Official: McLaren Reveals 250MPH Speedtail, The World’s First Hyper-GT


Following a very revealing leak last night, McLaren has officially pulled the wraps off the new Speedtail, which is the closest we’ll get to a modern interpretation of the legendary F1.


The new McLaren Speedtail represents the next chapter in the brand’s Ultimate Series, featuring a top speed of 250mph (403km/h), courtesy of a new hybrid powertrain that produces a combined 1,036hp (1,050PS).


McLaren hasn’t revealed yet the full technical specifications of the Speedtail’s petrol-electric powertrain but the company did reveal that it sets a new benchmark for the company when it comes to straight-line acceleration; 0-186mph (300km/h) comes in 12.8 seconds, 0.3 seconds faster than the much more powerful Bugatti Chiron (13.1 seconds).


Every body panel on the McLaren Speedtail is made out of carbon fiber, designed to reduce drag. A pair of retractable digital rear-view cameras further aid the aerodynamic performance while a pair of static front wheel covers reduce the turbulence around the arches and allow the Speetail to reach 250mph.


The bodywork’s highlight however is the patented active rear ailerons, which operate without the need of a shutline, ensuring the continuity of the design. In fact McLaren wanted to reduce as much as possible the number of shutlines on the car and that shows.


The need for minimizing drag gave the new Speedtail that characteristic elongated rear end; the new ‘Hyper-GT’ measures 5137mm long, making it 549mm longer than a P1 and 600mm longer than a Bugatti Chiron.


The cabin’s three-seat layout features a custom carbon-fiber driver’s seat, flanked by two passenger seats that are integral to the monocoque chassis. McLaren came up with a new directional leather finish that makes it easy to slide into the seat but hold the passengers firmly in place once on the move.


A cutting-edge control system in front of the driver features high-definition displays and touchscreens across the dashboard, removing almost every physical button and switch. Controls for the engine start, the Active Dynamics panel, the power-operated doors and engage Velocity mode are mounted on the ceiling above the driver.


Velocity mode? What’s that? That’s the mode you select when you want to travel at high speeds; engage it and the hybrid powertrain is primed accordingly, the rear active ailerons tailor their angle, the ride height drops by 35mm and the digital rear-view cameras can be retracted for maximum slipperiness.


The monocoque carbon chassis is bespoke to the Speedtail, with McLaren using a new type of the lightweight material that features a titanium weave. The company calls it Titanium Deposition Carbon Fibre and it features a micron-thin layer of titanium fused directly onto the weave, giving the material a chrome-effect shimmer while retaining its immense strength and low weight.


All 106 examples of the McLaren Speedtail are already spoken for, with customers given free reign on the customisation options in order to ensure that no two Speedtails will look the same. Prices start from £1.75million plus taxes ($2.24 million in current exchange rates) and the first customer deliveries are expected to start in 2020.

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