RE: McLaren Senna - full details

[corozin]

Interesting given Jay Leno's farly well known comments about the the vulnerability and replacement costs of the front splitter on the P1 effectively ruining it's usability s a road car, that McLaren decide to put an even lage, more vulnerable splitter on this one. And whilst you might argue that prospective owners can afford it, it's going to leave a bad taste with them and may well mean you don't see them a lot even at shows because who ants to risk the hassle of damaging that?

Aside from that it's good too McLaren pushing the whole "form follows function" marketing line, because frankly it's not a particuarly elegant car. It lookrealy cluttered and messy to me.

[Uncle John]

I like it. Looks are a matter of opinion of course.

Fact is though, if all the tech written in the article actually works, then it will be a vey special car.

[RyanTank]

all that bluff about form over function and art meet science and no one noticed it all leads to a damn ugly car!

It will look better in dark colours as does the equally ugly 720 its based on. but if I had £750k to put down on a car before I'd even see it I'd probably be asking for the money back on this. or do as what probably a quarter of these "owners" will do and put it up for sale immediately at twice the asking price.

[RacerMike]

simonbamg said:

go to Shmee's you tube page for more

Tim Burton talking about the Senna! I know where to go if I feel the need to find the worst video on YouTube now. Cheers!

[gigglebug]

corozin said:

Interesting given Jay Leno's farly well known comments about the the vulnerability and replacement costs of the front splitter on the P1 effectively ruining it's usability s a road car, that McLaren decide to put an even lage, more vulnerable splitter on this one. And whilst you might argue that prospective owners can afford it, it's going to leave a bad taste with them and may well mean you don't see them a lot even at shows because who ants to risk the hassle of damaging that?

Aside from that it's good too McLaren pushing the whole "form follows function" marketing line, because frankly it's not a particuarly elegant car. It lookrealy cluttered and messy to me.

The leading edge of the splitter is removable and replaceable and can be seen in the Shmee video. I'd not heard of the P1 having such problems myself but it does appear to have been addressed.

To be fair it also mentions the fact in the article if Shmee really isn't your cup of tea.

Edited by gigglebug on Wednesday 7th February 14:51

[Burwood]

So it's quicker than a 918 and LaF and Veyron to 124mph and only 0.3s slower than the Chiron. Holy crap.

[ChocolateFrog]

Burwood said:

So it's quicker than a 918 and LaF and Veyron to 124mph and only 0.3s slower than the Chiron. Holy crap.

And will go round corners significantly faster, it must weigh more than half a tonne less.

[Don Colione]

Not a 720s with a body kit?

As always you spend a whole article trying to convince us how "special" this car is; apologizing for obvious flaws and overlooking anything that does not fit the McLaren narrative of this being the "best car ever".

Is it really that better?

Does it justify its price premium, or the abominable use of the great Senna's name?

Or is this all really PR and marketing hype, supported by all the blogs, trying to get us to believe in this stripped, overpriced, inadequately named 720s with an ugly body kit.

Just like with the P1, all the lap time PR hype will mean nothing as it will never be officially verified, so therefore pointless.

Modern companies putting out re-packaged, over-hyped products must really think there customers are stupid; well maybe the ones who don't fact check, or read between the PR marketing hype, from the blogs, and the manufacturer.

For all the hype and flowery language. It is 1 second faster to 124 than the 720s, 1 second slower to 62, less than a 110kg lighter, and 1 mile slower top speed.

Yet it is considerably uglier than the 720s (didn't believe I could ever be writing that), and i wonder how much could it really be around a track to justify the price differential.

Finally, I personally would be reluctant to track a million dollar car. Taking a car on track usually means that you are willing to write it off it the need be, because trackdays are nightmares to a car's chassis, drivetrain, and residuals. There is also the high possibility of severe damage.

The cheaper the car the better in my eyes, for this purpose...

McLaren 720s Stats according to Wikipedia -

Price - $288,845
Weight - 1283kg
0-62 - 2.7 sec
0-124 - 7.8 sec
Top Speed - 212mph

Senna Stats

Price - $837,000 to1-2 million
Weight - 1,198kg
0-62 - 2.8 sec
0-124 - 6.8 sec
Top Speed - 211mph

[Gameface]

simonbamg said:

go to Shmee's you tube page for more

No thanks.

[huckster6]

Is the bodywork bullet proof? Something that ostentatious would surely need an armoured security escort and, in a oligarchs' world, a helicopter gunship above.

[CaptainRAVE]

Impressive downforce, but my goodness that is ugly.

Gameface said:

No thanks.

Agreed, I stopped watching a long time ago when I realised that he had switched from carspotting to paid promos and shoving his money in your face. Paul seems to do it for the right reasons.

[GranCab]

Useless in the real world ... too compromised to use on the road ... too precious to take to a track ... if you're lucky you may see one at VMax200 ...

[WCZ]

amazing performance, much more than a 720s with a remap indeed contrary to the opinion of the p1 owner on here

[wtdoom]

"And that all 500 orders remained even once they had..."

