McLaren's new hyper-roadster is "focussed on thrills"

McLaren says its forthcoming open-cockpit hypercar will offer a driving experience unlike any of its cars thus far, including the Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss of 2009.

Speaking with carsales.com.au at the launch of the new McLaren GT in Sydney last week, McLaren’s global marketing director Jamie Corstorphine said he expected the as-yet-unnamed open-top hypercar, which will be unveiled in Frankfurt next week, to set new driving experience benchmarks.

McLaren has previously said the P1 follow-up will offer “its purest driving experience yet”.

“We’re developing the next chapter in our Ultimate Series story and we want to produce a car that’s focused on the thrills of driving and with that an open experience. That’s important,” said Corstorphine.

McLaren hasn’t spilt the beans on the full specification for its latest Ultimate Series hypercar yet, but claim it will be its lightest car yet – meaning it will weigh less than the track-bred Senna’s 1309kg claimed kerb weight.

It’s not known if it will be even lighter than the featherweight McLaren F1, which tipped the scales at just 1164kg.

Corstorphine declined to comment: “We’re still working on development of that car and it’s too early to comment on technical specification.”

What we do know is the model will employ a modified version of its MonoCell II carbon-fibre monocoque that underpins cars like both the Senna and the 720S.

The stripped-back hypercar will also be powered by the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 that pumps out around 588kW/800Nm in the Senna

Combine that with a lack of weight and the alfresco Macca should deliver a 0-100km/h time of barely more than two seconds.

Instead of active aero and large wings, our first glimpse last month suggested sensuous curves will take pride of place with engineers tasked with making the speedster’s handling as involving and engaging as possible.

Without the drag of a large rear spoiler the latest Ultimate hypercar should top at least 360km/h.

McLaren says it’s already taking orders for its latest model, which is a natural rival for cars like the Ferrari Monza SP2.

Corstorphine said the open-top hypercar would not draw on the ultra-limited Mercedes SLR McLaren Stirling Moss that it collaborated with Mercedes-Benz on in 2009.

“It’s a different car in terms of its mechanical layout and nowadays we’re a different company to what McLaren was at that point. That’s not a car we’re using as a reference point,” he said.

Positioned between the £2.1 million ($A3.8m) Speedtail and the £750,000 ($A1.3m) Senna, a £1.4 million ($A2.5m) price tag for the open-cockpit McLaren is anticipated.