Mclaren Senna is a 789bhp race car for the road

Mclaren has revealed its latest Ultimate Series model with a 4.0-litre V8 engine, rear-wheel-drive and a polarising design that’s focused on creating as much downforce as possible. Named Senna after the legendary Formula 1 driver, the road-legal supercar makes 789bhp, and at just 1,198kg it’s the lightest road car the Woking-based company has made since its iconic F1 supercar. Unlike the P1, its Ultimate Series compatriot, the Senna isn’t a hybrid. The mid-mounted internal combustion engine alone sends its power through a dualclutch seven-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels only. The car’s chassis and bodywork are made from carbon fibre to make the structure strong and light, while the race-derived suspension contributes to Mclaren’s goal of making this the most capable roadlegal track car ever made. Extreme styling comes courtesy of a function-first attitude to the car’s design. It’s covered in aerodynamic features, such as a front splitter, rear diffuser and a prominent rear wing, to force the car into the road and improve grip. The latter can change angle to also reduce drag or improve braking performance. Andy Palmer, vehicle line director for the Mclaren Ultimate Series, said: “The Mclaren Senna delivers true performance, all the way to the limit of a driver’s ability.” Just 500 examples of the Mclaren Senna will be made and all have already been allocated to customers at a price of £750,000 each.