McMurtry Spéirling is the first car to drive upside down, defying gravity

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McMurtry Spéirling (Reprodução/X)
McMurtry Spéirling (Reprodução/X)

With extreme suction technology and artificial intelligence, two supercars break records and showcase the bold future of electric and autonomous mobility

The McMurtry Spéirling defied the laws of gravity thanks to a powerful fan system that allows it to “suck” itself to a surface. Co-founder Thomas Yates presented this world first at McMurtry Automotive’s headquarters in Gloucestershire, calling it “a fantastic day at the office.”

The impressive engine is just one of 100 models that will be produced by 2026, with many calling the launch of the Spéirling a moment of “redefinition” for the industry. It even broke the 20-year-old Top Gear record.

As a single-seater electric vehicle, it weighs less than 1,000 kg but generates over 1,000 bhp in downforce. It can also reach 160 km/h in just 2.66 seconds. The McMurtry Spéirling defied the laws of physics thanks to an advanced ventilation system that allows the vehicle to “cling” to the ground via suction.

Thomas Yates, co-founder of McMurtry Automotive, presented this world innovation at the company’s headquarters in Gloucestershire, describing the event as “a spectacular day at work.”

This impressive model is just one of 100 units to be built by 2026, and many are considering the launch of the Spéirling as a revolutionary milestone in the automotive sector.

The car even broke a two-decade-old record from the Top Gear program. Being a single-seater electric vehicle, it weighs less than 1,000 kg but is capable of generating over 1,000 bhp of aerodynamic downforce.

It also hits the 160 km/h mark in an incredible 2.66 seconds. While the McMurtry team watched from the side of the track, Thomas drove the car up a ramp to a platform, where the vehicle was rotated by special equipment.

Using only aerodynamics, the car remained firmly attached to the equipment — held by over 2,000 kg of suction force, even while stationary.

With 1,000 horsepower, this electric car capable of “driving upside down” uses the same technology that broke records at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and at the Laguna Seca hill climb in California.

Defying gravity, suspended in the air, its sleek body and matte black paint evoked the image of a modern Batmobile. It was described as a vehicle “unlike anything else on today’s roads.” Thomas told Interesting Engineering: “With a larger inverted track or an ideal tunnel, we can go even further.”

In another impressive feat, a Maserati controlled by artificial intelligence nearly reached 200 mph, setting a new speed record during a test conducted in the United States. This new milestone for autonomous vehicles was achieved when a driverless car reached 197.7 mph on the track at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Earlier this month, another record was broken with an AI-driven Maserati that came close to the 200 mph mark.

In-car footage shows the vehicle beginning to accelerate at around 32 km/h before shooting off at speed. The electric model races down the track as if about to take off, eventually reaching 317.7 km/h. With a futuristic look, painted in greenish and bluish tones and bearing the INDY Autonomous Challenge logo, the car achieved the impressive feat with no one behind the wheel.

This achievement was the result of a project involving Maserati, the Indy Autonomous Challenge, the 1000 Miglia Experience Florida, and the Polytechnic University of Milan. Maserati had previously attempted this challenge, reaching 192.8 mph with an IAC AV21 model in 2022.

Professor Sergio Matteo Savaresi, the project’s scientific lead, stated that this extraordinary feat “proves the robustness and effectiveness of autonomous driving algorithms.” The MC20 Cielo convertible model was equipped with camera and Lidar sensor technology. This same version also completed the legendary Italian 1000 Miglia race without a driver in 2023.

Source and images: The Sun / X @iw_toshiki. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.

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