How the new $1.7million McLaren Elva creates a ‘bubble of calm’ to protect the driver and passenger from the wind – despite having no roof or windscreen – once the roadster goes above 25mph
- The British automaker has come out with an updated version of its open-roofed race cars from the 1960s
- The new Elva has a first-of-its kind ‘Active Air Management System’ that creates a windshield of air
- The car’s ‘aero protection’ makes this possible, by creating a ‘bubble of air’ that protects occupants
- The protection kicks in when the faux roadster starts travelling faster than it would on suburban streets
- McLaren will still sell an actual windshield, or fixed windscreen derivative,’ as a factory option
- The cost will be $1,690,000 or more depending on customisation and only 399 of the Elva’s will be made
British automaker McLaren has created a new type of windshield technology called ‘aero protection’ that uses air in place of glass to keep the wind away from the driver and passenger.
The new technology diverts air around the cabin keeping the occupants of the $1.7million Elva supercar ‘in a bubble of calm’, according to the company.
The car, which is based on the 1960s two-seater roadsters designed by Bruce McLaren has no roof and no glass windshield, only the ‘aero protection’ system.
The ‘shield’ uses the Elva’s ‘Active Air Management System’ to take air entering through the car’s nose and then push it out in a ‘high-velocity sheet’ just ahead of the cockpit.
This creates a windshield like system, forcing oncoming air around the driver and passenger when the car is going above about 25mph.
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The system channels air through the nose of the Elva to come out of the front at high velocity before being directed up over the cockpit to create a ‘bubble of calm’, says the automaker
McLaren says that the ‘original road-going ‘Elvas’ (left) were lightweight, open-roofed, mid-engined… and single-mindedly created to deliver a driving experience of exhilarating purity’. Similarly, the updated version (right) is McLaren’s ‘lightest road car’ ever
The system includes a large central inlet, a front clamshell outlet vent and carbon fiber ‘deflector’ that raises and lowers to push the air away
The automaker says it will still sell an actual windshield – or ‘fixed windscreen derivative’, as it calls it – but it will be available as a factory option not as standard.
The $1.7million supercar is based on the open-roofed, two seaters of the 1960s originally designed by legendary British racing driver Bruce McLaren.
McLaren’s new $1.7 million super car (pictured) doesn’t come with a roof, and it’s not even an option. The British automaker’s new ‘Elva’ is inspired the open-roofed, two seaters of the 1960s, designed by the company’s namesake, racing legend Bruce McLaren
The ‘aero protection’ is not the only new technology in the 804 horsepower, turbo charged V8 engine car.
It also has an automatic rollover protection system that’s meant to protect occupants in the event the vehicle flips from going too fast.
While cutting-edge, the new Elva is based on Bruce McLaren’s ‘original race conquering open top sports cars of the 1960s – the M1A, M1B and M1C,’ the company says on its website.
The car’s ‘Active Air Management System’, or AAMS, diverts air around the cabin to create a ‘bubble of calm’ for a driver and passenger, when the faux roadster starts traveling faster than it would on suburban streets, typically 25 miles-per-hour
The original Elva was designed by the automaker’s namesake, Bruce McLaren. Pictured is Chuck Parsons driving a Chevrolet powered McLaren Elva Mk 2 in November 1966.
The automaker says the ‘original road-going ‘Elvas’ were lightweight, open-roofed, mid-engined… and single-mindedly created to deliver a driving experience of exhilarating purity’.
Similarly, the updated version is McLaren’s ‘lightest road car’ ever, the automaker claims. Only 399 of the vehicles will be made, selling for $1,690,000.
Would-be owners of the new car are promised it was born to ‘heighten every sense and build the closest connection between driver, car and the elements’.
Not to mention also keeping a driver and passenger’s hair from getting messy at high speeds.
The new Elva (pictured) has an 804 horsepower, turbo charged V8 engine in its rear that gets it from 0 to 60 in just under three seconds. An automatic rollover protection system engages to protect occupants in the event the vehicle flips from going too fast
WHO WAS BRUCE MCLAREN?
Bruce McLaren (pictured) was a legend in racing, who competed and won in the prestigious 1966 LeMans race in north-west France, which is featured in the feature film ‘Ford v. Ferrari,’ which comes out Friday and stars Christian Bale and Matt Damon
While cutting-edge, the new Elva is based on Bruce McLaren’s ‘original race conquering open top sports cars of the 1960s – the M1A, M1B and M1C,’ the company says on its website.
Bruce McLaren, was a legend in racing who competed and won in the prestigious 1966 LeMans race in north-west France.
The race is featured in the movie ‘Ford v. Ferrari,’ which comes out Friday and stars Christian Bale and Matt Damon.
McLaren died in 1970 while testing out a new vehicle, the M8D, when its rear literally came apart at Goodwood Circuit, a historic racing venue in the UK.
He was only 32.
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