2019 McLaren Senna Review

Like the Hope Diamond or the Taj Mahal, the McLaren Senna is something that you take one look at and know right away it's special. Starting with naming the car after racing legend Ayrton Senna, McLaren set out to make the most track-capable road car ever built.

Every detail of the Senna has been examined and engineered to ensure ultimate performance. The Senna starts with a carbon-fiber tub that's both extremely strong and extremely light. Then there's an active suspension, active front and rear aerodynamics, and Formula 1-inspired carbon-ceramic brakes. And what about the engine, you say? Oh, it's simply a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine cranking out 789 horsepower, or nearly the equivalent of two Porsche 911 engines put together. Carbon-fiber racing seats and an optional six-point racing harness ensure you're as connected to the car as possible.

Performance figures barely make sense. McClaren says the Senna hits 60 mph in just 2.7 seconds and clears the quarter-mile in 10.0 seconds. Stopping power is just as disorienting, and thanks to the Senna's active suspension and aerodynamics, handling only gets better the faster you go. In short, if you want a car whose limits will likely remain far beyond your own, look no further.

Competition for the Senna, assuming you can secure one of the 500 built, comes from the Ford GT or possibly an actual racing car. If exclusivity and unbelievable performance are all that you crave, the Senna is one of the few cars that fully delivers.