If you've been following the wild world of hypercars closely over the past few years, you've probably noticed a new name making the rounds: British-based McMurtry Automotive. The team has completely redefined our expectations with their Spéirling prototype.
This electric hypercar not only delivers four-digit horsepower, but something much more fascinating: the ability to generate up to two tons of downforce from zero kilometers per hour. Yes, you read that right – when the car is stationary, it has the force of a mid-sized family crossover. While the prototype has been diligently breaking records on racetracks around the world, the team has already been preparing a production version called the McMurtry Spéirling Pure. Although it looks very similar to the prototype, the manufacturer claims that 95 percent of the components are completely new. The battery pack has grown from 60 kilowatt hours to a much more usable 100 kilowatt hours, and engineers have reworked the drive electric motors, adjusted the cooling system and refreshed the exterior. The improved carbon fiber monocoque now meets world racing standards, while offering the driver more elbow and leg room.
With such a technical masterpiece, we naturally want to delve into the specs. The Spéirling Pure uses a pair of electric motors that drive the rear wheels exclusively. The power output is a brutal 1000 horsepower, which is enough to launch from a standstill to 100 kilometers per hour in a mere 1,55 seconds. With the aforementioned 100 kilowatt-hour battery, the car is expected to be able to cover a race distance of 40 to 50 kilometers at full LMP2 speed before needing a plug again. Charging times remain a bit vague, ranging from 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the outside temperature and the capacity of the charging station, but in the best case scenario, you'll be back on the track relatively quickly.
You’ve probably seen the footage; McMurtry is so confident in his on-demand thrust fan system that he lets people experience the car in an inverted position from a standstill. This is made possible by a pair of high-speed fans mounted under the floor of the vehicle, which work in conjunction with a system of side sills to create massive negative pressure. The dual fan system also acts as a safety feature – if one fails, the other still maintains a huge amount of thrust. In the event that the driver spins out on the track, this system will bring the car to a stop incomparably faster than any of our “plebeian” hypercars that don’t have this technology. With the fans running at full power, the Spéirling Pure can achieve lateral accelerations of up to 3G during cornering and braking, a level that few on this planet have ever experienced.
And only a few will get the chance to sit in it, as McMurtry plans to build just 100 examples. The price for each one starts at around €1,2 million, and owners can also pay extra for factory support at race weekends. The manufacturer also guarantees that the car will be able to compete in the GT1 Sports Club and Global Time Attack events in the United States, as well as in the European Time Attack Masters series. If you visit the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed, you will be able to see the car live, otherwise it will officially arrive on American soil during Monterey Car Week.
