McMurtry Speirling was the breakout star at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. It arrived there as a vehicle not many had heard of and left as the fastest car ever up a hill clocking in at 39.08 seconds. Since then, the team, including Formula One driver Max Chilton, has continued to develop the production version. CarWow got a chance to drive a prototype.
The video embedded above jumps right into the moment CarWow actually moved Speirling. If you want the full tour, check out the previous clips section.
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The initial run was on a damp track, but Speirling was still capable of great acceleration. This one still has the gearing from the Goodwood line, so a max of 150 miles per hour (241 kilometers per hour).
Later, there is an opportunity to bring the car to the newly dry Silverstone circuit. In the second round, CarWow clocked up a stunning 0-60 mph (96 kph) in 1.4 seconds and reached 100 mph (161 kph) in just 2.63 seconds.
The most impressive figure is covering a distance of 1,312 feet (400 meters) in 7.97 seconds. For reference, a quarter mile is 1,320 feet.
Speirling featured two electric motors driving the rear wheels. A button on the steering wheel lets the driver change output, but the maximum is 1,000 horsepower (746 kilowatts). The 60 kilowatt-hour battery pack gives the WTLP an estimated range of 300 miles (261 kilometers). With less than full power, the driver can spin the laps equivalent to a GT4 class car for about 20 minutes. It supports DC fast charging at over 200 kW.
In addition to a great deal of power, Speirling had a pair of fans that sucked him to the ground with a downward force of 4,409 pounds (2,000 kilograms). This arrangement means there is traction available even through corners at low speed. Gas escapes through a small wing at the rear.
Speirling on production specifications will reportedly cost at least £1 million ($1.2 million at current exchange rates).
