McLaren Elva: New car has no roof or windscreen and uses air instead

Car creates a 'bubble of calm' by shaping air around it, manufacturers say

McLaren has revealed its new Elva, a car that has no windows, roof or windscreen – and instead uses air.

The car is able to still create a "relative ‘bubble’ of calm", which would normally be provided by glass, by shaping the wind around the vehicle, McLaren says.

The Elva is incredibly limited: only 399 will be made, and they start at nearly £1.5 million.

For that price, customers won't get any windows to keep the weather out, but will get McLaren's lightest road car ever.

It will be possible to buy a version of the car with a glass windscreen in the front, because some regulations might require it. But the company says that such a decision is not necessary.

Passengers can also wear a helmet if they wish, but McLaren claims it will not be necessary, arguing that "the form and sculpture of the upper cabin wraps around the driver and passenger to provide a secure environment".

In place of the normal windows, the car has a system that activates at high speed and channels air through the nose of the car and then up over the drivers heads. That provides a bubble underneath, where passengers sit, allowing them to be relatively protected.

In the event of a crash, passengers will be protected by what McLaren said is a "a deployable roll-over protection system". It gave few details on how that protection would work, but other cars are able to throw out strong frames across the top of the vehicle to keep those inside of it safe.

In addition to the unusual design, the new car is kitted out with a 4-litre, twin-turbocharged McLaren V8 engine.

It is not possible to actually buy the car at the moment, but potential customers can register interest on McLaren's website.