Photo by Shane Harris
With the rarest Lamborghini, Pagani, and Porsche models present, it’s easy to become jaded to “standard” supercars at the Sun Valley Tour de Force. However, the presence of some exceptional examples will still manage to take your breath away. One such example of that and a vehicle I never thought I’d see in person is the McLaren Speedtail, which was present for the 2023 SVTdF car show.
What Makes the McLaren Speedtail So Special?
The body lines alone are enough to make a person stop and stare, being derived from the shapes of high-speed fish and birds, McLaren claims that every single curve is there for a reason. A chassis of this caliber can be made up of nothing short of the finest material, full carbon fiber. This, of course, does not exclude the wheel caps on the front that are, you guessed it, there for optimizing aerodynamics. The entirety of the Speedtail radiates symmetry, even on the inside. With a centered position for the driver, it gives a perfect view of the road ahead.
It’s Nothing Short of Incredible Down to Every Last Detail
The meticulous attention to detail inside isn’t limited to the seating position, either., the seats are made up of a directional leather that McLaren states, “makes it easy to slide into the seat but then subtly holds the occupant in place while they drive.” Even the windshield is elegant, with the option to tint it just by pushing a button, thus removing the need for sun visors. Many of the controls that would typically be on the dashboard of a vehicle have been moved up above the driver, including the gear selectors. Inspired by aviation, it leaves everything that could be essentially necessary within the driver’s reach just like an airplane’s cockpit. That’s not the only inspiration that McLaren took from aircraft, though. The car has a pair of ailerons on the rear, that aren’t separate pieces but rather a part of the body, to assist with downforce.
Photo by Shane Harris
What Are the Numbers Surrounding It?
The twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8 and eMotor push out a whopping 1,036 horsepower and 848 lb-ft of torque. With a curb weight of 3,521 lbs, it’s certainly no slug. It sprints from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 3 seconds and zero to 124mph in 6.6 seconds. Surprisingly, the Speedtail still nets a combined fuel efficiency of 18.1mpg. All of this certainly comes with a hefty price point. The original MSRP of the car sat right around $2 million. Some used Speedtails have even sold in the past for just north of $3 million. If you can manage to swing the asking price, though, it might be slightly difficult to find one. McLaren only made 106 examples.
Being the younger brother and successor to the infamous McLaren F1, it certainly followed in its footsteps rather well. Even when surrounded by other high-end cars, it still manages to stand out.