Automotive

McLaren's wild new open-top Elva is its lightest car ever

McLaren's wild new open-top Elva is its lightest car ever
The intake at the middle of the Elva's bonnet allows air to flow in and then up and out
The intake at the middle of the Elva's bonnet allows air to flow in and then up and out
View 8 Images
The McLaren-Elva M1A Mk I (left) was the direct inspiration for the McLaren Elva
1/8
The McLaren-Elva M1A Mk I (left) was the direct inspiration for the McLaren Elva
McLaren says the new Elva roadster is the lightest road-going car it's ever built
2/8
McLaren says the new Elva roadster is the lightest road-going car it's ever built
The rear of the McLaren Elva clearly draws from the Senna
3/8
The rear of the McLaren Elva clearly draws from the Senna
The Elva draws upon the 1960s forms that defined the McLaren-Elva racecars of the period
4/8
The Elva draws upon the 1960s forms that defined the McLaren-Elva racecars of the period
The McLaren "blurred boundaries" design principle brings the outside of the car inside
5/8
The McLaren ‘blurred boundaries’ design principle brings the outside of the car inside in seamless edges
McLaren promises that the Elva's 815PS, twin-turbocharged McLaren V8 can do 0-100 km/h in under three seconds
6/8
McLaren promises that the Elva's 815PS, twin-turbocharged McLaren V8 can do 0-100 km/h in under three seconds
The intake at the middle of the Elva's bonnet allows air to flow in and then up and out
7/8
The intake at the middle of the Elva's bonnet allows air to flow in and then up and out
The racing M1A MkI (fore) was the pinnacle of Bruce McLaren's design career
8/8
The racing M1A MkI (fore) was the pinnacle of Bruce McLaren's design career
View gallery - 8 images

McLaren has announced its new Elva roadster, an open-cockpit car in the tradition of Bruce McLaren’s sportscar racers from the 1960s. The vehicle has no glass, weighs less than any car the company has ever produced, and is quicker than the flagship Senna.

The Elva utilizes the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 found in the Senna, producing 815 PS (804 hp, 599.5 kW). McLaren says that the Elva runs from a standstill to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 6.7 seconds, as compared to the Senna's 6.8 seconds.

The car's aerodynamic design incorporates an Active Air Management System (AAMS) – pioneered at McLaren and debuting on the Elva – which uses moving air as a windscreen. The system channels air through the car’s nose and over the cockpit, utilizing an automatically-deployed deflector at the leading edge of the bonnet. This deflector, made of carbon fiber, pushes air into an inlet without stopping air from also flowing over the hood. These channels of air meet again at the top of the bonnet where the windscreen would usually be, creating a flow that goes up and over the car to make a roof made from the resulting airwall.

McLaren says the new Elva roadster is the lightest road-going car it's ever built
McLaren says the new Elva roadster is the lightest road-going car it's ever built

The Elva also features auto-deployed rollover buttresses, and the bodywork itself is a mixture of modern McLaren design and the 1960s forms that defined the McLaren-Elva racecars of the period. Inside, McLaren’s new “blurred boundaries” design makes up the cockpit. The dashboard flows into the doors, while the center stack moves without break into the carbon fiber center armrest.

The McLaren Elva will be made in 399 copies, with deliveries scheduled to begin in late 2020. McLaren Special Operations will customize each Elva to its owner upon order, and a fixed windscreen will be an option for those who prefer it. No roof or side windows will be offered, but the windowless Elva is fully homologated for most major world markets as a road car.

McLaren has not announced pricing or specifications, but promises to do so closer to the Elva’s launch.

Source: McLaren

View gallery - 8 images
5 comments
5 comments
seewind
wow! owned an elva courier in the 1970's. it was fun and i could push/bump start it while getting a replacement starter. those were the days.
buzzclick
This design has fun written all over it. We'll see what the final price tag will be.
McDesign
There's an M6A for sale on BringATrailer now, if you like the first picture - should be cheaper, at around 300K.
Kpar
Their lightest car ever? How heavy is that?
Tony Morris
I think I would like a windscreen when gravel, birds etc are heading towards my face at 300 km/hr.