McLaren Automotive unveiled the McLaren Solus GT, the stunning realization of a concept car from the screens of virtual racing into an extreme expression of track driving engagement that will exhilarate in the real world.
A special commission for just 25 customers — with all cars already sold — the single-seat, closed-cockpit track car was unveiled during Monterey Car Week in California by Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren Automotive.
The Solus GT brings to life the futuristic McLaren concept that featured in the Gran Turismo Sport video game.
At less than 1,000 kg in weight and with an aerodynamic performance including a downforce in excess of 1,200 kg, the Solus GT, which is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine, is capable of the fastest lap times of any McLaren outside of single-seater racing and delivers a driving experience close to the engagement and sensation of driving a Formula 1 car.
“The McLaren Solus GT is the realization of a radical McLaren concept vehicle originally created for the world of virtual racing. Engineered free of any restrictions from road or race regulations, but with the full spectrum of McLaren’s expertise to bring it to reality, it epitomizes our pioneering spirit,” said Leiters.
The striking exterior design, which is faithful to its virtual inspiration, is based on proven aerodynamic principles and McLaren’s “everything for a reason” design ethos, honed by additional computational fluid dynamics and wind-tunnel aerodynamic research.
The list of distinctive external features is lengthy, with the sliding canopy above the single, central seat being one of the most striking. The wheels are shrouded in aerodynamic pods and located by suspension arms. A large front splitter feeds air into ground-effect tunnels before it exits the car via a full diffuser.
A twin-element, fixed rear wing is key to a downforce figure that exceeds the overall weight of the car. The downforce to drag ratio is also optimized, aiding straight-line performance as well as enhancing cornering abilities.
The Solus GT experience begins even before the engine is started, with the driver opening the distinctive cockpit canopy that slides forward through a shallow arc to allow access. This is nothing like a conventional car door, or even the signature dihedral doors of other McLaren cars, rather more like stepping into a jet fighter plane.
The means of getting into the car adds to the sense of occasion provided by the single seat that dominates an interior focused solely on the driver and performance. The seat position is fixed — the 25 Solus GT owners experience their own motorsport-style “seat fitting” — with the pedal box adjustable as in a race car, although with the convenience of a remote system operated from the seating position.
The steering wheel — the design of which is unique among McLaren production cars — takes its inspiration from Formula 1, with dash display and essential controls integrated to suit the tight confines of a single-seater track car.
To further enhance the exhilaration for Solus GT customers, McLaren is offering a full “racing driver experience.” This includes a driving seat molded to the driver’s individual body shape, an FIA-homologated race suit, a helmet and HANS device bespoke to each owner, and radio-enabled ear inserts. A full driver-development coaching program will also be available to help customers fully exploit the potential of their new track hypercar.
Traditional performance metrics are not as relevant for a track car, but with a target time of 2.5 seconds for 0-100 km/h acceleration and a maximum speed of more than 200 mph — in combination with the car’s lightweight and strong aerodynamic abilities — the McLaren Solus GT has the performance credentials needed for an extreme track machine.
The McLaren Solus GT is currently at the track-testing stage of its development process. The first of 25 customer cars — all of which are sold — will be delivered in 2023.
