Coppell, TX — After acquiring rights to the Elva name, McLaren Automotive last week unveiled an open-cockpit, two-seater as its new Ultimate Series roadster.

Photo: McLaren

In its announcement, the company acknowledged that the car harkens to the McLaren-Elva sports racers that Bruce McLaren designed in the 1960s — though this model is the lightest road car ever from McLaren Automotive and features a bespoke carbon fiber chassis and body, unique carbon fiber seats and sintered carbon ceramic brakes.

And even without a roof, windshield and windows, the car’s occupants will be protected by the McLaren Active Air Management System (AAMS), the world’s first such system that manipulates air flow. The car will also be available with a fixed windshield.

Just 399 examples of the new McLaren Elva will be made to customer order, starting at $1.69 million with the final price dependent on the level of personalization by McLaren’s Special Operations department.

The 804bhp, twin-turbocharged McLaren V8 goes from 0-62mph in under three seconds and from 0-124mph at just 6.7 seconds, making it faster than the McLaren Senna, another of Ultimate Series vehicle.

The Elva name celebrates the renowned Bruce McLaren-designed M1A and McLaren-Elva M1A [Mk I], M1B [Mk II] and M1C [Mk III] of the 1960s. Produced as ‘customer’ versions of the innovative and exciting Group 7 McLaren race cars, the McLaren-Elva sports cars embodied many of the pioneering design and engineering principles that are integral to the McLaren road cars produced today.