Speedtail McLaren Speedtail (BP23 Project)

[Rolf]

I think the F1 did "only" about 371 km/h in one top speed test, the other where it went fas...

Yes the rev limiter was taken off for it to achieve 391kmh. Maybe with a higher gear ratio it could have cracked 400kmh.

 

[Monster]

Yes the rev limiter was taken off for it to achieve 391kmh. Maybe with a higher gear ratio it cou...

I think they also removed the side mirrors and taped up any bumper gaps as well.

 

[bmwz4coupe]

I think they also removed the side mirrors and taped up any bumper gaps as well.

Yes, I also remember something like this. This is cheating. Period.

 

[WBarnes]

The rev limiter removal only helped the two way average. With the tyres running a higher than normal pressure, 7600rpm with tyre expansion due to high speed was enough to hit 240mph, but not the 243mph that was achieved in one direction.

 

[mihc]

I just posted in the scans section old top speed comparison with legendary Mario Andretti behind the wheel. He achieved with stock Mclaren F1 top speed 217,7 mph.

 

[bmwz4coupe]

I just posted in the scans section old top speed comparison with legendary Mario Andretti behind...

This is the same as 350 km/h. I believe the real topspeed of the F1 is between this and the 371 km/h run. The 386/391 km/h run is bullshit.

 

[Rolf]

This is the same as 350 km/h. I believe the real topspeed of the F1 is between this and the...

Maybe it could be between 370 and 380? This video comparison is with a Ferrari Enzo and the F1 achieved 375kmh flat out

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[Rolf]

The rev limiter removal only helped the two way average. With the tyres running a higher than...

This is an interesting video showing the acceleration breakdown between 100 to top speed and then how it compared to Autocar road test. They even mention the possibility of some F1 models doing a 1/4mile in 10.5sec at 142mph!!!

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[KiwiRob]

I don’t have the dimensions for the Speedtail except read that is narrower than the P1 (1,947m) and just 1.12m at its high velocity setting. Also read somewhere that it’s CD is approx. 0.275, so it should reach 410kmh easily.

Maybe so but have McLaren geared the car for a 400kph top speed?

 

[TopspeedPT]

 

[dalab]

Without detriment of what the car itself means, aesthetically it seems more an experiment than a car, it resembles those first solar cars that made autonomy races with a preponderance of aerodynamics and nothing more, zero atactive, feeling or charisma

 

[Rolf]

Without detriment of what the car itself means, aesthetically it seems more an experiment than a c...

Those looked like tear drops on wheels and were totally emotionless cars unless a person worshipped the sun gods. Some of them had ridiculously low drag factors of 0.15 or less.

 

[dalab]

Now I see everything clearly

 

[mihc]

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[Bucketslash11]

Those looked like tear drops on wheels and were totally emotionless cars unless a person worshipped the sun gods. Some of them had ridiculously low drag factors of 0.15 or less.

Nuna 3, drag coefficient: 0.07, still the world record holder in the world solar challenge which likley never be broken because of rule changes

 

[Bucketslash11]

I don’t have the dimensions for the Speedtail except read that is narrower than the P1 (1,947m) and just 1.12m at its high velocity setting. Also read somewhere that it’s CD is approx. 0.275, so it should reach 410kmh easily.

imagine what it can do with 1600-1700hp

 

[Bridster]

Well, you don't have to imagine. You can calculate .If the Speedtail had the dimensions of the 720s (which it is based on), it would have the frontal area of roughly 1.98 m2. And if it really did have a drag coefficient of 0.275, then it could do about 440 km/h (273 mph) - assuming 15% drivetrain loss.

If it had 1700hp, then it could do roughly 520 km/h (323 mph). However, it's very hard to have a low drag coefficient while also having huge horsepower. Huge horsepower requires huge amounts of cooling. Huge amounts of cooling mean that you need huge radiators. And huge radiators mean your drag coefficient goes straight to hell.

The new Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut has a claimed drag coefficient of 0.278. And funnily enough, with 1600hp (when running on E85) and assuming roughly the same frontal area as previous Koenigsegg models (1.87 m2 is what the record setting Agera RS apparently had), it could theoretically do also about 520 km/h - the exact amount depending on drivetrain losses and the exact frontal area.

However, to get 0.278 Cd with enough cooling for a 1600hp engine, that must have been pretty hard. So hard, I would say, that it probably hasn't been achieved and the car is gonna overheat if stationary in warm weather. And I would have the same worry about the Speedtail and the SSC Tuatara (up to 1750hp and 0.279 cd) as well (especially the Tuatara because it also uses water to air turbo intercoolers which are susceptible to heat soak). I don't see how any of them managed to include enough cooling while maintaining such low drag coefficients. And I would include the Chiron SS in this as well - because to get to 490 km/h with 1600hp - it has to have a Cd of 0.28 or less, too.

Maybe I am wrong, though, and the engineers have figured it all out... BUT PROBABLY NOT.

 

[Bucketslash11]

well faster pistonpowered cars do exist, but they are built as single purpose vehicles:

though once you get into 600km/h+ then the tailfin becomes a signigant part of the car:

something that Donald Campbell learned the hard way (though John Cobb's Railton Mobil Special never used one)

 

[mihc]

 

[mihc]