Blatant lie from McLaren , I know 2 poeple who cancelled allocations . Both are on this forum .

[Matt Bird]

cookie1600 said:

I quite like it in that colour TBH. Not that I'm in the market for one, could afford one, or could use it as intended. It takes the McLaren design heritage (not long of course) on a little bit further.

By the way, do we have to proof read every article for PH these days or can you guys have a look through beforehand?

"as well as an overhauled intake system including a the roof scoop"

Edited by cookie1600 on Wednesday 7th February 14:46

Sorry, running a bit close to the embargo (from my sluggish writing) so mistakes have been missed. I'll sort that now!


Matt

[CraigyMc]

Don Colione said:

Not a 720s with a body kit?

As always you spend a whole article trying to convince us how "special" this car is; apologizing for obvious flaws and overlooking anything that does not fit the McLaren narrative of this being the "best car ever".

Is it really that better?

Does it justify its price premium, or the abominable use of the great Senna's name?

Or is this all really PR and marketing hype, supported by all the blogs, trying to get us to believe in this stripped, overpriced, inadequately named 720s with an ugly body kit.

Just like with the P1, all the lap time PR hype will mean nothing as it will never be officially verified, so therefore pointless.

Modern companies putting out re-packaged, over-hyped products must really think there customers are stupid; well maybe the ones who don't fact check, or read between the PR marketing hype, from the blogs, and the manufacturer.

For all the hype and flowery language. It is 1 second faster to 124 than the 720s, 1 second slower to 62, less than a 110kg lighter, and 1 mile slower top speed.

Yet it is considerably uglier than the 720s (didn't believe I could ever be writing that), and i wonder how much could it really be around a track to justify the price differential.

Finally, I personally would be reluctant to track a million dollar car. Taking a car on track usually means that you are willing to write it off it the need be, because trackdays are nightmares to a car's chassis, drivetrain, and residuals. There is also the high possibility of severe damage.

The cheaper the car the better in my eyes, for this purpose...

McLaren 720s Stats according to Wikipedia -

Price - $288,845
Weight - 1283kg
0-62 - 2.7 sec
0-124 - 7.8 sec
Top Speed - 212mph

Senna Stats

Price - $837,000 to1-2 million
Weight - 1,198kg
0-62 - 2.8 sec
0-124 - 6.8 sec
Top Speed - 211mph

Where do you get 1 second slower to 62 from? I think you mean 0.1s?

It's traction limited in both cars anyway, so is really more of a function of what surface you're doing the test on, and the state of the tyres on the test car.

Your stats mention nothing about downforce, cornering or braking speed, which what the Senna is designed for, all of which obliterate the equivalent 720S values.

Both cars are limited in top speed to 340km/h by the way, it's just that the rounding has been done differently in each case. (340km/h is 211.2mph).

[Matt Bird]

wtdoom said:

"And that all 500 orders remained even once they had..."

Blatant lie from McLaren , I know 2 poeple who cancelled allocations . Both are on this forum .

Interesting...

We can only report as we hear, and take statements like that as the truth, but perhaps shouldn't. Is it just the two?

[Dr G]

article said:

"And that all 500 orders remained even once they had..."

They think it's ugly too but there are plenty of shmucks with a million quid burning a hole in their pockets who were not in that 500 and would probably like to be.

wtdoom said:

I know 2 poeple who cancelled allocations . .

Maybe they only count cancellations after the refund cheques have cleared?

[Matt Bird]

daveco said:

For someone who doesn't know their arse from their aerodynamics, how can a front end like that be more conducive for downforce compared to a standard, no gaping holes front end?

Apparently it's all to do with an order, says McLaren:

"Airflow hitting the nose of the McLaren Senna meets four surfaces, and is turned by each element in sequence: the front splitter; the active aero blades; secondary fixed aero blades and the slot-gaps located between the headlights and daytime running lights."

Which sounds like it's linked to maintaining the aerodynamic balance.

Also there's an 'air path' between the headlights and the DRLs so the former can be located closer to vertical and increase main beam range. The air from there is directed around the front wheels "to calm the wake generated as the wheels turn during cornering". The air from the front aero blades and central front bumper ducts eventually feeds the rear brake ducts and the diffuser back there.

So it does all serve some kind of purpose, or so is being suggested!

[RacerMike]

I'd love to know how they quote the downforce. The P1 was claimed to have 600kg....which is about the same as a GT3 car. And yet, the P1 GTR (which has more than the road car) is slower on slicks than a GT3 car, and subjectively from those who have driven it, has noticeably less downforce than a GT3 car. So that to me suggests that the numbers quoted for the road cars are 'optimistic' at best.

I really don't understand the philosophy at McLaren. They have terrible customer service and seem to only make cars that appeal to their engineers....it seems to miss the point of supercars entirely, which is a real shame as being British, I genuinely want them to succeed. Why couldn't they have made something cohesive, ground breaking and beautiful rather than this abomination of ill proportioned bodywork...