McLaren pays homage to its racing history, lends retro theme to Elva

KUALA LUMPUR: British sports car manufacturer McLaren, paying tribute to its rich legacy in racing, has announced a new retro theme for the Elva. The two-seater, windowless, and roofless supercar was revealed by the Surrey-headquartered company as an exclusive new model last year.

The new M1A theme has been designed by McLaren Special Operations (MSO). It pays homage to Bruce McLaren’s McLaren-Elva M1A which was the fastest car at the 1964 Canadian Sports Car Grand Prix (GP) circuit. The McLaren-Elva M1A smashed the lap record seven times and equalled it four times.

McLaren's early success in racing is usually overshadowed by its later achievements. The team dominated the Formula 1 circuit for several years. The original M1A weighed just 1,212lbs and was powered by an Oldsmobile 4.5-litre V8 motor.

The current-generation McLaren Elva resembles the original version. It is equipped with all the latest technologies and materials. The speedster is manufactured from carbon fibre which keeps the car’s weight low. The original powertrain, however, has not been retained. The current version is hauled the twin-turbocharged McLaren 4.0-litre V8 engine which produces 804 PS maximum power. McLaren claims that the Elva M1A can reach 0-100 kmph in less than three seconds.

McLaren has developed an Active Air Management System (AAMS) to shield Elva’s occupants since the car doesn’t have a windscreen. The AAMS gets automatically activated at high speeds and guides the air through an inlet in the splitter positioned in front of the car’s distinctive low nose. The air is then channelled out of the clamshell in front of the cabin. McLaren claims that the air is output over the head of the car’s occupants to create a ‘bubble’ of calm. A carbon fibre deflector rises from the bonnet to direct the air when the AAMS is activated.

The Elva’s dashboard, meanwhile, has only the instrument cluster moving with the steering to allow optimum visibility.

McLaren, at the time of revealing the Elva, announced an entry-level price of $1.69 million. Buyers were given the option to customise their cars through the MSO. Production of the car will be limited to just 399 units.

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