It doesn’t have side windows or a roof.
Perhaps it is not surprising that the Elva has struggled in a sea of exclusive McLaren models. The initial production run of 399 units was reduced to 249, then lowered to only 149 units. Woking’s peeps have created a windscreen version to keep the car legal in all markets.
The Elva equipped with a windscreen weighs only 20 kg (44 pounds) less than the original speedster model. This is a remarkable feat when you consider that McLaren also included rain-sensing wipers with washer jets. The windscreen, which is housed in carbon fiber pillars, can be heated. Sun visors were added as an additional touch.
Engineers were able reduce the weight penalty by eliminating the Active Air Management System. McLaren refers to an electrically deployable flap that can be inserted into the car’s nose to redirect the air above the cabin, creating a virtual windshield effect. The Elva has a windscreen, so that is no longer necessary.
McLaren claims it’s the lightest windscreen they have ever attached to a road vehicle and allows them to sell it in the United States. The Elva doesn’t have any roof. The same goes for the rear and side windows, both of which are missing. British marque targets a 0-60 mph (100 km/h), run in 2.8 seconds, and a sprint from standstill to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 6.8 seconds.
Customers will receive their first windscreen-equipped vehicles towards the end 2021. They will also be upgraded by McLaren Special Operations (MSO).