---
title: "Open-Air McLaren Elva Hypercar Production Slashed in the Name of Exclusivity"
description: "Apparently, the originally planned production run of 399 examples was a bit much."
date: "2020-04-04"
modified: "2020-04-04"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/32889/open-air-mclaren-elva-hypercar-production-cut-down-in-the-name-of-exclusivity"
categories:
  - "McLaren News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Coupe"
  - "Elva"
  - "mclaren"
  - "Supercar"
---

# Open-Air McLaren Elva Hypercar Production Slashed in the Name of Exclusivity

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/04/Large-11917-Elva-M6A-Theme-by-MSO.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

**​**When a manufacturer tweaks its production numbers due to popular demand, it typically results in it assembling more cars, not less. However, the multi-million dollar, windshield-free hypercar market is not a very typical place because as a result of customer feedback, McLaren will be building 150 *fewer* Elvas than it originally planned.

When it was first unveiled back in November, [the $1.68-million, 804-horsepower Elva](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/30985/2020-mclaren-elva-an-804-hp-open-cockpit-missile-for-our-time>) was originally on track for a production run of 399 units. That number is now 249 and, apparently, it all has to do with exclusivity. Speaking to the [*Australian Financial Review*](<https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/cars-bikes-and-boats/how-mclaren-s-boss-went-from-a-flop-to-the-fast-lane-20200212-p5405a>), McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt explainer, "The feedback from our customers is that they think the car should be more exclusive than that, so we’ve capped it at 249.”

![message-editor%2F1586012333234-small-11630-mclaren-elva.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1586012333234-small-11630-mclaren-elva.jpg>)
**McLaren Automotive**

As much as you might suspect McLaren is merely trying to save face in the midst of coronavirus-induced production or, dare we say it, demand issues, the conundrum of "too many McLarens" isn't completely unfounded. As part of its [Track25 business plan](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/22125/mclaren-announces-1-6b-business-plan-to-go-completely-hybrid-by-2025>) that has the company introducing 15 new cars and variants between 2018 and 2022, McLaren's been pumping out new models at a very rapid pace. Woking's current portfolio consists of [the GT](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/29890/2020-mclaren-gt-review-the-drivers-grand-touring-car>), 570S, 570GT, 600LT, 620R, 720S, 765LT, Senna, Speedtail, and, of course, the Elva. That's a lot of cars for what is supposedly a boutique automaker.

The abundance of McLaren road cars hasn't been kind to the residual values of its existing products. I mean, why spend big bucks on one now if you *know* something cooler and shinier is coming in just a few months? Champagne problems or not, this sort of thing matters to McLaren's clientele.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1204311884645781504

And as limited as 399 examples may have sounded to plebs like you and me, it's kind of a high number as far as ultra-expensive exotic cars are concerned. [Aston Martin's competing V12 Speedster](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/32448/2021-aston-martin-v-12-speedster-has-700-horsepower-no-windshield>) will only be sold 88 times while just a dozen [Bentley Mulliner Bacalars](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/32420/2021-bentley-mulliner-bacalar-a-650-hp-coachbuilt-convertible-for-crewes-favorite-clients>) will ever exist.

So, if you're one of the fortunate few with enough cash for an Elva and are looking for another open-air hypercar to add to your collection, get in line quickly because it just got shorter.

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## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)