The V-10 McLaren Solus GT Is a Video Game Fevered Dream Come to Life

First debuted in 2017 as part of Gran Turismo Sport's Ultimate Vision GT series, you could only experience the extreme driving machine that is the McLaren Solus GT in the virtual world of the Sony Playstation for the past five years. But now 25 lucky people will have access to the Solus GT's final form as McLaren surprises us all with the debut of the real, physical car during this year's Monterey Car Week. It's billed as the ultimate form of McLaren's track-only series of vehicles, and it has the wild aerodynamic looks to back that claim up.

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Looks and Aero Are Stunning

People watching from the outside will also know that this isn't a normal car from McLaren. The virtual version of the Solus GT was a wild shape that is equal parts Formula 1, IndyCar, and Le Mans Prototype. The all carbon body looks shrink-wrapped to fit the chassis as tightly as possible, not allowing any air to be unused or moved around for maximum downforce and drag reduction.

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The real life version is much the same, but with added portions only required for the engine to ingest air and protect the driver. The "hammerhead" front fascia is not only functional for front aerodynamics, but also leads the air into two full-length tunnels to produce a ground effect system to keep the Solus GT stuck to the ground. The fenders—McLaren calls them "wheel pods"—not only give the driver a visual aid for vehicle placement on track, but also help work airflow around the front and rear tires. Their teardrop shape is purposefully designed to calm turbulent air from the wake of the tires as well as reduce the air pressure build-up (drag) within the wheel well of the pods.

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The rear bodywork can also be removed for easy access to the engine and transmission, but is also designed with the same principles as the Speedtail: minimize base pressure across the rear of the car and reduce drag. However, all of that drag reduction doesn't mean the car doesn't have any downforce worthy of an open wheel car. In a balanced combination of the bodywork, ground-effect tunnels, fixed high-downforce rear wing, and front splitter, the Solus GT produces 2,645 pounds of downforce.

Not only is this greater than the weight of the car—somewhere around 2,205 pounds when full of fluids and topped up with 90 percent of the 17.2 gallons of fuel it can carry—but is also the highest downforce production vehicle that McLaren has built. Well, at least ones with a public statement on downforce numbers. For example, the P1 GTR produced 1,433 pounds, the P1 GTR Senna produced 1,763 pounds, and the Senna GTR produced 2,205 pounds of downforce. We also wanted to check it against the F1 LM High Downforce model, but those numbers weren't released when it was produced.

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Surprisingly? No Electric Powertrain

To make the Solus GT real, McLaren used their combined experience and technologies from its motorsports and automotive teams. Despite being track-focused, the car isn't made to any sporting regulations, so it's the ultimate vision of an unleashed track car from the Surrey, England auto brand. Just like the virtual Solus GT, the real life version is a single-seater that places the driver dead-center—just like their MCL36 Formula One and Arrows McLaren SP IndyCar.

However, unlike those cars that use turbocharged V-6 engines from Mercedes and Chevrolet (respectively), the Solus GT uses a naturally-aspirated 5.2 liter V-10 with individual throttle bodies and gear-driven valvetrain and ancillary systems like the water pump, alternator, and oil pump. That bespoke engine spins up to 10,000 rpm and produces more than 829 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque.

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It's backed by a seven-speed sequential gearbox borrowed from the racing world, meaning it's not quiet with soft engagement for decent road manners. Instead, the box contains straight-cut gears and a multi-plate carbon fiber clutch. The driver also doesn't need to know how to operate a clutch pedal or paddle, the entire clutching operation is fully automated and controlled by software. Even its limited-slip differential is mechanical with no special electronic gizmos to fully dictate tire traction. When you put that power down properly, the Solus GT should accelerate to 60 mph in less than 2 seconds, and will top out at over 200 mph.

The engine and gearbox are attached to a carbon fiber monocoque with carbon fiber impact structures. The drivetrain is "fully-stressed" in that the engine and transmission are structurally a part of the car, just like McLaren's open wheel cars. Its suspension is also similar to those racecars as the wheels are attached to its triple-sprung suspension via push-rods in the front and pull-rods in the rear.

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The car uses a center coil spring that controls movement when both left and right wheels move at the same time, such as going over a bump, acceleration/braking, or loading from aerodynamics. The outer torsion bars only act when the chassis is in roll or when an individual wheel is traveling, like hitting some curbing while going around a corner. This allows the suspension to work smoothly while not suddenly being compressed when the aerodynamics really loads up the suspension.

The brakes are equally impressive, being a set of six-piston monobloc aluminum calipers on all four wheels. Those calipers use a set of carbon fiber pads that clamp against a set of carbon fiber brake discs for some impressive braking performance when at track speed. These are then covered by a set of 18x12.5 front and 18x13 inch rear aluminum center lock wheels that will be available with Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class tires in 30/68R18 front (26.7 inches overall diameter and 11.5 inches tread width) and 31/71R18 rear (27.8 inches tall and 12.6 inches wide). The car will be supplied with a set of slick and wet versions of those tires.

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Like Tom Cruise in

All that speed and performance requires bodywork that matches. Just looking at the single seater car, you know that this isn't going to be any ordinary driving experience. The cockpit looks like something straight out ofTop Gunas the clear canopy slides forward and lifts up to allow its sole occupant inside. It's also operated from inside via a mechanical lever.

That pilot is then greeted to their special molded seat that's made not only fit them in their fire resistant, FIA-homologated racing suit, helmet, pedal box, radio earbuds (for communication with your mechanics, not listening to iTunes or Spotify), and HANS device all equally tailored to fit the owner. Further safety is provided by a Formula 1 style halo and roll hoop structure with a structure made from 3D printed titanium, which is a first for a production, non-racing McLaren vehicle.

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The driver is also protected by a plumbed-in fire extinguisher system. Also added to this cockpit is a full HVAC system that will keep the driver comfortable while inside this enclosed cockpit racecar and can get dangerously hot without it. If a crash does leave the canopy unable to be opened, there is an emergency hatch located in the roof of the canopy.

Once inside and the cockpit closed, the driver has a very uncluttered view in front of them. There isn't a traditional dashboard, as you would expect from McLaren's road going cars, but it also isn't the wild heads-up display seen in the virtual Ultimate Vision GT. Instead, it's a motorsports-derived thin-film-transistor (TFT) display located on the carbon fiber steering wheel along with the many vehicle setting adjustments the driver can make to the Solus GT.

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It's similar to the steering wheels used in their F1 and IndyCar racers. More controls are found in the halo structure along with a rear-view display with a 180-degree wide-angle camera mounted on the roll hoop, just behind the driver's head. This aids with pit lane exiting and passing traffic safely on track. The driver can also specify other elements within the cockpit, but the main goal that McLaren adheres to is that it allows the driver to remain focused on the driving.

Unfortunately, even if you had the money to put down a deposit and then outright purchase the Solus GT right now, you're already too late. All 25 cars built by McLaren have already been sold well before the unveiling during Monterey Car Week. Those customers are expected to take delivery of their track-only cars in 2023 but track-testing is already underway to make sure these fully-capable and unique cars are ready for their motorsports lifestyle. Hopefully, we'll be able to capture one on our next race track adventure.