McLaren Elva User Manual

McLaren Automotive made a limited number of open-top sports cars called the McLaren Elva. The car was shown to the public for the first time in November 2019 and is a big step forward for the company. The Elva is a tribute to Bruce McLaren’s team, which made the McLaren-Elva sports cars in the 1960s. The McLaren Elva is part of the company’s Ultimate Series, which is the best road car McLaren makes. It mixes cutting-edge technology, a lightweight build, and a stunning design to make driving it a thrill. One of the most noticeable things about the Elva is that it has an open top. The car doesn’t have a standard roof or windscreen, which makes it feel more free and connected to the road than any other car. Instead, the Elva has a clever Active Air Management System that moves air over the cabin to make a “bubble” of peace for the people inside. Underneath the Elva’s beautiful exterior is a carbon fibre monocoque frame, which gives it great rigidity and strength while keeping the weight down. The car has a twin-turbocharged V8 engine that gives it amazing speed numbers. It makes more than 800 horsepower, which lets the Elva go from 0 to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometres per hour) in less than three seconds.

Introduction

Please read this information to familiarise yourself with your McLaren and its features before you drive. This provides the necessary information for you to get the optimum benefit and enjoyment from your McLaren. This publication describes all options and features available for the McLaren Super Series. Certain descriptions, including those for display and menu functions, may not apply to your vehicle due to model variant, country specifications, optional equipment or the fitment of McLaren approved accessories.

NOTE: The images shown in this publication may not exactly reflect your unique vehicle.

The documents supplied with your McLaren are an integral part of the vehicle. Ensure that you pass them onto the new owner if you sell the vehicle. The information is divided into specific sections, to assist in finding the particular information you require:

Before You Drive
Details the settings you need to make in the cockpit to ensure you are fully prepared and have safe and easy access to all controls before driving.

Driving Controls
This section contains detailed information regarding the equipment and driving controls fitted to your McLaren and how to use those controls to best effect during a journey.

instruments
This section contains information on the Folding Driver Display, including information on how to operate features of the McLaren Infotainment System (MIS).

Central Display
This section contains information on the McLaren Infotainment System (MIS), including information on how to view and change vehicle settings.

Comfort and Convenience
Contains information on those systems and features which make the cockpit a pleasant environment in which to spend time.

Maintaining your McLaren
Information on maintaining your McLaren is located here. Also included is advice on using your McLaren in winter weather and if you choose to drive your vehicle abroad, what to do if something should go wrong and how to manage any possible problems which arise as a result. Information on fuses, lights and what to do if you experience a puncture.
Vehicle Data and Glossary
Refer to this section when you need information regarding the fluid specifications and quantities that are required for the various systems on your McLaren, or when you need to know a specific piece of data relating to your McLaren or its performance.
The technical glossary contains a brief explanation of some of the more complex systems fitted to your McLaren. Your McLaren retailer will be able to assist should you need more information.

Maintaining your McLaren
Information on maintaining your McLaren is located here. Also included is advice on using your McLaren in winter weather and if you choose to drive your vehicle abroad, what to do if something should go wrong and how to manage any possible problems which arise as a result. Information on fuses, lights and what to do if you experience a puncture.

Vehicle Data and Glossary
Refer to this section when you need information regarding the fluid specifications and quantities that are required for the various systems on your McLaren, or when you need to know a specific piece of data relating to your McLaren or its performance.
The technical glossary contains a brief explanation of some of the more complex systems fitted to your McLaren. Your McLaren retailer will be able to assist should you need more information.

Index
The table of contents and the index will help you find information quickly, when you need it.The table of contents and the index will help you find information quickly, when you need it.

Information about this document

McLaren is constantly updating its vehicles to meet and exceed the latest technologies. McLaren therefore reserves the right to introduce changes in design, equipment and technical features at any time.
© McLaren Automotive Limited.
This publication must not be reproduced, translated or reprinted, in whole or in part, without written permission from McLaren Automotive Limited. The equipment fitted to your McLaren may vary from the images shown depending on vehicle and market specification. Your McLaren may vary from the images shown depending on vehicle and market specification. All information, illustrations and specifications in our applications are based on data available and are correct at the time of issue. The availability of options may vary from market to market due to local restrictions and regulations. Some illustrations in these applications may not necessarily reflect the specifications or options available in your local market and may show optional equipment.

The specifications contained in these applications are for information purposes only and McLaren Automotive reserves the right to change product specifications at any time without notice or incurring obligation. For full specification details and information on standard and optional equipment, please consult your McLaren retailer. This vehicle may be covered by patents. See cars.mclaren.com/patents.

Electronic user manual
If your vehicle is fitted with an electronic user manual, the Owner’s Handbook is available on the Central Infotainment Touchscreen. To access the manual, select User manual from the McLaren Infotainment System (MIS) Home screen.

Symbols

You will find the following symbols in this Owner’s Handbook. These symbols are intended to give you an instant visual message on what type of information is being displayed.

Warnings
A warning draws your attention to activities that could cause injury or death. Notes draw your attention to activities that contain possible risks to your McLaren, provide advice that you may find useful, or give additional information regarding a particular subject.

Environmental notes
Environmental notes give you tips on minimizing the impact that you and your vehicle have on the environment.

Operating safety

WARNING
The electronic systems fitted to your McLaren interact with each other. Tampering with these systems could cause malfunctions in other interconnected systems. Such faults could seriously endanger the operational safety of your McLaren and your own safety. Additional work or modifications made to the vehicle, which have been carried out incorrectly can also affect its operating safety.

