Announcing The 2019 McLaren Senna
“I am not designed to come in second or third. I am designed to win.”
Ayrton Senna, three-time Formula 1 World Champion driver for McLaren.
With the announcement of the 2019 McLaren Senna, Aryton’s thoughts have been taken on a significant new form. It is the “first of the first generation” of the Senna, a new hypercar, created in the image of one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers of all time. A motorcar built from hard work, extreme dedication and a high level of competence.
Designed To Win
The 2019 McLaren Senna is not the most expensive or most powerful of McLaren’s editions, but like its namesake, it is designed to win. Like Ayrton himself, the Senna is unique, focused, and one of a kind. It is potentially a legendary nameplate that pushes the limits of its capabilities.
The Lightest McLaren Since The F1
The 2019 McLaren Senna appears to have been scuplted by force of the wind, as if somehow its liquid carbon fiber shell was molded into shape inside a wind tunnel. It is carefully crafted to move the air over and even through its Monocage III chassis. At just 2850 lbs., it is McLaren’s lightest production car since its F1, which weighed in at about 2575 lbs.
The 2019 McLaren Senna is powered by a 4.0 liter, V-8 engine that produces a white-knuckle combination of 789 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. That is 79 more horsepower than the 720S. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission cranks the 20” rear tires quickly enough to set a zero to 60 time of about 2.5 seconds with of top speed nearing 215 mph.
Designed To Perform
Incredible power combined with its unrivaled lightweight, carbon fiber design made downforce a prime concern for the engineers at McLaren. The 2019 Senna’s wings are continuously adjusted hydraulically to increase downforce, adjust drag and to utilize as an air brake. The wing works hand-in-hand with twin airfoils in ducts under the headlights to maintain balance in the axles. Driven in “Race Mode” the front axle is lowered by 1.5 inches, and the rear by 1.2 inches. McLaren makes a point to remind drivers that the Senna is street legal.
The interior of the Senna is familiar to a Forumula 1 race car driver. This is, after all, a car that is focused on what it does best. Perform.
Own Your Instincts
Driving the 2019 McLaren Senna takes a certain amount of skill and a solid dose of trust. You must trust the braking, the downforce and the tires. You must also trust your own instincts. With a price tag in excess of $900,000, it is something you probably already know how to do.
