McLaren Senna, Woking’s Most Extreme Sports Car

McLaren had until recently the P1, a sporty halo located in the Ultimate Series range that after the cessation of its commercialization was looking for a replacement that is already among us. It calls itself McLaren Senna, and comes with the label of being the most extreme registrable car to come out of the Woking factory.

His name is not trivial, but pays tribute to the great successes achieved by Ayrton Senna when he was a member of the Woking team in the late eighties and early nineties. It is an ode to sportsmanship and aggressiveness, qualities that the three-time Formula 1 world champion displayed when he was behind the wheel.

Aerodynamics in every detail

There is no doubt that this sports car is based on the new 720S. From there everything is new and more, since the clean and careful design of this gives way to an extremism completely dominated by aerodynamics. This element has influenced every appendage and surface of the body, with a very striking result.

“A registrable racing car” says the brand, and no wonder. The car draws attention with its prominent active rear wing and the huge cooling inlets spread throughout the vehicle. Also striking is the front splitter, which we imagine will not have been easy to homologate for the street.

The importance of aerodynamics has been crucial in the development of the McLaren Senna, to the point that the headlights and drivers have been relegated to the background. A central air intake has even been added to the roof to cool the engine, a solution also taken by Mercedes in the case of the Project-One. 

The set is finished off by a diffuser very elaborated in its forms, as well as a triple exhaust outlet located on the engine cover. Despite all the flourishes it has, it only ticks 1,198 kilos on the scale, 220 kilos less than the McLaren 720S from which it derives.

Carbon fiber everywhere

If we go to the cabin, the absence of equipment focused on luxury and comfort stands out. It’s almost like looking inside a racing car. Everything is made of carbon fiber, leather and alcantara, and the buttons have been reduced to the maximum. 

The reduction of superfluous elements has been such that only the retractable digital panel and the central screen have remained from the 720S . Of course, the latter has modified its position, as well as the controls of the rest of the vehicle’s functions for a more intuitive and simple use.

McLaren Senna Carbon Theme by MSO

A product as special as the McLaren Senna could not remain outside the department of special operations of the firm. Thanks to the good work of the engineers and craftsmen, they have developed the first of the five units that will be distinguished by the bodywork dressed in carbon fiber seen with small hints of color.

The unit in question increases the presence of references to Ayrton Senna. Added to the name are the pieces in Solar Yellow and the carbon-ceramic brake calipers in Lauren Green. For those who do not know , these were the helmet colors of the talented Brazilian Formula 1 driver.

The work done on the carbon fiber has taken 1 000 hours depending on the brand, to which must be added another 250 hours for the color details. In addition, 10% lighter newly designed rims have been included , made up of carbon fiber and forged aluminum.

The cabin has also received some touches of color as well as the exterior. The contrasting stitching and certain moldings are now decorated in the same yellow and green seen on the body.

Benefits

The powertrain has been one of the modified aspects of this peculiar supercar. It equips the same V8 4.0 engine of the McLaren 720S, which this time increases its figures to 800 hp of power and 800 Nm of maximum torque. All this power is transmitted only to the rear wheels through a seven-speed double-clutch transmission .

With its sights set on giving the driver as much control as possible, it features the Race Active Chassis Control II and hydraulic suspension. With these elements you can choose between four driving modes –Comfort, Sport, Track and Race– that modify the behavior of the engine, suspension and chassis.

It should be noted that the great aerodynamic complexity that its body exhibits yields the following data: it can generate up to 800 kg of downforce at maximum speed. To control a car with racing car performance, it was decided to equip large carbo – ceramic brakes and Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires.

Price

Production of the McLaren Senna will be limited to 500 units. Each of them will start at 750,000 pounds, which in turn amounts to around 850,000 euros without taking into account taxes. What can be assured is that none of the units produced will have that cost, since customers have an exclusive customization department, MSO.

McLaren Senna data

• 2 doors
• 2 places
• Rear-wheel drive
• V8 4.0 engine with 800 CV of power and 800 Nm of torque
• Consumption and emissions:
• Change
• Price: from 850,000 euros (taxes not included)