McLaren has a lot on its plate these days, from the unveiling of the new 600LT and 720S open-top models, to the track-focused Senna. Their most exciting product, however, is the Speedtail, an electrified hypercar that will enter production next year.
With its central driving position and 106-unit limited run, the Speedtail pays tribute to another McLaren icon: the F1. However, this is where similarities end, because the brand’s finest machine yet uses a hybrid powertrain with a reported combined out of 1,035 horsepower and 1,149 Nm (848 lb-ft) of torque.
The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine puts out 746 horsepower and 799 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque, whereas the electric motor produces an extra 308 hp and 347 Nm (256 lb-ft) of torque. The combined figure is a bit lower, though, because each unit reaches its peak output at different points.
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With a 1,430 kg (3,153 lbs) dry weight, which makes it 20 kg (44 lbs) lighter than the P1 despite seating one extra passenger, the Speedtail promises to reach 300 km/h (186 mph) in just 12.8 seconds. If true, then it will be 0.3 seconds quicker than the Bugatti Chiron, whose 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 produces a whopping 1,479 hp. The British hypercar will also have a 402 km/h (250 mph) top speed.
It will be a while until a select few will be granted access to the Speedtail, but in the meantime, it was already filmed just as it was leaving the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, where it made its public premiere. Woking’s new hypercar was loaded into a trailer near the Palexpo complex and a few enthusiasts were there, cellphone cameras at the ready, to capture the moment.
Now, it’s not the actual loading process that interests us, but the car’s soundtrack. Despite being a hybrid, the Speedtail used only its internal combustion engine – and that V8 growl, even at crawling speed, is quite promising when it comes to how it will actually sound at full steam.