MCLAREN HITS THE ROAD

The open-cockpit Elva roadster is the successor to the P1, Senna and Speedtail

Mclaren has revealed details of its newest Ultimate Series car - the open-cockpit Elva roadster.

The successor to the P1, Senna and Speedtail, the Elva is inspired by Bruce Mclaren-designed Mclaren-elva sports cars of the 1960s and features the same 4.0- lit rev 8 as the senna, ground-breaking aerodynamic systems and an all-carbon fibre body.

Just 399 examples of the Elva will be built, with prices starting at £1,425,000.

Mclaren says the Elva is the lightest road car it has ever built, with “blurred boundaries” between its bespoke carbon fibre chassis, all-carbon exterior bodywork and interior features. The low nose and curved front wings flow into the doors, while huge intakes sit outboard of the twin rear buttresses, which blend into the cabin area behind the seats.

The Elva is Mclaren’s first open-cockpit car and comes without windscreen or windows, leaving occupants exposed to the elements. To address the issues associated with having no wind screen, the Elva features Mclaren Active Air Management System - a world first which channels air through the nose of the car and directs it up over the cockpit to create a relative ‘bubble’ of calm for passengers. Alternatively, you can option a windscreen.

The interior features carbon fibre-backed seats, an exposed carbon fibre floor and is offered in a range of materials designed to cope with exposure to the elements. Many of the car’s functions are access via an eight-inch touchscreen but as a weight-saving measure a stereo isn’t standard.

The Elva is powered by the same 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 used in the Senna and Senna Gtr race car. with 804bhp and 590lb/ft it will get to 62mph in “less than three seconds” and break the 124mph barrier in 6.7 seconds-faster than the senna.

Suspension hardware and software settings are bespoke for the Elva and aerodynamic features include a completely flat underfloor, air intakes on the rear buttresses, a full-width active rear spoiler which doubles as an airbrake and acts in conjunction with the rear diffuser. Contours and ducts along the bodywork feed cooling air to the car’s radiators and transmission. Bringing it all to a stop are 390mm sintered carbon ceramic brakes.

The Mclaren Elva is available to order now with customer deliveries due to begin in late 2020.