To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
$950,000 - $1,200,000
- No. 146 of just 500 produced
- Offered with just over 200 miles from new
- Striking Sarthe Grey and McLaren Orange paintwork
- The most formidable track-focused McLaren ever produced
The Senna joined the P1 and F1 as the third addition to McLaren's
"Ultimate Series" when it was unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor
Show. Named after the late Ayrton Senna and dedicated to his three
Formula 1 World Championships with McLaren between 1988 and 1993,
the car was designed with one purpose: to be the most track-focused
road car McLaren had ever built. The Senna was to provide the
purest connection between car and driver in the pursuit of the
quickest lap times.
In contrast to the P1, the Senna's power train forwent any form of
electric assistance and instead used a modified version of the
company's 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine. Code-named
M840TR, it is the most powerful engine ever installed in a McLaren
road car, with a peak output of 789 bhp. It features dry-sump
lubrication, lightweight materials for the rods and pistons, and a
pair of ultra-low-inertia twin-scroll turbochargers equipped with
electronic waste gates for instant throttle response. It breathes
through a bespoke carbon-fiber intake plenum, which is fed cold air
from the motorsport-inspired roof-mounted snorkel.
Despite the breathtaking power on offer, where the Senna really
works its magic is with its chassis and its active aerodynamics,
the latter of which is unparalleled on any other road car. The
front of the car is dominated by a massive raised splitter and
large air intakes, which feature active winglets to guide air
underneath the body. Warm air from the radiators is channeled from
behind the bonnet and over the roof of the car, deliberately
missing the snorkel intake before being treated by the enormous
active rear wing. The wing itself is controlled by hydraulics and
moves constantly to suit the driving scenario, either to act as an
air brake, increase downforce, or equally trim drag as part of an
active Drag Reduction System (DRS). It is complemented at the rear
by a large double diffuser and second fixed lower wing, which are
fed exhausted air from the louvered engine cover. At 155 mph, the
Senna can produce 800 kg of downforce, equating to a massive 40
percent increase over the McLaren P1.
The chassis is based on the Monocell III and features lightweight
materials and carbon fiber throughout for stiffness and lightness.
The seats weigh under 8 lb each, the front wings under 1.5 lb, and
the massive rear wing less than 12 lb. The Senna also uses an
upgraded version of McLaren's RaceActive Chassis Control II system,
which features an active double wishbone and hydraulic damper setup
from the P1, allowing for variable ride height, damping, and
stiffness modes according to the driver's desired setup. Keeping
all this performance in check are Formula 1-inspired carbon brakes
developed by McLaren and Brembo, with discs that take seven months
to make, each one with integrated cooling vanes and a thermal
compound that is three times more conductive than conventional
carbon-ceramic brakes. Indeed, so potent is the braking system that
the Senna currently holds the record for braking performance for
production cars: 124 mph to a standstill in just 100 meters.
Other performance statistics to which the Senna can lay claim are
equally impressive: 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds, 0-124 mph in just 6.8
seconds, and a dry weight of just 1,200 kg, which equates to a
power-to-weight ratio of 658 bhp per ton. It thus eclipses even the
P1 statistic (647 bhp per ton), while simultaneously offering
significantly more downforce.
The Senna was sold out before it was publicly revealed, with less
than a third of the 500 cars making their way to the United States.
In an era when manufacturers rely more and more upon hybridization
and the use of electricity to unlock extreme performance, the Senna
stands as one of the last conventionally gas-powered hypercars.
This McLaren Senna, serial number 146, is one of just 500 examples
produced. It was delivered to its first and only owner in early
2019. It is finished in Sarthe Grey and accented by signature
McLaren Orange paintwork. The wheels feature a Satin Raw finish,
and the calipers and inner-fender aeroblades are finished in
orange. Further, the car sports the optional perimeter pack, with
orange accents lining the sinister carbon finish. The interior
features optional matching seat belts, a full Alcantara steering
wheel, and the lightweight Bowers & Wilkins seven-speaker audio
system. Other options include front and rear parking sensors and
rear-view camera. To date, it has covered just over 200 miles and
presents in as-new condition.
The Senna is the pinnacle McLaren road car. This car, offered from
single-ownership, in enviable specification, with just over 200
miles from new, is a highly desirable example. No hypercar
collection should be considered complete without one.To view this
car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit
the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/fl20.
