By Edward Jones
–
December 10, 2019
'Fux Green' McLaren Senna Heading to Auction
Presented by Mecum Auctions - This 2019 McLaren Senna is Serial No. 2 of 500 produced in the latest addition to the British manufacturer’s Ultimate Series of exclusive hyper-performance automobiles, a completely bespoke marvel fully deserving of its very special designation. This one-of-one McLaren Senna showcases its exposed carbon fiber body work through transparent Fux Green paint, which is a special mix that can only be ordered by Michael Fux.
VIEW LISTING AND MORE
Perhaps the best means of appreciating the Senna’s overwhelming magnificence is by a brief comparison to the car that begat McLaren’s entire road car lineage to this point in time, way back in the waning days of the 20th century: the absolutely fabulous F1.
Designed by Gordon Murray to be the ultimate road car, the F1 nonetheless overflowed with the fruits of all the knowledge Murray had brought to, and learned from, the job of designing World Championship-winning Formula 1 racers. True, it was soon adapted, against Murray’s wishes, to compete on the track in GTR form, in which it amassed an enviable competition record that included three constructors championships and the overall victory in the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. And yet, the F1 remained true to its original purpose as the sublime, definitive means of public transportation, in entirely analogue specification. Beyond its superb passive aerodynamics, the F1 offered no driver aids at all—even power steering was left in the parts bin, and the only transmission was a 6-speed manual—to give the purest, most engaging driving experience ever offered in a road car.
The Senna, in stark contrast, is a race car. Yes, it was designed to legally transport its occupants to and from the track, but beyond that practical caveat, the Senna is wholly unconstrained by sanctioning body regulations of any sort. It is a car designed and built by McLaren Automotive on its own terms, period.
In both concept and real-world performance, the Senna is more akin to a GT Le Mans machine than it is to any other road-legal automobile. In many ways, it surpasses even that standard. At just 2,641 pounds dry, it is lighter and, with 789 HP and 590 lb-ft of torque on tap, far more powerful. Propelled by the all-aluminum, twin-turbocharged DOHC M840TR 90 4.0L V-8 engine and 7-speed dual-clutch SSG automatic gearbox, the Senna electrifies with a 0-60 MPH time of 2.7 seconds and a top speed of 211 MPH.
Based on McLaren’s newest generation Monocage III chassis, the Senna employs lightweight carbon fiber throughout its body structure, every square inch of which is designed to optimize aerodynamics in service to the car’s performance regardless of driving conditions. Compounding the exhilarating effects of its electrohydraulic rack-and-pinion steering and carbon-ceramic disc brakes with forged monobloc calipers, the Senna packs an entire integrated system of active suspension and aero components that together generate 1,764 pounds of downforce at speed, some 440 pounds more than the P1. The massive, high-mounted rear wing travels through a 35-degree arc from upright airbrake to fully trimmed for maximum straight-line speed, acting along with dual flap wings within the front fenders to maintain perfect balance from corner entry to exit.
These aero components work in concert with an active suspension system that regulates damping, compression and ride height independently at all four corners in an incredible dance of lightning-speed digitally activated adjustments. Even more astonishing is the aero and suspension systems’ integration with the car’s active stability and traction controls under any one of three driver-adjustable track modes, a stunning advancement that enables the driver to explore new frontiers of handling, cornering and braking that never even existed before the Senna.
As if to add a string of exclamation points to the Senna’s astounding capabilities, renowned collector Michael Fux commissioned McLaren Special Operations (MSO) to work their magic in creating a bespoke automobile like no other: Senna No. 2 of the already sold-out edition of 500. Fux first chose MSO’s optional full visual exposed carbon fiber body package, a $297,575 option that includes almost 70 special parts that take almost 1,000 hours to produce and assemble. It was then finished inside and out (again, at an extra combined cost of $86,930) with a brilliant shade of transparent green paint (McLaren named it Fux Green) that vividly showcases the woven carbon fiber beneath. The glittering green finish is complemented with striking alloy wheels ball-polished to a mirror finish and fitted with red and blue center-lock nuts and Pirelli P-Zero tires.
Opening the dual-hinge dihedral doors reveals the bespoke Fux Green interior—personalized at an extra cost of $13,903—that features contrasting white leather inserts with green stitching on the dash, seats, door panels and steering wheel. Green “MSO” logos on the headrests complete the unique look. The controls are at a minimum: center roof-mounted door-release and window switches, portrait screen infotainment, HVAC, McLaren Track Telemetry and Bowers and Wilkins seven-speaker audio systems.
Offered at just 203 miles, McLaren Senna No. 2 is by any measure one of the world’s unique automobiles, an entirely bespoke objet d’art that occupies a new class of automobiles whose creators conceive and execute with complete freedom.
Indeed, the Senna may be the car that starts a revolution in hyper-performance automobiles whose inspiration lies not in the restrictive regulations of a bureaucratic sanctioning body, but purely in the creative juices born of the human imagination.
THIS CAR WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF AT THE MECUM KISSIMMEE 2020 EVENT (JANUARY 2-12) AS LOT S113.
VIEW LISTING AND MORE
