McLaren may have revealed the Speedtail back in
October but the public is only now getting the chance to see the new British
hypercar from up close by attending the Geneva Motor Show. The striking three-seater McLaren
pays tribute to the legendary F1 with its interior layout and will be the
brand’s fastest model yet, featuring a 403 km/h top speed.
Under the streamlined bodywork lies a plug-in hybrid
powertrain expected to offer a combined 1,035 hp and 1,149 Nm of torque.
A twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 will provide 746 hp and of torque while the
electric motor will produce an additional 308 hp and 256 lb-ft of torque,
according to McLaren’s Andy Palmer who spilled the beans to a few selected
media at the Geneva show stand.
Straight-line acceleration is promised to be brutal,
with the McLaren Speedtail able to reach 300 km/h from a standstill in
12.8 seconds, 0.3 of a second faster than the Bugatti Chiron. The elongated rear end helps the
Speedtail minimize drag and features a set of patented active rear ailerons,
which operate without the need of a shutline. In fact the McLaren Speedtail
comes with very few shutlines in the bodywork, making it look even more
slippery and futuristic. Even the door mirrors are replaced by retractable
cameras.
The central driving position features a carbon fiber
seat, flanked by two passenger seats that are moulded to the chassis. A trio of
high-definition displays and touchscreens across the dashboard has removed
almost every physical button and switch but key controls for the engine start,
the chassis settings and the advertised Velocity mode (which primes the
Speedtail for a top speed run) are mounted on the ceiling. McLaren has already sold all 106
examples of the Speedtail before it enters production in 2020, with prices said
to start at US$ 2.2 million before taxes.
