting close. In the same vein as its manic roadcar has come this, dubbed the McLaren Senna, after revered racing driver Ayrton Senna. And despite its looks, this is actually entirely road-legal, though it’s pretty clear that on-road performance is hardly its primary focus.
“The McLaren Senna is a car like no other: The personification of McLaren’s motorsport DNA, legalised for road use, but designed and developed to excel on a circuit. Every element of this new Ultimate Series McLaren has an uncompromised performance focus, honed to ensure the purest possible connection between driver and machine, and deliver the ultimate track driving experience in the way only a McLaren can.” - Mike Flewitt, CEO, McLaren Automotive
Utilising the same platform as the 720S (sort of), the Senna was developed with an even greater focus on light weight and unbridled performance, resulting in a dry weight of just 1,198kg, the lightest McLaren since the F1. That represents a weight saving of about 220kg over the McLaren 720S on which it’s based.
You’d have probably noticed the design of the thing, which was shaped and sculpted based on aerodynamic requirements as well as for the generation of downforce. The Senna features the very latest in active front and rear aero, which is said to be able to keep the car glued to the road to an “unprecedented level.”
Motivation comes from a 4.0-litre biturbo V8, producing a stratospheric 588kW and 800Nm, which is impressive all on its own, even before you consider the Senna’s jaw-dropping 485/tonne power-to-weight ratio. McLaren hasn’t released any of the important metrics for the car (century sprint time, Nurburgring lap time, etcetera), but we have it on good authority that it won’t be a slouch. A seven-speed double-clutch gearbox sends power to the rear wheels, like a real performance car.
The Senna’s suspension is broadly familiar to what’s available on the P1, with independant double-wishbone suspension and hydraulic active dampers and anti-roll bars, which McLaren has christened as ‘Race Active Chassis Control II (or RCC II). Braking is catered for using carbon ceramic discs and incorporate motorsports tech to make them some of the most advanced units available on a road vehicle.
The cabin of the Senna isn’t quite spartan, but it is minimalist. There are lightweight ‘seats’ (that are more like bits of padding placed on a frame), while things like the door releases, start button, and power-window switches are placed on the roof of the car.
The doors themelves are top-hinged and feature an upper glass section (normal) and a lower glass section (not normal in the slightest), with the latter available to make it easier to keep track of the apex of a corner. There’s a three-spoke steering wheel and a McLaren folding instrument display, while all other functions are relegated to a central touchscreen.
McLaren will demandno less than GBP750,000 (or about $1.3-million) for one of just 500 Sennas, though we’re informed that all of them have been sold. The very last example was put up for auction recently, and eventually sold for GBP2-million (or $3.56-million in our money), with all proceeds going to the Senna Foundation. More details will be revealed in March, when the Senna makes its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show next year.
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