McLaren Automotive, the innovative company that developed the concept, is the brains behind the McLaren Speedtail, part of the McLaren Ultimate Series of super fast sports cars. The great thing about this sports car iteration is that the McLaren Speedtail is a limited-edition customized vehicle classified as a hybrid sports car under the company’s Track 22 business model. It is one of the 18 new car models covered by Track 22. Not surprisingly, only 106 units of the McLaren Speedtail were built, with each car following the unique specifications sought by its new owners, i.e., private car enthusiasts in the US and UK.
As its name suggests, the most attractive part of the McLaren Speedtail is its ability to go from zero to 250.4 mph top speed in seconds. This makes it even more powerful than the earlier McLaren P1 vehicle, which could reach 186 mph from zero ground within 16.5 seconds. McLaren Automotive credits the electric motor coupled with the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine for that, due to the torque of 848 lb-ft and the 1035 horsepower, for this kind of exemplary performance. You may also notice the strange yet appealing teardrop-shaped contours of the vehicle, which are also essential since these allow for the least amount of airflow resistance as the car powers through the road. The idea is that if there is zero resistance to airflow, then all of the engine’s power will go towards achieving the maximum speed possible per second, which the car does quite brilliantly. But for safety reasons, the car should be able to put on the brakes instantly, as and when needed. This was precisely the thought behind the installation of the CCM-R carbon-ceramic system previously seen only in the McLaren Senna. It works like a charm even on mountain roads that twist and turn unexpectedly, making the car a joy to drive.
What makes the McLaren Speedtail unique is that the driver’s seat is placed right in the middle of the car, with one passenger seat on either side, slightly behind the driver’s seat. This three-seater feature allows the driver better visibility of the surrounding road and terrain, improving the entire vehicle's maneuverability. This is ideal, considering the McLaren Speedtail can reach 299 km/hr in 12.8 seconds. Another interior design feature is the directional aniline and semi-aniline leather finish, which serves two purposes: it gives the interiors a smoother, sleeker look, yet the floor surface is tough enough to take friction from daily shoe traffic without carpets. It also helps keep you safe in the driver’s seat as you go from zero to super fast in seconds. On the other hand, the passenger seats plus the dashboard have been fitted with uniquely designed Scandinavian leather to give it an overall classy look. This leather can even be colored to the owner’s desired specifications, when necessary, to render the interiors truly one’s own. Unlike traditional cars with sun visors installed near the windshield to protect the driver’s eyes from the glare of sunlight, the McLaren Speedtail has electrochromic glass fixed at the top of the car’s windshield. This glass darkens when a certain button is pushed to make driving easier, even in the afternoon, with maximum sun exposure. The driver can easily rely on stylish brushed aluminum overhead controls and switches for other car functions, such as opening and locking the doors and windows and even starting the car’s engine. You can also find built-in cargo space in the tail and up at the front. The owners also got access to a matching Schedoni customized luggage set when placing an order. However, you might imagine that the Speedtail would be best used for showing off its speed rather than for lugging around heavy cargo. Note that each new McLaren Speedtail in this series was uniquely personalized for its particular owner. This means that no McLaren Speedtail is like its brethren, making it the ideal status symbol for any millionaire car enthusiast.
There are no side mirrors on each McLaren Speedtail; instead, there are retractable HD cameras installed and connected to two screens within the cabin so that the driver can glance at these to navigate while on the road. These two cameras emerge discreetly upon the car being started but are much smaller than traditional car mirrors. The high-resolution definition of the screens makes it safer for the driver to check the proximity of other cars and objects while driving. The front wheels also have carbon fiber static covers, adding to each vehicle's sleek look. These features are understandably attention-grabbing yet subtle. With the kind of speed you can get from this car, you can imagine that the tires see a lot of wear and tear as you fly from point A to point Z. These tires are Pirelli P Zeros with 315/30 R21 rear and 235/35 R20 front specs and are believed to be able to tolerate the 250 mph top speed of the vehicle. Plus, of course, the paint technology allows the exterior shades and hues to pleasantly appear nearly liquid to the naked eye while facilitating the smooth flow of air past the vehicle at any speed. Yes, even this can be customized to the owner’s specs so that each car differs from the others in the same series. The Speedtail was designed this way because the design team aimed to make it the most aerodynamically effective and energy-efficient car in the McLaren fleet. The key element in the Speedtail that made this possible is the integration of “ailerons” in the bodywork of the car tail itself. This allows the vehicle body itself to “bend” at high speeds to make the entire car stable while inducing airbrake function when necessary. There is minimal air turbulence while speed is maintained and can actually increase. The ailerons rely on hydraulics to improve downforce by sending the pressure center onto the rear. All this is possible because the company combined materials innovation and aerodynamic design into one masterpiece - the McLaren Speedtail.
The interiors of this vehicle were made with two kinds of unique technology. The first is the Thin-Ply Technology Carbon Fibre, which reportedly comprises 30 micron-dense carbon fiber layers. There is also the Titanium Deposition Carbon Fibre technology, a combination of titanium woven with carbon fiber during manufacturing. Both technological innovations help make the car tough yet lightweight enough to allow for maximum acceleration. Another unique technological advancement of the McLaren Speedtail is its petrol-electric hybrid powertrain. This feature will enable it to soar to at least 243 mph and beyond, making it faster than other McLaren vehicles. Perhaps what makes driving the Speedtail such a joy is the attention paid to driver convenience. The dashboard itself is simplified to avoid the clutter of a bothersome array of dials, switches, and knobs found in other sports cars. Instead, you encounter a smooth series of touch-sensitive controls for various car functions on either side of the steering wheel. You won’t get confused by which controls are meant for a particular function because the ones on the left are only for vehicle controls. The ones on the right will determine infotainment. Other dedicated driver controls are conveniently overhead, meaning the driver will not have to lean in any direction too much just to change a function. This also makes it less distracting for the driver, especially when navigating at high speeds. Anyone who has driven a Speedtail will be thankful for such attention to detail.
Each McLaren Speedtail is priced at roughly 2 million US dollars, which explains why it is a trophy car for the mega-rich. Previous McLaren limited-edition models had a resale value of up to $15 million secondhand, which is promising if you ever want to sell your car sometime after regular use. With that kind of price tag, it’s a small wonder that McLaren Automotive offers personalized manufacturing for each vehicle. If you can afford it, you can customize it - that’s the mantra of McLaren Automotive for this design series.
The McLaren Speedtail was designed to delight its owners with its aesthetically pleasing features and speeds on the highway that leave other cars choking in the dust. Though this supercar is not yet considered legally safe for regular driving, given that it has no side-mounted airbags and no external side mirrors, its speed was successfully tested at the Kennedy Space Center on the runway usually designated for shuttle landings. This shows that American and international buyers are ready, willing, and able to acquire this super-fast sports car despite its price tag. And the automotive world is much more exciting now that the McLaren Speedtail is among us.
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