McMurtry was established in 2016 in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, under the leadership of David McMurtry. The primary mission of the company was to recruit exceptional talents from the world of motorsports, such as Formula 1 and aerospace engineering, in order to develop an ultra-light electric track-only hypercar that could deliver performance on par with motorsport standards. This hypercar would be designed to demonstrate agility when navigating corners, resembling a true racing car, while also pushing the boundaries of the industry’s conventional practice of manufacturing heavy electric vehicles.
Then, during 2017-18, McMurtry initiated the development of the concept, with a strong focus on achieving performance comparable to motorsports in a compact and lightweight design. To achieve the desired lightweight characteristics, they opted for carbon fibre as the material for both the car’s body and the monocoque chassis. In pursuit of further weight reduction, McMurtry made the strategic decision to design it as a centrally positioned single-seater and opted to position the battery pack under the driver’s legs and within the side pods.
In 2021, McMurtry introduced their final hypercar prototype, named “Spéirling” (thunderstorm in Irish), at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed during the hill climb run. At first glance, it resembled a mini Batmobile, measuring just 134″ in length, while incorporating the aerodynamic features and aesthetics similar to a LMP car. The Spéirling’s small size played a key role in achieving its remarkably lightweight design, well below 1000 kilograms.
The Spéirling was equipped with a 60kWh battery pack featuring a dual motor configuration, delivering a robust 1000hp to the rear wheels. To enhance its performance, McMurtry integrated a fan system at the rear of the Spéirling, enabling it to generate 500 kilograms of downforce, even while stationary. Incredibly, the Spéirling achieved a perfect power-to-weight ratio by combining 1000hp with a curb weight of almost 1000 kilograms. This resulted in superior agility and speed compared to the other supercars and hypercars showcased at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Then, at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed, McMurtry made a return with the Spéirling. While maintaining the same 1000hp power output, they introduced enhanced aerodynamics featuring an enormous functional rear wing and increased downforce, raising it from 500 kilograms to an impressive 2000 kilograms, even while parked. Which resulted in the Spéirling setting a new record for the Goodwood hill climb. It completed the 1.8km ascent in just 39.08 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 39.9 seconds held by the VW ID.R.
In 2023, the very same McMurtry Spéirling, which previously set the Goodwood hill climb record, was taken for the acceleration run by Matt Watson of Carwow at Silverstone. During this run, the Spéirling achieved an unnerving 0-100km time of 1.4 seconds and an exceptional quarter-mile time of 7.97 seconds. While unofficial, these results marked a remarkable milestone that McMurtry had reached, making the Spéirling significantly faster than any other hypercar or racecar in the world.
The Spéirling’s thrilling and record-breaking performance, coupled with its agile handling within a lightweight 1000kg body, blistered its popularity among both enthusiasts and car collectors. So, on June 21, 2023, McMurtry introduced the track-only production version of the Spéirling, naming it the Spéirling Pure. A limited production of just 100 units is planned, with each requiring a price tag of $1 million.
The specifications of the Spéirling Pure are closely matched to the Spéirling prototype that shattered the 2022 Goodwood hill climb record: a 60kWh battery pack generating 1000hp to the rear wheels through a dual motor setup, which still maintains its rapid acceleration, achieving 0-100 in under 1.5 seconds and completing the quarter-mile run in under 8 seconds. McMurtry haven’t disclosed the downforce figure of the Spéirling Pure, but we expect it be immense.
However, there is a notable difference between the hill climb prototype and the production version. The hill climb prototype was restricted to a top speed of 150mph or 241kmph, whereas the production version boasts an increased top speed of 190mph or 305kmph. Which makes the production version even more bonkers.
The McMurtry represented a remarkable achievement with the Spéirling. They’ve designed a car that can outpace hight-performance racecars, and what’s even more impressive is that they’ve made this high-speed, thrilling performance accessible to a wider range of audience. In simple terms, the McMurtry Spéirling demonstrates that electric cars can not only be enjoyable and thrilling but can also deliver an arousing and exhilarating driving experience.
