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.
