McMurty's Famous Fan Car Can Be Yours for $1.3MMcMurtry Automotive The McMurtry Spéirling Pure is the production version of the famous electric prototype race cars that featured underside fans to set records. McMurty claims the 986-hp rear-drive EV can hit 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds on its way to a 190-mph top speed, with up to 4400 pounds of downforce on demand. The Spéirling Pure will cost about $1.3 million when it goes on sale sometime later this year. When the McMurtry Spéirling's two underbody fans spin at up to 23,000 rpm, they shoot air out of the back of the single-seat track-only hypercar, creating a sound that's more like an F18 fighter jet than a nearly silent EV. While prototypes of McMurtry's electric "fan car" have been dropping jaws and setting records since 2022, the automaker has finally revealed a production model called the Spéirling Pure that features 95 percent new parts. McMurtry Automotive Among the many changes to the Spéirling Pure is a new 100-kWh battery pack, which is notably larger than the 60-kWh pack that powered the prototypes. McMurtry says it had to stretch the wheelbase by nearly 8 inches to 86.6 inches to fit the bigger battery. This led to the new car's longer overall length and height. The growth spurt also contributes to a more spacious cockpit inside the newly designed carbon-fiber monocoque, which meets motorsports' safety standards around the globe. Advertisement Advertisement The Spéirling's updated bodywork now includes headlights, a second hinged door, and a swan-neck rear wing that sits above a trunk that, while still small, has room for a helmet and HANS device. The driver grips an F1-style steering wheel with the instruments presented on a digital display, and there's a "fan rev" paddle for added theatrics. McMurty says it also switched from an electrically assisted steering system to a more feelsome hydraulic unit. Meanwhile, the driver's seat is a bespoke piece that's custom-molded like Le Mans prototypes, and customers can personalize the cabin with myriad options (including air conditioning). McMurtry Automotive With new torque-rich Helix drive motors, the Spéirling Pure sends 986 horsepower to the rear wheels through an enhanced transmission, and the sub-3000-pound EV can rocket to 60 mph in under 1.6 seconds, according to McMurtry. It also tops out at a claimed 190 mph, but you don't need to be going that fast to summon its 4400 pounds of peak downforce. In fact, you don't need to be moving at all. That's because its dual fans can generate insane amounts of suction at a standstill, with air being sucked from a sealed area under the car. Even if the car spins or one of the fans stops working, McMurty says the driver won't lose control and can stop more quickly thanks to the car's constant source of downforce. The Spéirling's new fan motors have more durable blades, and the car's cooling system has been relocated to improve the center of gravity and redesigned for better efficiency. Along with a more flexible suspension and a 20 percent higher ride height, McMurtry says the production car is available with adaptive dampers and features race-grade Michelin Pilot Sport GT tires that are wider and have taller sidewalls than before. And to make loading it onto a trailer or moving around the pits easier, an onboard air compressor lets the driver raise the fan system's underbody skirt, eliminating the need for an external air bottle to pre-charge the Downforce-on-Demand system like on the prototypes. McMurtry says the Spéirling Pure can compete in time-attack events in the United States and Europe. The automaker also claims that many racetracks have DC fast-chargers that will allow the electric hypercar to charge its battery from 20 to 95 percent in as little as 20 minutes (but it can also take up to an hour, depending on several factors). Interestingly, McMurtry says it also created a 100-kWh portable storage unit with a 120-kW output to charge the Pure any place, any time. So, how much does all of this cost? Well, its price is said to start at around $1.3 million, meaning if you're rich enough, you can park this famous fan car in your garage. ➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car. Shop New Cars Shop Used Cars You Might Also Like Gift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for Kids Future Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029
Liked by Gabriel Côté, Madeleine Bouchard
Liked by Gabriel Côté, Madeleine Bouchard
Liked by Gabriel Côté, Madeleine Bouchard
