In 2020, McLaren dramatically rekindled the spirit of their iconic F1 with the launch of the futuristic Speedtail, an exclusive machine at the cutting edge of 21st-century hypercar performance that, like its predecessor, was limited to only 106 units.

As with the F1, the Speedtail is built around a lightweight carbon fiber tub and features the same signature three-person seating configuration, as well as vertical dihedral doors. The similarities are clear, but elsewhere the advances in technology that have emerged over the past three decades are evident.

This is particularly true of the Speedtail’s exhilarating hybrid powertrain. The 723-horsepower 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 is a thoughtful evolution of the McLaren P1’s engine, featuring a revised piston design and enhanced cylinder head cooling. The Speedtail’s electric motor and battery, meanwhile, are both units developed by McLaren’s Formula E technology group. The motor smooths out power delivery at low engine speeds, providing an additional 312 horsepower for a total output of 1,035 horsepower, and a jaw-dropping top speed of 250 mph. The model’s dielectric-cooled-and-insulated battery offers yet another paradigm of innovation, having been hailed at its launch as the most power-dense unit ever fitted to a production vehicle.

McLaren’s focus on delivering an “unforgettable drive” with the Speedtail is epitomized by the model’s sleek, elongated bodywork, central driving position, adjustable multi-link suspension, and active aerodynamic systems. Altogether, these remarkable elements fuse design and technology to produce an uncompromising driving experience unlike anything else on the road. Those who want to up the ante even further can explore the Speedtail’s “Velocity Mode,” which upon activation lowers the suspension by 1.4 inches, changes the aerovane configuration, and retracts the side-view cameras, thereby streamlining the car’s silhouette for enhanced stability at high speeds.

All told, the Speedtail is the fastest, most aerodynamic, and most technologically advanced McLaren ever made, pushing the frontier of what is possible in a road car.

The Speedtail was only made available to customers pre-selected by McLaren, and this particular example—number 72— is in impeccable, as-new condition throughout, having had only one registered owner and currently indicating a mere 177 miles travelled at the time of cataloguing. All servicing to date has been completed under factory warranty, exclusively by authorized McLaren facilities in California and Texas. As offered, the car is entirely “on the button,” and requires nothing except a courageous pair of hands upon the steering wheel and a heavy foot to depress the throttle.

Ordered new by the consignor via McLaren of San Francisco in June 2020, the unique appeal of Speedtail number 72 is exemplified by its striking, bespoke color combination of Athera Grey paint over Rich Brown and Tan Semi-Aniline leather upholstery. The car’s accompanying sales order shows an original MSRP of £1.836 million (~$2.326 million), with exactly £86,000 (~$107,363) in bespoke optional equipment from McLaren Special Operations.

A comprehensive suite of polished Zircon trim, aluminum, titanium, and visual carbon fiber flourishes add a uniform appeal to Speedtail number 72’s unique exterior and interior themes. Within its next-gen cabin, the carbon fiber steering wheel is fully trimmed in Rich Brown leather, and this is beautifully contrasted by the headliner, kick panels, door sills, and passenger seats, which have been clothed in Tan leather.

A set of black-painted brake calipers are housed within 10-spoke Diamond Cut lightweight wheels. At the front axle, these wheels are ensconced within the Speedtail’s distinctive “speed covers”—fashioned of 1,000-strand gloss visual carbon fiber and matching the appointment of number 72’s engine bay surround and rear contrast panel. The car’s exterior badging is handsomely rendered in machined aluminum, as is most of its elegant brightwork. The exhaust, which is integrated into the rear diffuser and nearly hidden, is finished in the appropriately named “Stealth titanium.”

It is safe to say that the revolutionary Speedtail’s saga is only getting started; like its predecessor the F1, the Speedtail is predicted to capture the public’s attention for decades to come. It is an engineering triumph combining the best of McLaren’s past with the extraordinary technology of the present, and this exceptional example offers a rare opportunity to partake in the most advanced roadgoing vehicle that McLaren has built to date.

Its moment in the spotlight has just begun.