McLaren Speedtail – McLaren name the F1’s three-seat spiritual successor.

McLaren’s spiritual successor to the iconic F1 road car will be called the McLaren Speedtail, McLaren has announced. So no more BP23.

We know that McLaren is working on more than one new Ultimate Series car, but the most intriguing is the three-seat BP23, in effect a new take on what McLaren can now do if the F1 arrived afresh. And until now we’ve known it as the BP23.

But now we know it’s actually going to be the McLaren Speedtail – which does sound like something from the 1930s to us – and, say McLaren, it will not only be a very quick car but will also be the most luxurious McLaren money can buy. Well, it would be if you could buy one; all 106 planned are sold.

We got a clue on the name when McLaren sent all its buyers for the BP23 a desk ornament back in April, which they called ‘Speed Form’, as they played at customer service to keep their buyers on the boil.

But, in many ways, the McLaren Speedtail seems a bit of a bargain, even at £1.6 million (+tax), as it will be the most luxurious McLaren, the quickest McLaren ever with huge straight line speed – thanks to a hybrid powertrain – and be the pinnacle of McLaren’s offerings.

McLaren promise we will get to see the Speedtail in the flesh before the end of 2018.