Meet the McMurtry Speirling: The $1.1 Million Electric Supercar That Redefines Speed

On September 23, 2024, the McMurtry Speirling has been making waves in the electric vehicle (EV) community, redefining what a track car can be. Gear’s head of car testing recently took the Speirling for a spin around a track and was left astounded by its performance. In a direct comparison with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, a highly regarded track-focused road car, the Speirling emerged as a formidable contender, highlighting the limitations of traditional vehicles.

The latest iteration, the Speirling Pure prototype, has been shattering lap records globally, thanks to its extraordinary power, lightness, and aerodynamic downforce. With a staggering 1,000 horsepower generated by two motors driving the rear wheels, the Speirling can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 1.5 seconds. Its most unique feature is an advanced fan system that generates up to 4,400 pounds of downforce, effectively anchoring the car to the track. This allows the Speirling to corner at remarkable speeds, exerting over 3G of lateral force on drivers—compared to just 1.3G for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS and up to 6G in a Formula 1 car.

Driving the Speirling is a distinctive experience, as no other vehicle creates downforce quite like it. The car maintains relentless acceleration without the drag that typically slows conventional vehicles at high speeds. Top Gear’s head of car testing reported that he was taken aback by the Speirling Pure’s performance, especially when experimenting with three different fan settings that mimic various racing series. The lowest setting replicates a GT3 car, while higher settings emulate LMP1 and Formula 1 levels of grip and acceleration.

However, the experience is not without its challenges. After several laps, the strain from the significant lateral and longitudinal forces becomes noticeable, adding a unique dimension to the thrill of driving. It’s important to note that neither the original prototype nor the current Speirling Pure will be produced in their existing forms. The forthcoming production model will feature a longer wheelbase and a larger 100 kWh battery pack, leading to a slight increase in weight to around 2,650 pounds. Despite this, it is expected to complete a quarter mile in approximately 8 seconds and reach a top speed of 185 mph.

With a price tag of £895,000 (over $1.1 million), the McMurtry Speirling is positioned as a premium single-seater track toy, with only 100 units planned for production, anticipated to begin in 2025. The manufacturer is also exploring the potential for a road-legal version of this groundbreaking vehicle.