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The McLaren Senna is a no-compromise road-legal supercar

British supercar maker has released its latest Ultimate Series model, with 789bhp and extreme aerodynamic styling

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McLaren has revealed its latest Ultimate Series model with a 4.0-litre V8 engine, rear-wheel-drive and a polarising design that’s focused on creating as much downforce as possible.

Named Senna after the legendary Formula 1 driver, the road-legal supercar makes 789bhp, and at just 1,198kg it’s the lightest road car the Woking-based company has made since its iconic F1 supercar.

(McLaren)
(McLaren)

Unlike the P1, its Ultimate Series compatriot, the Senna isn’t a hybrid. The mid-mounted internal combustion engine alone sends its power through a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels only.

The car’s chassis and bodywork are made from carbon fibre to make the structure strong and light, while the race-derived suspension contributes to McLaren’s goal of making this the most capable road-legal track car ever made.

Extreme styling comes courtesy of a function-first attitude to the car’s design. It’s covered in aerodynamic features, such as a front splitter, rear diffuser and a prominent rear wing, to force the car into the road and improve grip. The latter can change angle to also reduce drag or improve braking performance.

Brazilian racing driver Bruno Senna, who is a McLaren Ambassador and nephew of the late Ayrton from whom the car takes its name, said: “Our family is extremely proud of the naming of the new Ultimate Series McLaren Senna. This is the first project that really connects with Ayrton’s racing spirit and performance.

“The McLaren Senna honours my uncle because it is so utterly dedicated to delivering a circuit experience that allows a driver to be the best they can possibly be. There is an absolute, seamless connection between car and driver, and this pure engagement, these sensory cues that a driver responds to and relies upon, ensure an experience so focused and immersive that you are left in awe of the depths of excellence the McLaren Senna possesses.”

Andy Palmer, vehicle line director for the McLaren Ultimate Series, said: “The McLaren Senna delivers true performance, all the way to the limit of a driver’s ability.

(McLaren)
(McLaren)

“With a truly astonishing power-to-weight ratio, this car is about performance that is accessible and attainable, yet at the same time exciting and challenging for the very best drivers in the world – and with an intense, sensory experience to match.”

Just 500 examples of the McLaren Senna will be made and all have already been allocated to customers at a price of £750,000 each.

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