McMurtry Automotive has unveiled the final production version of its record-breaking Spéirling PURE electric hyper track car, marking a significant milestone for the Gloucestershire-based company, founded by the late engineering pioneer Sir David McMurtry and former Formula 1 engineer Thomas Yates.
The launch represents the culmination of a decade-long research and development programme that has transformed an ambitious concept into one of the most extreme performance cars ever engineered in the UK. Customer deliveries of the £995,000 vehicle are scheduled to begin later this year, with the production model making appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and The Quail in California during the coming months.
The origins of McMurtry Automotive are closely linked to one of the UK's most successful engineering businesses. Sir David McMurtry, who founded global metrology specialist Renishaw plc and invented the widely used touch-trigger probe measurement system, established McMurtry Automotive in 2016. He recruited Thomas Yates from Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains with a vision of creating a new breed of performance vehicle that challenged the automotive industry's trend towards increasingly large and heavy cars.
Drawing inspiration from the fan-assisted racing cars that briefly appeared in Formula 1 and Can-Am competition during the 1970s, the company developed a modern interpretation of the technology around an all-electric powertrain. The result was the Spéirling, named after the Gaelic word for thunderstorm.
McMurtry first came to international attention in 2022 when a prototype Spéirling set a new outright Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb record.
The production-specification Spéirling PURE retains the radical philosophy of the original concept while incorporating substantial engineering changes. According to McMurtry, around 95% of the components are new compared with earlier prototype vehicles.
Power is supplied by a new 100kWh lithium-ion battery pack using Molicel cells, a significant increase over the 60kWh batteries used in development vehicles. The battery feeds upgraded Helix drive motors delivering 1,000bhp to the rear wheels, enabling claimed performance figures of 0-60mph in 1.55 seconds and a top speed of 190mph.
Central to the car's performance is McMurtry's patented ‘Downforce-on-Demand’ system. Twin high-speed fans generate up to 2,000kg of downforce from a standstill, allowing the vehicle to achieve cornering and braking forces of up to 3g.
The production car also features a newly designed carbon-fibre monocoque that accommodates the larger battery while providing increased cockpit space and improved driver access. Other developments include hydraulic power-assisted steering, revised suspension geometry, increased tyre dimensions and a range of practical features aimed at making the vehicle easier to own and operate.
The company says the Spéirling PURE has been designed to offer a straightforward, plug-and-play ownership experience, with simplified servicing access and compatibility with modern high-speed charging infrastructure. Depending on charger capacity and ambient conditions, the battery can be recharged from 20% to 95% in between 20 and 60 minutes.
Thomas Yates, McMurtry's co-founder and managing director, said: "In production form, the car is significantly more usable, but no less outrageous. In terms of exhilaration, grip, acceleration, sound, aesthetics and technology, we offer something that no other manufacturer is able to."
He added: "Designed and built by hand at our new state-of-the-art factory in the Cotswolds, England, later this year we'll be handing over the first Spéirling PURE to customers. We cannot wait to see what owners across the globe achieve in their cars, but rest assured, we also have some big plans of our own."
A Spéirling PURE will be displayed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed from 9-12 July before making its official public debut in full production form at The Quail in Monterey, California, on 14 August.
The launch marks the next chapter for the company whose roots lie in precision manufacturing and metrology, but whose ambitions are increasingly focused on redefining the limits of high-performance electric vehicles.