McLaren reveals 588kW track-focused Senna hypercar

McLaren has revealed an ultra-lightweight, track-focused replacement for its P1 hypercar that's named after F1 legend, Ayrton Senna.

The McLaren Senna, unveiled on Sunday, is the first of two hypercars that will replace the P1 and P1 GTR, the other being the forthcoming three-seat BP23 that's been confirmed for production.

Described by its own designers as having 'brutal' styling, the Senna isn't pretty.

That's because it was created with the single brief to give its owners the "most intense circuit experience of any road McLaren", and to do that its stylists had to focus on wind bending rather than sex appeal.

It's also why instead of majoring in luxury like the BP23, the Senna is a stripped-back racer for the road that trades the P1's complex petrol-electric V8 hybrid for a simpler, much lighter 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.

Despite being down on technology (apparently, a hybrid version is no quicker on track), the big winged McLaren's 720S-derived powertrain still manages to produce an incredible 588kW/800Nm.

The British car-maker has yet to reveal performance figures but promises it will deliver 'savage' acceleration. Expect it to hit 100km/h in around 2.4 seconds and top out at more than 330km/h.

Priced from £750,000 ($A1.4 million), McLaren says the Senna will be limited to just 500 cars and it will make a charitable donation to the Senna Foundation for each car sold.

Developed to be the "lightest, fastest and most engaging McLaren yet", the Senna is based on the Monocell II carbon-fibre structure of the 720S.

The body is made from the same material and the design is heavily inspired by work carried out in the wind tunnel to make the hypercar as aerodynamically efficient as possible.

Featuring a huge carbon rear wing and a large double rear diffuser, the Senna gains new active aero tech that can maximise downforce or minimise drag. That wing, for example, can tilt forward to act as an airbrake while the clever diffuser can also be tweaked on the move.

A DRS system is also in place that can 'stall' the aero aid when not needed give the Senna a high top speed in a straight line.

Beneath the body there's also active air flaps that can manage airflow to maximise cooling or downforce, while small blades in the front air scoops move to direct air to balance downforce front and rear.

Weighing in at just 1198kg (dry), the Senna is the lightest road car since the original F1.

To help shed the kilos, the Senna comes with a stripped-back interior that includes ultra-thin carbon-fibre bucket race seats. The door-handles, window switches and even engine start button, meanwhile, have all been packaged within a small roof-mounted panel.

Like the F1, the Senna bags dihedral doors that have been redesigned to ensure the doorframe now weighs just 8.8kg – half as much as those used in the 720S.

The Monocell II structure too is significantly lighter, tipping the scales at just 75kg -- 15kg less than the P1's monococque.

It lifts its electronic foldable dash and infotainment system from the 720S, and the extreme approach to focusing on refining the aero means there's just two small cubby holes behind the driver and passenger seat that have been designed to carry two helmets.

Since it's been created for wealthy enthusiasts who enjoy track days, the 720S' RaceActive Chassis Control II suspension has been rethought for the Senna with the addition of a new 'Race' mode to accompany the Comfort, Sport and Track settings.

Race mode stiffens the hydraulic dampers further and lowers the ride to maximise downforce.

Braking is also all-new, with McLaren announcing the Senna will be the first car to benefit from its next-gen carbon ceramic brakes that use a special 'CCMR' compound to withstand a far greater range of temperatures than existing brakes.

Just one tyre will be offered with the Senna -- a specially developed Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo that is heavily track-biased but still legal to use on the road.

Despite only being unveiled late last night, McLaren has announced its most extreme vehicle ever is already sold out with the last car off the production line to be auctioned off for £2 million ($A3.6 million) and all proceeds going to the Senna Foundation.

Deliveries are said to begin in 2018 following its official debut at the Geneva motor show in March, and we understand at least one McLaren Senna will grace Australia from the second half of next year.