No windscreen, no roof, no windows: Is the US$1.69 million McLaren Elva the most outrageous supercar ever made?
The Elva is the latest addition to McLaren’s Ultimate Series, joining the Senna, Senna GTR and Speedtail
McLaren just debuted its latest supercar: the US$1.69 million Elva.
“It’s fitting that the new McLaren Ultimate Series roadster – a uniquely modern car that delivers the ultimate connection between driver, car, and the elements and with that new heights of driving pleasure on-road or track – acknowledges our rich heritage with the Elva name,” McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt said.
The Ultimate Series is what it sounds like: McLaren’s most outrageous machine. The Elva joins the Senna, Senna GTR and Speedtail.
McLaren has never before produced an open-cockpit design, and the British brand’s first effort is unique: it lacks a roof, windscreen, or windows (a fixed windscreen add-on is available, however). The carmaker said its first open-cockpit vehicle makes for an “incredibly immersive and enthralling experience”.
Only 399 examples of the car will be made, each going for US$1.69 million.
Elva also has a bespoke carbon fibre chassis, body and seats. The Elva is “the lightest road car we’ve ever built at McLaren Automotive,” vehicle line director Andy Palmer said.
The windowless vehicle pays homage to the 1960s-era M1A racer, designed by founder Bruce McLaren. That car had a potent V8 and distinctive, lightweight-resin bodywork. Customers wanted to get their hands on a road version so badly that McLaren, a small operation, partnered with England’s Elva Cars to build three iterations of the machine: the McLaren-Elva M1A, M1B and M1C.
The McLaren Elva … exists purely for the pleasure of driving, to deliver an enthralling and immersive experience born from the ultimate connection between the car, the driver and the elements
The carmaker also claims the “shapes [of the car] are organic and natural”, with the only disruption being the instrument cluster.