The McLaren Elva arrives, the barchetta from the English firm that will go head to head with the Ferrari Monza SP

Many contemporary supercars take a classic as their reference so that they make even more sense. In this context sits the latest creation from McLaren, the Elva, a name that was once used to bring to life the McLaren-Elva M1A, an iconic sports car that, like its descendant, adopted that structural barchetta figure. Now, 59 years later, the Woking team has wanted to add more fire to the fierce battle it fights with Ferrari with the Elva, a supercar whose production will be as exclusive as its unusual and sporty configuration.

The engineers of the British firm have left behind any superfluous element to bring to life a vehicle in which each and every one of its elements fulfils an aerodynamic mission. The windscreen and the side windows have been removed not only to offer a more harmonious design, but also to ensure that the wind flows over the Elva’s bodywork without compromising its capabilities on the tarmac.

An aggressive silhouette already hints at the intentions of the McLaren Elva and the principles of the philosophy on which the engineers based its development. The front, imposing and muscular, shows a new design language thanks to narrower headlights and a more prominent nose in which several air intakes are integrated.

The bonnet is a clear example of the masterful and stoic aerodynamic work by the English house. The widened wheel arches become part of the bodywork itself in a uniform way, extending also to the door. This in turn leads to two air intakes that anticipate a rear end designed from the same pattern. Two humps rise above it to define the position of the cabin, but they quickly give way to an imposing diffuser, whose function is backed by two cylindrical exhaust outlets and slim LED tail lights that do not want to compromise their function.

The cabin plays in the same league as the rest of the components that give the McLaren Elva its character. Here, elegance, sportiness and minimalism come together to offer a welcoming interior in which concessions to comfort are minimal. Not surprisingly, the real star is the Elva’s mechanical layout, which is safeguarded by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine capable of producing 815 CV and 800 Nm of torque, figures that allow the 0 to 100 sprint to be completed in under three seconds and the 0 to 200 km/h in 6.7.

However, the exclusivity of the McLaren Elva is not only seen in its unorthodox design or its colossal heart, but also in its production. The Woking team has announced that only 399 units of this latest offspring will be built, and each and every one of them will carry one of those prohibitive starting prices for almost any mortal: £1,425,000.