Page 18 - Motoring World (January 2020)

FAST

MCLAREN SPEEDTAIL

BLAST

OFF

McLaren took the Speedtail prototype

for a couple of high-speed runs

While the McLaren P1 and Senna are astounding All of this in the pursuit of speed. How fast, you ask?
cars in their own right, neither is the true successor to Well, McLaren spent the better part of the last month of
the most iconic McLaren ever — the F1. That honour 2019 carrying out high-speed acceleration tests at the
goes to the upcoming Speedtail. So far, we’ve seen what Kennedy Space Centre in Florida where a prototype was
the final production version will look like and we’ve got put in the capable hands of test driver Kenny Brack and
the statistics. For starters, the iconic central driving let loose. The car hit 402 kph on 30 separate occasions.
position returns with a seat on either side for terrified Quick enough, no?
passengers. A 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is paired with an These high-speed runs were the last phase of testing
electric motor to produce 1035 bhp and 117.24 kgm, for the Speedtail which has now entered production
which is plenty of poke. The front (especially with those at McLaren’s plant at Woking, England. Customers
hood scoops) looks like the underbelly of a stingray, will start getting their eager hands on them soon, with
and the vehicle stretches out in a smooth elongated deliveries commencing in February 2020. And yes, all
manner, with a massive rear overhang and lots of active 106 cars have been spoken for, with each costing around
aero to make it as slippery through the air as possible. ` 15 crore before taxes. ■

18 MOTORING WORLD | JANUARY 2020