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McLaren unveils unexpected new roadster at Pebble Beach

McLaren Automotive surprised the media during Car Week in Monterey when it unveiled a rendering of a new top range sleek open-cockpit roadster.

The as-yet-unnamed striking two-seater is expected to join in about 18 months McLaren's top tier Ultimate Series which currently includes the Senna, the GTR and the awaited Speedtail designs.

What is also known is that the new dramatically styled roadster will use a twin-turbocharged version of the Senna's V8 power unit - with no hybrid component - while a carbonfibre chassis will make it the lightest car ever produced by the Woking marque.

McLaren Automotive boss Mike Flewitt offered some insight on his company's future addition to its Ultimate Series.

“The demand for the more exclusive, higher-end vehicles is much stronger than anything else.

"In a sense it’s almost harder in the more competitive area, like Sport Series, where there’s some serious established competition.

"So, for the next Ultimate it was about coming up with a new, exciting concept, not just doing Senna 2.0, Speedtail 2.0. Something different. So we came up with this idea for a car, an open cockpit roadster.

"It’s not a hybrid - we looked at that but it adds a lot of weight. It’s quite minimalist in terms of the screen and roof. It’s not a high downforce car like the Senna."

According to McLaren, its bold new roadster will take "road-focused driving pleasure to new levels".

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.