McLaren’s dealership in Beverly Hills has recently unveiled a one-of-a-kind Speedtail that has caught the attention of car enthusiasts worldwide. This exclusive car, which recently paid a visit to Jay Leno’s Garage, was given to the dealership as a reward for its outstanding sales performance.
The special Speedtail at the McLaren dealership is actually a prototype that has been finished to production-spec, but it still sports the same livery that was used during rigorous testing. McLaren affectionately named this unique car “Albert,” in tribute to Albert Drive in Woking, U.K. This street holds a significant place in McLaren’s history as it is where the production facility for the iconic McLaren F1 was located. Today, the facility is home to McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the company’s personalization department.
What truly sets this McLaren Speedtail apart is its breathtaking livery. The design starts with the striking Ueno Gray color at the front, which slowly fades into the mesmerizing Magnesium Silver hue towards the rear. Magnesium Silver is a color that holds great importance for McLaren enthusiasts, as it was the chosen color for the McLaren F1 during its debut at the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix and was even featured on numerous car magazine covers. On the other hand, Ueno Gray pays homage to the Ueno-sponsored F1 GTR that secured a historic outright victory at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. The connecting lines between these two shades serve not just for aesthetic purposes, but also optimize the car’s airflow pattern, as McLaren proudly mentioned when unveiling the car in 2021.
Creating such a captivating livery required an immense amount of skill and precision. McLaren Special Operations (MSO) dedicated an impressive 12 weeks solely to complete the paint job on Albert. The exposed carbon fiber lines, representing the optimized airflow pattern, are meticulously detailed with individual pinstripes, resulting in a truly mesmerizing finish.
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The McLaren Speedtail has been hailed as the spiritual successor to the legendary McLaren F1, mainly due to its focus on being a road car rather than a track-focused machine. Keeping with the F1’s iconic design, the Speedtail features the distinctive three-seat arrangement, with the driver placed centrally. This driver-focused layout, reminiscent of the F1, was also replicated by Gordon Murray, the original designer of the F1, for his recent masterpiece, the GMA T.50.
Powering the Speedtail is a cutting-edge hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine with a single electric motor. Together, they produce an awe-inspiring peak output of 1,055 horsepower and an impressive 848 lb-ft of torque, which is channeled exclusively to the rear wheels. This formidable power allows the Speedtail to achieve a top speed of 250 mph, truly solidifying its reputation as a hypercar.
As one of the most exclusive cars on the market, only 106 customer cars of the Speedtail were produced, with each carrying an estimated price tag of $2.2 million. While McLaren did not engineer the Speedtail to be street legal in the United States, it is believed that approximately one third of the production run has found its way to American shores. However, none of them possess the distinctive markings and livery of Albert, making it an even rarer and more sought-after sight among car aficionados.
In conclusion, the McLaren Speedtail at the Beverly Hills dealership stands as a true testament to the exceptional craftsmanship and design that McLaren is renowned for. Its mesmerizing and meticulously crafted livery, combined with the powerful hybrid powertrain and exceptional performance, make it a truly unique and extraordinary hypercar. As an automotive masterpiece that pays tribute to the iconic McLaren F1, this Speedtail named Albert embodies the spirit of innovation and excellence that has defined McLaren throughout its illustrious history.