Drive with care when:

• approaching kerbs.
• approaching steep inclines.
• departing steep declines.
• driving on rough roads.
• driving in areas where traffic calming measures have been deployed.
• driving in any other environment where sudden change of road surface height or elevation are encountered such as car parks.

Track driving
To achieve optimum performance and reliability, it is important to ensure the following preconditions are met before attempting to drive your vehicle on a track:

• Engine oil is at normal operating temperature
• Engine oil level shows 3, 4, 5 or 6 green segments, see Checking the engine oil, page 6.04
• Engine coolant is at normal operating temperature
• Tyres should not exceed the safe operating temperatures
  NOTE: Before you use your vehicle on a track, consult your McLaren retailer. McLaren recommend that your vehicle is inspected before and after track use. NOTE: Always drive within your limits and the limits of the vehicle.

Cooling down
McLaren recommend that you take time to cool the vehicle down during track driving, due to the high temperatures that may be generated by the brakes and transmission which could affect performance. Time should be taken to drive the vehicle at a slower speed without using hard braking or carrying out excessive gear changes, this uses the airflow to cool the vehicle. McLaren recommend that time is allowed for your vehicle to return to normal operating temperatures before leaving the track.

NOTE: When stopping the vehicle directly after performance driving, McLaren recommend that the ignition is not immediately switched off or parking brake applied. McLaren recommend that the engine is left to idle prior to the ignition being switched off.

NOTE: Please refer to your Service and Warranty Guide for track and competition use implications.

Stored data

There are a number of components in your vehicle which collect data and store it temporarily or permanently. This technical data provides information relating to areas such as the condition of the vehicle, any events which have taken place and any malfunctions your vehicle may be experiencing or has experienced in the past. These include, for example:

• operating conditions of system components, e.g. fluid levels.
• the vehicle’s status messages and those of its individual components, e.g. ‘Windscreen washer fluid low’.
• malfunctions and defects in important system components, e.g. ‘Light switch fault’.
• vehicle reactions and operating conditions in special driving situations, e.g. air bag deployment.
• ambient conditions, e.g. outside temperature.

This data is of an exclusively technical nature and can be used to:

• assist in recognising and rectifying faults and defects.
• analyse vehicle functions, e.g. after an accident.
• optimise vehicle functions.

The data cannot be used to trace the vehicle’s movements. When your vehicle is serviced, technical information can be read from the vehicle including:

• repair service history.
• warranty events.
• quality assurance

This information can be read by employees of the service network (including manufacturers) using special diagnostic testers. More detailed information can be obtained from it, if required. After a fault has been rectified, the information is deleted from the fault memory or is continually overwritten. When operating the vehicle, situations may occur where technical data, in connection with other information, could be traced to a person.
Examples include:

• accident reports.
• damage to the vehicle.
• witness statements.

McLaren will not access your behaviour related information about a crash event or share it with others except:

• with the consent of you or, if the vehicle is leased, of the lessee.
• in response to an official request of police or similar government office.
• as part of the manufacturer’s defence in case of legal proceedings.
• as required by law.

In addition, McLaren may use the collected or received diagnostic data:

• for McLaren research needs.
• to make it available for research needs where appropriate confidentiality is maintained and need is shown.
• to share summary data which is not tied to a specific vehicle with other organizations for research purposes.

Before You Drive

Opening and Closing

General
The vehicle can be unlocked or locked either by using the keyless entry feature, or by pressing the appropriate button on the key fob. The keyless entry feature requires the key fob to be within 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) of the sensors. Provided that the engine is not running, the vehicle can be locked irrespective of the electrical status, see Vehicle electrical status, page 2.02.

Keyless entry
Keyless entry allows the user to unlock and disarm the vehicle by simply opening the door when the key fob is within 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) of the sensors. The key fob needs only to be on the user’s person or in a non-metallic container such as a bag. It does not need to be exposed or handled. Five sensors detect where the key fob is around the vehicle. 1.04.

Key fob entry
Your McLaren includes two remote control key fobs. The key fob allows you to remotely lock and unlock the vehicle.

NOTE: If the message ‘Key not found within vehicle’ appears on the Folding Driver Display, reposition the key fob until it is detected.

NOTE: Do not stow the key fob in the centre console stowage compartment, in the cup holders, in the stowage nets between the seats, in the door stowage compartments, or on the shelf immediately behind the seats as the system may not detect its presence and the engine will not start.

Discharged battery
If you experience a fully discharged battery, the vehicle can still be opened using the mechanical key, see Unlocking – discharged battery, page 6.27.

NOTE: The keyless entry feature requires the key fob to be within 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) of the sensors.

WARNING: Always stand to the rear of the door before opening it, as the opening action may cause injury. The speed that the door opens will be affected by ambient temperature.

NOTE: Because the door opens outwards and then upwards, ensure sufficient side and overhead clearance before opening a door, see Vehicle dimensions, page 7.07.

NOTE: The vehicle can be locked/alarmed with the luggage compartment open. A long tone sounds to alert you to this condition, and differs to the short tone sounded for door open/key fob in vehicle mislock. The luggage compartment will become alarmed as soon as the luggage compartment lid is closed. This allows you to connect a McLaren supplied battery charger to the charging point in the luggage compartment whilst leaving the rest of the vehicle locked.

FAQ