McLaren’s new three-seat hyper GT will have the highest top speed of any McLaren road car yet, beating the firm’s long-standing mark of 243mph achieved by the 1992 F1.
Woking doesn’t say exactly how much faster than the F1 the new Ultimate Series machine known as BP23 will go. It contents itself with a mocked-up image of the central digital speedo in the central driving position cabin showing the digits: 243. That speed dates back to 1998 when Andy Wallace achieved it as a two-way average in a McLaren F1 at VW’s Ehra-Lessien test track in Germany.
At the time it was a world record for a production car, but BP23 (it is getting a name, but we don’t know what that is yet) is unlikely to follow in its footsteps thanks to the looming 300mph battle between Koenigsegg, Hennessey and Bugatti.
BP23 will be powered by a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, Woking has confirmed, and will match its fastest-ever claim to fame by being also the most luxurious McLaren ever, in keeping with its grand touring remit.
McLaren Automotive chief Mike Flewitt said at the Geneva Motor Show the car, of which 106 are to be made costing £1.6m each, will be revealed this year.
McLaren
BP23
F1