The Beverly Hills McLaren dealership houses an unparalleled Speedtail that recently visited Jay Leno’s Garage.
As a token of appreciation for stellar sales, the dealership was presented with this vehicle. It’s a production-ready Speedtail prototype, donned in the same livery used for its testing. The car, affectionately nicknamed Albert by McLaren, alludes to Albert Drive in Woking, U.K., where the McLaren F1’s manufacturing plant was situated. Presently, this facility serves as the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) customization unit.
The unique paint scheme begins with Ueno Gray at the front, gradually transitioning into Magnesium Silver towards the back. The McLaren F1 was introduced in this Magnesium Silver hue at the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix and appeared on multiple automobile magazine covers. Ueno Gray, on the other hand, is the color of the Ueno-sponsored F1 GTR that clinched the victory at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. The lines connecting these two colors embody an optimized airflow pattern, as explained by McLaren when the car was launched in 2021.
It took MSO a total of 12 weeks to perfect this intricate paint job. The airflow lines feature exposed carbon fiber with individual pinstripes.
McLaren touted the Speedtail as the spiritual descendant of the F1, given its design as a street car instead of a track car. It shares the F1’s unique three-seat configuration, with the driver occupying the central position, a design choice that Gordon Murray, the F1’s designer, replicated in the GMA T.50, his tribute to the F1.
The Speedtail is powered by a hybrid powertrain consisting of a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 and a single electric motor. Its peak performance delivers 1,055 hp and 848 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels, enabling the Speedtail to achieve a top speed of 250 mph.
Only 106 units of this model were produced, each with an approximate price tag of $2.2 million. Even though McLaren did not design the Speedtail for U.S. street legality, it is estimated that about a third of the production units have ended up in the U.S. However, none of these cars bear a resemblance to Albert.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Unique McLaren Speedtail
What is special about the McLaren Speedtail named Albert?
The McLaren Speedtail named Albert is unique because it is a prototype that has been finished to production specifications and features a distinctive paint scheme. This scheme transitions from Ueno Gray at the front to Magnesium Silver at the rear, which is a tribute to McLaren’s racing heritage. The car was given to a dealership as a reward for high sales.
Who received the unique McLaren Speedtail and why?
The Beverly Hills McLaren dealership received the unique McLaren Speedtail as a reward for achieving high sales. This specific Speedtail, nicknamed Albert, is a production-ready prototype adorned in a distinct livery used during its testing phase.
What is the significance of the nickname ‘Albert’ for this McLaren Speedtail?
The nickname ‘Albert’ refers to Albert Drive in Woking, U.K., where the production facility for the McLaren F1 was located. This facility now hosts the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) personalization department.
How fast is the McLaren Speedtail?
The McLaren Speedtail, powered by a hybrid powertrain consisting of a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 and a single electric motor, can reach a top speed of 250 mph.
How many McLaren Speedtails were built and what was their price?
Only 106 McLaren Speedtails were built, each estimated to cost about $2.2 million. Though they were not engineered to be street legal in the U.S., it’s believed that about a third of them ended up in the U.S.
Where was the unique livery of the McLaren Speedtail unveiled?
The unique livery of the McLaren Speedtail, featuring Ueno Gray at the front and Magnesium Silver at the rear, was unveiled when the car was introduced in 2021.
More about Unique McLaren Speedtail
- McLaren’s Official Website
- Jay Leno’s Garage
- Overview of the McLaren Speedtail
- History of the McLaren F1
- About McLaren Special Operations (MSO)
- Information on the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix
- About the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans
- Gordon Murray’s GMA T.50
5 comments
I’ve been a fan of Leno’s Garage for years, and this might be the coolest thing he’s ever had on the show. A special edition Speedtail? Hell yeah!
Woah! Albert sounds like a real beast. Can’t believe its a protoype and not a track car. And that speed, wish i could get my hands on one of these bad boys.
That’s a monster hybrid powertrain they’ve got in there. who said going green has to be boring! twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 with an electric motor, pretty rad if you ask me…
Albert, huh? Nice nod to the old production facility. I love when car makers maintain a link to their history. Gives the car a soul, y’know?
gotta say, McLaren’s done it again! The design and performance of this Speedtail is just…out of this world. I mean 250 mph? thats insane! and those colors, Ueno Gray and Magnesium Silver, class and speed all in one!