McLaren Speedtail

DRAG DIMINISHED. Purity of form. This was part of the single-minded design brief for the Speedtail. And an objective that has been brought to life… with jaw-dropping results. But every line, every curve is there for a reason. To reduce drag. And to keep the airflow attached to the vehicle. When viewed from above, the car has a distinctive teardrop shape – the most speed-efficient natural form, as seen in high velocity birds and fish. It channels air in a seamless, uninterrupted way. Seen from the side, the Speedtail’s strikingly sleek outline ends in the elongated tail. Shutlines – gaps in panels – are at an absolute minimum to prevent turbulent air over the body. Inspired by nature yet honed by the latest technology… the look of the Speedtail may be beautiful. But it is purposeful to the last millimetre. FLEXED FOR AIRFLOW. In stunning new automotive technology, the Speedtail does away with a traditional rear wing. Instead, its trailing edge integrates controllable surface elements known as ‘ailerons’ – usually found on aircraft. These extend at high speed to provide balance and provide airbrake function. Unlike traditional hinged ailerons, however, the Speedtail’s are formed from the bodywork of the tail. There is no separate, moving element – the carbon fibre bodywork itself actually bends. This removes the need for joins or shutlines. And minimises turbulent air… with no loss of speed. Hydraulically actuated, the ailerons move the centre of pressure towards the rear, increasing downforce. The Speedtail’s active ailerons only became possible because of a relentless commitment to pushing boundaries – in both aerodynamic design and materials innovation. PICTURE THIS. Innovations abound. Another automotive first… the Speedtail has no wing mirrors. Instead, two discreet high-definition cameras glide out from the doors when ignition is activated. Being much smaller than traditional mirrors, they vastly reduce air turbulence. But they also provide a far wider field of vision for the driver via two screens within the cockpit. And are ergonomically designed to help the driver focus on the road ahead. When the cameras retract, the pure-form outline of the Speedtail is left fully undisrupted to eliminate any drag from buffered air. CLEANER AIR. Wheels create turbulence. As they spin, they push disrupted air away from the vehicle. This increases drag and ultimately slows a car down. Not so with the Speedtail. It features lightweight carbon fibre front wheel aero covers incorporated into the 20” alloys. The covers do not rotate with the wheel but stay fixed in place. This creates a flat surface that smooths airflow. It actually keeps the passing air snug to the body of the car. And guides it towards the blades on the leading edge of the dihedral doors. This smooths the airflow so the Speedtail can pass through with minimum disruption. A SWEEPING STATEMENT. There is an elegance to simplicity. The Speedtail dashboard is clean. Pure. Gone is the visual interruption of buttons and switches. Instead, a state-of-the-art control system takes their place. Almost every control is replicated by touch-sensitive, high-definition driver displays either side of the steering wheel. Each has a separate, dedicated function. To the [left], vehicle controls. To the [right], infotainment. These are paired with additional displays fed by the car’s wing mirror cameras. Powerful innovation stretches across the Speedtail’s cockpit. It creates a flowing, ultra-modern driver interface. Effortlessly functional. Simply beautiful. A CUT ABOVE. Inside the Speedtail there is room for three people. Yet, for the driver, the same interior feels like a single-seater cockpit. One in which they are truly at the heart of the action. This is not simply achieved through the central driving seat. But also through repositioning core car controls from the dashboard to an overhead console. These are dedicated driver’s controls. Positioned above them. Accessible only by them. Inspired by the world of aviation – and milled from aluminium – the overhead console provides instant, distraction-free access to Active Dynamics settings. The engine start button. The switches and dials to engage Velocity mode. To release the doors. And to control the side windows. The result is a decluttered interior environment. That delivers pure driving focus. The $2.29m “Ultimate GT” is the pinnacle of the automaker’s work with hybrid drivetrains and carbon fiber, capable of 250 mph and 0-186 mph in a ridiculous 12.8 seconds.