Speedtail has story to tell

Meet the fastest, most powerful McLaren the company has ever built — faster even than the legendary McLaren F1.

The hybrid McLaren Speedtail is a car like no other and the company’s first hyper GT.

Only 106 have been built and all 106 already have deposits against them, priced at 1.75 million pounds a piece.

The Speedtail model is built around a bespoke McLaren Monocage carbon fibre structure and benefits from lightweight engineering throughout, including an all-carbon fibre body, aluminum active suspension and carbon ceramic brakes.

The powertrain is a pioneering petrol-electric hybrid developing a combined 772kW to support the extraordinary performance.

A speed of 403km/h is achieved in a unique Velocity mode, which has been developed specifically for the Speedtail.

Velocity mode optimises the hybrid powertrain for high-speed running while also tailoring the angle of the active rear ailerons.

The digital rear-view cameras can be retracted to further improve drag and the Velocity Active Chassis Control can lower the Speedtail by 35mm, leaving the highest point of the vehicle just 1120mm from the road surface.

The hybrid powertrain enables a relentless increase in vehicle speed regardless of engine rpm and the low weight of the Speedtail – only 1,430kg dry – hastens this ability.

The straight-line acceleration of the Speedtail sets a new benchmark for a McLaren, with 0-300km/h achieved in just 12.8 seconds; McLaren Automotive’s previous Ultimate Series hybrid, the McLaren P1, could reach this speed in 16.5 seconds.

A bespoke P-ZERO tyre designed for the Speedtail’s extreme speed has been developed with McLaren technology partner, Pirelli.

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“McLaren has never built a vehicle like the Speedtail before,” Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive, Mike Flewitt, said.

“As our first ‘Hyper-GT’, the Speedtail is the ultimate McLaren road car; a fusion of art and science that combines an astonishing maximum speed with an iconic central-driving position and a truly pioneering approach to bespoke personalisation.

“A ground-breaking hybrid powertrain sits within a lightweight carbon fibre body reminiscent of sleek ‘streamliners’ that once set world speed records, while the luxurious three-seat cockpit offers a sublime combination of an incredible driving experience, unmatched individualism and innovative materials never seen before in a road-going vehicle.”