Mclaren Speedtail; Aston Martin DBS 59; Jaguar F-type Chequered Flag Edition; Dodge 68 Super Charger Concept; Chevrolet Camaro ECOPO; Ford GT Carbon Series; Volkswagen Tarok Concept; Honda Rugged Open Air Concept; New models on the way

Mclaren’s stunning new Speedtail is as ballistic as it is beautiful

FAST BACK LONG before the Bugatti Veyron held sway as the fastest production car in the world, it was the Mclaren F1 which pretty much personi ed performance-car hyperbole. Now, the Woking rm has heralded a return to highspeed motoring supremacy with the striking Speedtail. An unof cial homage to the FIA GT Championship homologation special, the Speedtail looks set to put Mclaren back on the high-speed performance map.

ALL-OUT AERODYNAMICS

While it is monumentally powerful, the Speedtail relies as much on drag-cheating tech as it does on brute force to slice through the air to its 403 km/h top speed, including: • Teardrop-shaped, lightweight

carbon- bre composite body shell. • Static front wheel covers diverting

air to other aerodynamic vents. • Retractable rear-view cameras in

lieu of wing mirrors. • Rear-mounted ailerons with multiple aerodynamic settings for exible carbon- bre winglets.

MYSTERIOUS ELECTRIFYING PERFORMANCE

Mclaren has remained tightlipped regarding the Speedtail’s powertrain, stating it comprises a V8 petrol engine coupled with an electric motor of as-yetundisclosed provenance.

An educated guess places a heavily modi ed version of the Senna’s 4,0-litre twinturbopetrol V8 in the mid-mounted engine bay, with the electric motor contributing to the mighty 772 kw on offer.

It hits 300 km/h In 12,8 seconds. A P1 needs A further 3,7 seconds

Three’s company

Echoing the F1’s cabin layout, the Speedtail’s driver is centrally seated with two no-doubt-terrified passengers slightly mounted back to either side. In addition to an array of TFT screens for performance and information displays (and side views), ceilingmounted gear selectors and electro-chromatic glass roof panels are among the highlights.

Just The beginning

The Speedtail is the first step in Mclaren’s £1,2 billion Track25 business plan. • Eighteen new models and

derivatives by 2025. • All Mclaren sports and supercars to be 100% hybrid by 2025. • New Ultimate Series car. • Research into “augmented” driving experience and fastcharging technology. • Production to reach 6 000

mid-engined cars per annum.