Skip advert
Advertisement

McLaren Senna review - the ultimate track driving experience - Performance and 0-60 time

McLaren has taken a legendary name and produced what genuinely could become a legendary car

Performance and 0-60 time

With 659bhp/ton you won’t be surprised to hear that the Senna is fast. Just how fast is clearly betrayed by the numbers, with 62mph arriving in 2.8 seconds, 124mph in 6.8 seconds and 186mph after just 18.5 seconds, but in reality it doesn’t seem that much quicker than the already studenously rapid 720 S - perhaps additional performance becomes largely academic beyond a certain lofty point. In any case, the top speed is 211 mph, but such matters were hardly McLaren’s focus with this car.

There’s certainly a lot more noise and drama to the way it accelerates, thanks to the Senna’s minimalistic cabin, reduced sound proofing material and dorsal air intake, which really screams as the V8 is wound up to high rpms. Nevertheless, the engine still sounds essentially the same as all the 3.8-litre and 4-litre McLaren V8s do - that is to say, hard-edged, aggressive, but not exactly melodic. One new facet to its character is the vibration felt: McLaren have fitted more rigid engine mounts, and at certain revs the V8 sends a fizzing tremor down the driver’s spine.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The engineer so good he got banned, and designed a £30k sports car you can buy
Richard Hall Great British Sports Cars
Features

The engineer so good he got banned, and designed a £30k sports car you can buy

From 1:10-scale beginnings via building kit cars, Richard Hall’s passion for engineering led to the creation of his own modern‑day Lotus Seven interpr…
27 Sep 2026
The Nissan Z ‘Kaze’ makes Japan’s V6 coupe T-top
Nissan Z Kaze concept
News

The Nissan Z ‘Kaze’ makes Japan’s V6 coupe T-top

Nissan has gone back to the ’90s with the one-off Z Kaze, making the V6 coupe open-air with a T-top
25 Sep 2026
This forgotten ‘90s Subaru rally car is one of the rarest and only costs £15k
Subaru Impreza WRX Type RA
Reviews

This forgotten ‘90s Subaru rally car is one of the rarest and only costs £15k

The first Subaru Impreza WRX ever sold to the public happened to be the lightest, and a truly engaging rally-derived saloon to boot. We drive the ‘93 …
28 Sep 2026