What's all this about?
We've already been given a few tidbits of data on the mighty McLaren Senna, the latest entrant into the British hypercar maker's Ultimate Series. Such as the M840TR engine delivers 800hp (at 7,250rpm - this point of peak power is news, though) and 800Nm (from 5,500- to 6,700rpm,and the torque band is also a new revelation) from its twin-turbocharged, 4.0-litre V8. And that just 500 Sennas will be built in a 300-hour process at Woking, at a cost of £750,000 each. And all of them have been allocated already. Sob sob!
Dry your eyes. So what else have you got to tell me?
Well, we can translate those power figures into some performance stats. So how do these terrific numbers grab you: 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds, 0-124mph in 6.8 seconds, a standing quarter-mile in 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 211mph?
Cor blimey! It's quick, then?
We'll say. And McLaren hasn't even put it up against a stopwatch, as yet, on a race circuit, which is the natural habitat for this barely-road-legal beast. Given it weighs 1,198kg and generates a colossal 800kg of downforce (more new data for us to feast on, there), expect it to be so fast around a track that it'll be hard to register the Senna in action with the naked eye.
What else do we know at this stage?
Well, 499 examples of the build run were allocated to loyal customers, but the 500th car was auctioned off at a private event for McLaren owners in December 2017. It realised £2million, every penny of which went to the Ayrton Senna Institute - a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing education for nearly two million underprivileged children and youngsters in Brazil.
Very magnanimous. And is that it?
Oh, there are a few other items. Such as the V8 delivering 700Nm from just 3,000rpm, or the exhaust getting 10dB louder with every 2,000rpm racked up on the tacho, or the choice of five 'By McLaren colour schemes known as Stealth Cosmos black, Trophy Kyanos blue, Trophy Mira orange, Vision Pure white and Vision Victory grey. And there are plenty more colour choices beyond those, we can tell you, but to be honest, none of this stuff matters. What does is the scorching performance the Senna will offer a lucky few. Expect to see more of the car, and find out more details, once it has made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Matt Robinson - 7 Feb 2018