SHAPE FORMING EXTERIOR
Every McLaren built since 1981 has been made of carbon fi bre. For this model, a new ‘digital loom’ process has been devised to create the weave. For the surface fi nish, a layer of titanium one micron thick has been fused in to it to give it a shimmer. This can be anodised into any colour. The front splitter, diff user and side skirts are all fi nished with this 1K titanium deposition technique. Also novel is the use of another
new technique, developed with Swiss horologist Richard Mille: thin- ply technology (TPT) carbon fi bre. The front badge and several interior components are made up of this, with overlaid carbon layers 30 microns deep positioned at a 45º angle. This then undergoes a very fi ne milling to create the surface texture.
These retract in Velocity mode
AERO EXTRAS The revolution of a wheel can drive air away from a vehicle causing drag. To reduce this, the 20in, 10-spoke diamond-cut forged alloys hide behind a stationary carbon fi bre cover to smooth the fl ow. This air is guided to the blades on the leading edge of the dihedral doors. Various ducts are secreted in
the wheel arch to further direct the passing air, for example the low temperature radiators vent hot air here, likewise the carbon ceramic brakes. This is channelled through
Patented ailerons divert air fl ow VELOCITY MODE
The car has a setting designed to refi ne everything for performance: Velocity mode. This lowers the vehicle by 35mm,
leaving it 1,120mm from the road at its highest point. The rear-view cameras retract slightly to cut the drag, and the powertrain is optimised for speed. As for fi gures, it weighs 1,430kg and is just over 5m long. From standstill it’s claimed it will reach 186mph (300kph) in under 13 seconds. To maintain stability at such dizzying speeds the patented rear ailerons are designed to be fl exible and deform to move the centre of pressure to wherever it’s most needed. They are hydraulically actuated, and under deceleration provide an air brake function.
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the ducts in the fi xed front wheel aero cover in a consistent pattern. The tyres are unique Pirelli P-Zeros. Traditional door mirrors have been
dropped in favour of high-defi nition digital cameras that slide out of the doors when the vehicle ignition is switched on. From tip to tail, everything is
orientated toward reduced drag. The wiper is hidden under a lip, and the snorkel air intake for the combustion engine is fl ush with the roof. Even the shut lines are just 1mm wide, such is the attention to detail. ●
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