A streetcar named Senna

Here's the latest brainchild of the McLaren Technology Centre, a road-legal, limited-production, track-focused coupé. It has a name with a lot to live up to - the McLaren Senna.

It is 200 kilograms lighter than its Ferrari 488 rival, and even more powerful. McLaren’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 has been tuned up to deliver 588kW of power and 800Nm of torque. The rear=wheel drive delivers the power through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The McLaren Senna is described by the company as "the purest connection between driver and car of any road-legal McLaren." Like the now-discontinued McLaren P1, it's part of their 'ultimate series'. Only 500 are being made, priced at £750,000 (roughly one million US dollars) including taxes.

The use of the Senna name on the car was agreed with the family of the three-time world champion.

“This is the first project that really connects with Ayrton’s racing spirit and performance," said Bruno Senna, Ayrton's nephew and a former Formula 1 driver in his own right.

"The McLaren Senna honours my uncle because it is so utterly dedicated to delivering a circuit experience that allows a driver to be the best they can possibly be," he added.

• Senna joins Alonso and di Resta at United for Daytona 24 hours

"There is an absolute, seamless connection between car and driver," he continued. "This pure engagement, these sensory cues that a driver responds to and relies upon, ensure an experience so focused and immersive that you are left in awe of the depths of excellence the McLaren Senna possesses."

The announcement has led to suggestions that the car might be destined to spearhead McLaren's move into sportscar racing and Le Mans in particular.

The team's current lead F1 driver, Fernando Alonso, will make his sportscar début next month at Daytona with Zak Brown's United Autosports. He could go on to race at Le Mans with Toyota in the summer.

"We think of the McLaren Senna as a race car," said the team in a press release. "We have designed and built it to perform on the track first and foremost."

Scroll through the gallery to see more pictures of the McLaren Senna.