The first hybrid powertrain prototype of McLaren Automotive’s breathtaking new Ultimate Series flagship, the McLaren Speedtail, embarks officially this week on a year-long test regime designed to underpin the development of the first McLaren Hyper-GT. The punishing test programme, in the run-up to production commencing at the end of 2019, will see Speedtail prototypes driving in Europe, North America and Africa, initially at bespoke automotive test facilities but later in traffic on ‘normal’ roads.
Deployment of the first Speedtail attribute prototype marks an exciting new stage in the development of the fastest, most aerodynamic and most luxurious McLaren ever produced. The prototype is officially designated ‘MVY02’ but, echoing the naming of development test mules of its legendary forebear, the 1992 McLaren F1, it has been christened, ‘Albert’. This is a respectful reflection not only on the name of the McLaren F1 mule ‘Albert’ but also the Albert Drive premises, in which the F1 was designed.
Distinguished by an unique testing livery, ‘Albert’ has a production-specification chassis and petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain, as well as the unique three-seat cockpit with a central driving position (just like the original F1). As the development and validation programme progresses, every aspect of the Speedtail’s performance will be honed as the full 1,044bhp available to Speedtail drivers, to propel the prototype to 403km/h (250mph) is used, including in high-speed trials with McLaren Automotive Chief Test Driver and former IndyCar champion, Kenny Bräck, at the controls.
Ben Gulliver, Head of Vehicle Development, McLaren Automotive, stated: “The start of real-world testing represents a major step in the development of the McLaren Speedtail. As the first fully representative prototype, ‘Albert’ will build on the invaluable work still being put in by earlier development cars, allowing us to sign-off vehicle attributes that include chassis dynamics, brake performance, damper tuning, tyres, refinement levels and aspects of ergonomics and comfort. With a huge amount achieved already, the McLaren Speedtail is well on its way to fulfilling a destiny as the greatest McLaren road car ever made.”
The central driving position and three-seat layout of the Speedtail was pioneered by the iconic McLaren F1 in 1992. This configuration is uniquely McLaren, remaining exclusive among production cars, until McLaren Automotive confirmed in November 2016 that it would be reprised for the next Ultimate Series model, then codenamed BP23.
The centre-seat layout of the Speedtail was first demonstrated publicly in a ‘proof of concept’ model that was simply a McLaren 720S reconfigured with a single, centrally-mounted driving seat. Four further mules followed and these will continue to be used around the world for performance and durability testing, alongside the formal prototype vehicles.
Despite its test livery and the bodywork from the A-pillars forward, ‘Albert’ is fundamentally a Speedtail, with shape-representative body panels and dihedral doors around the unique carbon-fibre McLaren Monocage core structure. The production-level specification allows Speedtail attributes to be proven in real-world conditions early in the development process, including ingress to and egress from the three-seat cockpit.
Production of the £1.75m (plus local taxes; yes, you read it right) McLaren Speedtail is due to commence at the end of 2019, with first deliveries in early 2020. As with the McLaren F1, 106 cars will be available and all have already now been allocated to owners.
