McMurtry has revealed the final production version of its record-breaking, ground-sucking Speirling hypercar - on sale now for $1.2 million as the ultimate track toy. The Speirling Pure is a dramatically overhauled version of the pocket-sized, 1,000 horsepower fan car that famously ascended the 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb in an outrageous 39.08 seconds in 2022.
Having smashed the all-time records at the Festival of Speed, Hockenheimring, and Top Gear test track, to name a few, the single-seat EV has now been restyled for improved aero, extended by 200mm (to 2.2m) to accommodate a larger battery, equipped with a more powerful drivetrain, and re-engineered for a more spacious and comfortable cockpit. The production-spec car notably also has a small boot underneath its colossal rear wing, with space for a helmet and a HANS device.
View Price on AmazonIt's 95% new compared with the earlier prototype, claims McMurtry, and has been engineered to give what managing director Thomas Yates claims are “F1 car levels of performance but an ownership experience that's more comparable to a [Porsche 911] GT3 RS". "One of the key focuses has been on getting running costs of this car right down,” he told Autocar, explaining that the British company has invested heavily in extending the durability of all consumable components and making it as easy to drive and own as possible.
As an example, he highlighted that the Michelin slick tires are rated to last for a relatively normal 109 miles - "in that sense we're completely conventional". Plus, he added, "the car actually uses its tires incredibly well because the downforce is constant", so they "still look great" when they come off the car. Yates also said the fan – which can generate up to two tons of downforce from rest and allows the car to corner at 3g – will need replacing periodically, but McMurtry has "made huge progress" in reducing production costs and making access easier, so owners can treat it "like a brake pad" or another regular consumable.
McMurtry has sold 25 examples so far, taking the wait list right through to the end of 2027, and has started production at its new factory in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, which employs around 100 people and is planned to produce cars at a rate of two per month. Asked what sort of buyer the Speirling Pure attracts, given its performance figures and list price are in another realm compared to most track cars, Yates explained that “it’s a real mind-over-matter car” that gives owners “a wonderful opportunity to push their own limits”.
"Some of the guys who are buying them have lived an absolute life of racing; they've been absolute racing legends, and this is a great opportunity to have fun. Some have Formula 1 cars, and this is another way to enjoy that kind of performance but in a much-lower-running-cost way, one that's way easier to share.” A key component of the Speirling ownership experience is the social element. McMurtry has already hosted owners events – including a “hilarious” ice driving day – and has equipped customer cars with an intercom system that allows drivers to communicate with each other out on track, which Yates said ramps up the communal and competitive aspects.
Source: autocar.co.uk
