McLaren · 2018–2019

McLaren Senna

The McLaren Senna is a limited-production mid-engined sports car manufactured by McLaren Automotive. The car is the third addition in the McLaren Ultimate Series, joining the F1 and the P1; however, it is not a direct successor to either of the cars. The Senna was unveiled online by the company on 10 December 2017, with the official unveiling taking place at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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Name

The car is named after the Brazilian Formula One race driver Ayrton Senna (1960–1994), honouring and giving tribute to his success with the McLaren Formula One Team between 1988 and 1993 Formula 1 seasons. Senna won three Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles and thirty-five Formula One Grand Prix race wins with the team; McLaren also won four consecutive Formula One World Constructor's Championship titles with Senna as part of their driver line-up. McLaren Automotive holds the rights to the Senna family name along with the Instituto Ayrton Senna. The organisation and McLaren have made the Senna name exclusive to the car, thereby prohibiting any other company from using the name.

Specifications and performance

=== Exterior === McLaren's main focus while designing the Senna was to achieve faster lap times. In order to do so, McLaren developed a lightweight design that incorporated aerodynamic elements. The Senna is largely based on the McLaren 720S, using a modified version of its carbon fibre monocoque and engine. The Senna is powered by a modified version of the McLaren 720S' 3,994 cc (4.0 L; 243.7 cu in) twin-turbocharged V8 engine codenamed the M840TR. It utilises a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that delivers all 588 kW (799 PS; 789 hp) at 7,250 rpm and 800 N⋅m (590 lb⋅ft) of torque at 5,500 rpm to the rear wheels. Unlike the previous offering in the Ultimate Series, the McLaren P1, the Senna does not use an electric motor in favour of its low claimed dry weight of 1,198 kg (2,641 lb), which allows for a maximum power-to-weight ratio of 498 kW (677 PS; 668 hp) per ton. The car has many aerodynamic elements, there being a large adjustable double-element rear wing (that is operated electronically and has various settings in order to provide optimum performance while also acting as an airbrake), double-element diffuser, Formula One-inspired roof scoop, front and side air intakes, rear air louvres, and large front fenders. Inside the panel beside the intakes is a small set of mini-canards. Areas of low pressure are accompanied using high-performance radiators that ensure improved engine cooling. The car uses dihedral doors, like the previous offerings in the Ultimate Series, and also has optional windows applied on the lower area of its doors. The Senna uses a new generation of Brembo's carbon ceramic brakes, containing a compound that has three and a half times better thermal conductivity than before, making the brakes smaller and lighter. It also features a new set o

Production

Every car was hand-built at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey, England, with a production run of 500 units, all of which were sold. The McLaren Senna is listed at a price of £750,000 with the final car auctioned at a price of £1,916,793. Deliveries began in the third quarter of 2018.

Senna GTR

At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, McLaren unveiled the concept version of the track-only iteration of the Senna dubbed the Senna GTR. Although initially planned as the preview of McLaren's entry into the LM GTE class, LM P1-like costs and the performance of the F1 team prompted the company to cancel the GTE program and reveal the car for non-competitive track usage. The production Senna GTR unveiled two years later has a different bodywork from the concept, with a different wing setup, toned-down aerodynamics, and utilizes a dual-clutch race transmission for faster gear shifts, a revised suspension system and Pirelli racing slicks in order to make it the fastest non-Formula One vehicle McLaren has ever created for faster lap times. The Senna GTR is estimated to produce at least 825 PS (607 kW; 814 hp) from its 4.0 L twin-turbocharged V8 engine and is meant to be faster and more agile than its road-going counterpart. On the exterior, the GTR utilizes wider front and rear fenders, a larger front splitter, new wheels and a bigger rear diffuser in order to make the car generate about 1,000 kg (2,204 lb) of downforce. The Senna GTR will be limited to 75 examples. In reviewing the future regulations for the World Endurance Championship, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) identified the Senna GTR as one of several models that fit their vision of a replacement for the Le Mans Prototype class. It was also a competitor at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Gallery.

Senna LM

The Senna LM is a limited run of the Senna developed by the McLaren Special Operations department. The bodywork has unique changes including the front fender louvres and exhaust outlets. The McLaren orange livery is a homage to the McLaren F1 LM, which itself was made to celebrate the winning F1 GTR that won the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Senna LM also features polished ports and cylinder heads, OZ center-lock wheels with a retro design, satin-gold-tipped quad exhausts, louvers on the front fenders, the removal of the clear panel in the doors from the standard Senna, titanium panels and LM branding. Power of the 4-liter twin-turbo V8 is now up to 825 PS (607 kW; 814 hp), which matches the Senna GTR. A total of 35 units were produced, with 5 units sent to the US market and 7 right-hand drive units. All 5 US Senna LMs were delivered to the same person, a VIP client in Florida. That individual still owns 3 of the 5 US Senna LM, with the other two having been resold to other collectors. One of these models was destroyed in a road accident in 2020 by former Formula One driver Adrian Sutil, but was later fully repaired.

Senna GTR LM

McLaren, specifically its Special Operations department, officially unveiled the Senna GTR LM, the road-legal iteration of the track-only Senna GTR, online on September 17, 2020. It is not to be confused with the standard Senna LM. Five units have been made, and each has a unique paint scheme reflecting the five McLaren F1 GTRs at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. All have been sold: two to a customer in the US, two to a customer in Spain, and one to a customer in the United Kingdom. The cars were made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of McLaren's win at LeMans. They feature OZ Racing carbon fiber wheels and have the same bodywork as the Senna GTR. Power has been increased to 833 hp (621 kW; 845 PS), higher than any other Senna variant to date. Power is 20 PS more than a base Senna GTR. The redline is also increased from 8250 rpm up to 9000 rpm.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: McLaren Senna
Manufacturer: McLaren Automotive
aka: P15 (internal code)
Production: 2018-2019, 500 Senna made, 75 Senna GTR made, 35 Senna LM made, 5 Senna GTR LM made
Model years: 2019-2020
Assembly: United Kingdom: Woking, Surrey, England
Designer: Rob Melville
Class: Sports Car (S)
Body style: 2-door coupé
Platform: MonoCage III carbon fiber monocoque
Related: McLaren 720S, McLaren Elva
Layout: Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Engine: 4.0 L Ricardo-built and assembled McLaren M840TR twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: In-house 7-speed dual-clutch
Kerb weight: 1374 kg
Wheelbase: 2670 mm
Length: 4744 mm
Width: 2153 mm
Height: 1195 mm
sp: uk

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q45304944CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_SennaCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1369137157 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:McLaren_Senna_Genf_2018.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Alexander Migl · retrieved 2026-10-01
Manufacturer website (link only) — https://cars.mclaren.com/en/ultimate-series/mclaren-sennaLink only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.