New McLaren Elva Is A Roofless Hypercar With No Windshield And A Twin-Turbo V8

This is the new McLaren Elva, the brand’s Ultimate Series roadster and the first open-cockpit road car that came out of Woking, as well as the lightest.

Power comes from a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that here produces 804 HP (815 PS) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque and is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.McLaren claims that the new Elva is capable of a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 3 seconds, while 0-124 mph (200 km/h) takes just 6.7 seconds, making it faster than the Senna.

McLaren created the Elva to celebrate the classic M1A, M1B and M1C sports cars of the 1960s, which were ‘customer’ versions of the brand’s Group 7 race cars. Production of the McLaren Elva will be limited at 399 examples, with each one priced from $1,690,000.

The new McLaren Elva is the first to feature Active Air Management System (AAMS). The system sends air through the nose of the speedster to come out of the front clamshell at high velocity ahead of the occupants and then directed up and over the cockpit to create basically some sort of virtual windshield or a “bubble of calm” as McLaren calls it.

Helmets can be worn if preferred but the speedster’s clever aero means that they are not necessary for the comfort of the occupants. McLaren will also offer a fixed windscreen variant of the Elva to most markets as an option.

The rear end hosts a full-width active spoiler, which is adjusted both in height and angle to optimise aero balance and provide air-brake functionality. The rear diffuser, which comes with vertical fences to guide the airflow without reducing the air evacuation path, works in conjuction with the rear wing, with the McLaren Elva featuring a completely flat underfloor.

“The McLaren Elva is a true Ultimate roadster; it exists purely for the pleasure of driving, to deliver an enthralling and immersive experience born from the ultimate connection between the car, the driver and the elements,” said Andy Palmer, Vehicle Line Director – Ultimate Series, McLaren Automotive.

First customer deliveries of the new McLaren Elva will begin towards the end of 2020.