News McLaren reveals 250mph Speedtail “hyper-GT”

The new McLaren Speedtail supercar has been revealed, as the firm’s fastest and most powerful road car to date.

Described by the Woking-based car maker as a “Hyper-GT” car, the Speedtail is the McLaren’s flagship model; sitting above the track-focused McLaren Senna in the company’s ‘Ultimate Series’ range.

Full powertrain details weren’t revealed at the unveiling, though McLaren did confirm the Speedtail’s petrol-electric setup produces 1,035bhp. This, McLaren says, is good for a 250mph top speed when the Speedtail is in its least draggy ‘Velocity’ mode – dethroning the 243mph McLaren F1 as the firm’s fastest car ever in the process.

With such an emphasis on straight line speed, aerodynamic efficiency is integral to the McLaren Speedtail’s shape. The long rear deck and ‘teardrop’ cockpit canopy help streamline the airflow over the car, and the two rear ailerons are embedded into the clamshells and forged out of flexible carbon fibre to reduce the drag and turbulence caused by bodywork shutlines.

Despite the impressive performance and advanced aero features, the McLaren Speedtail isn’t billed as a track car. Instead, the vehicle is seen by its makers as an blisteringly quick grand tourer. Buyers can specify custom luggage for the Speedtail, and the McLaren F1-inspired three-seater layout with a central driving position was chosen to maximise the available cabin space.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the McLaren Speedtail will be an incredibly exclusive car. Just 106 examples will be made, and all have been accounted for despite  the £1.75m pre-tax asking price. Deliveries of the first McLaren Speedtail customer cars are scheduled to commence in early 2020.

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