The screenless Elva is McLaren Automotive’s lightest-ever road car and the target for the windscreen version is around 20kg heavier, even with the inclusion of electronically synchronised rain-sensing wipers, washer jets and sun visors, as well of course as the heated glass windscreen within a carbon fibre surround. The Active Air Management System (AAMS) is deleted as it has no role to play in the windscreen car.

While having had its own engineering program to optimise aerodynamic and dynamic performance, the windscreen Elva shares all of the ethos and performance of the original car: neither has a roof, side windows, or rear screen. The Elva a dry weight of less than 1300kg. The mid-mounted, 804hp, 800Nm (590 lb-ft) twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine delivers drive to the rear wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The acceleration of both versions is comparable with that of a McLaren Senna, the screenless model reaching 100km/h from standstill in 2.8 seconds and covering 0 – 200km/h in 6.8 seconds. Dynamic performance and vehicle stiffness also remain unchanged from the screenless car, as does the scintillating driving experience. 

McLaren will limit production of the Elva to just 149 examples, each will be specified and built to individual customer order.

The first examples of the windscreen Elva will be delivered to customers towards the end of this year, following personalization by McLaren Special Operations.