Let's get right to it: The 2021 McLaren Elva is really, truly, absolutely wonderful. I'm trying to recall a time I felt this smitten after driving a car. Porsche Speedster? Yeah, that's the most recent one, the Speedster being as close to perfection as it gets. The new 2021 McLaren Elva tickles the same spot and goes a bit deeper. It might not be closer to perfection, but it sails down a different, more elemental branch of driving. It's more eccentric, with more whimsy, more of a wag, and more mischief, and again, it's just plain wonderful. Yes, the Elva stickers for $1.7 million (before options), and there's neither a windshield, a roof, or windows. Did I mention the carbon-fiber plaything makes 804 hp and is—with the exception of the F1—the lightest production McLaren ever built?
2021 McLaren Elva:
The Air Out There
More quick points about the Elva, though if you like, just read Angus MacKenzie's first ride story and skip ahead.
Since there's no windscreen, there is McLaren's
AAMS (Active Air Management System), a pop-up vent system that sucks air
through the lower fascia then bends it 130 degrees through a series of vanes
before releasing it over your head. The idea is to create an air curtain that
acts as a virtual windscreen. More on the efficacy of AAMS in a bit, though
it's worth pointing out now that the vent can't be placed in the erect position
while the car is parked. In fact, it won't even deploy at all unless you press
a button to the right of the steering wheel. If you're not moving, it still
doesn't budge. Get to about 25 mph, and a hunk of gray carbon rises up from
where the frunk would normally be. That's right, there's no cargo storage
compartment. Well, there's a spot behind the seats to store a helmet—one
helmet—and that's it. Should you need a suitcase, you must pay someone to
follow you in another car. I mentioned the $1.7 million part, yeah?
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