We’ve all heard of that sci-fi idea that some cars can theoretically go upside down if they get fast enough. But until now, it’s been more of a visual trick, a nice story for enthusiasts. Michael Schumacher, in his heyday, showed us a fragment of that illusion with a Mercedes SLS AMG, in a tunnel, glued to the ceiling for a few seconds. It seemed like a miracle. But McMurtry Speirling? He turned the miracle into reality.
What makes the Speirling so special? Not just the fact that it’s an electric hypercar. Not just the fact that it weighs about 1,000 kg. But the fact that it’s equipped with a system of giant fans that generate such a strong active downforce that it can literally stick it to a surface above it.
Yes, you read that right. This hypercar can stop and go upside down – not at crazy speeds, but at slow, controllable speeds. It’s the first time in the world that a road vehicle has managed to pull off such a feat not just in theory, but in practice.
Active aerodynamics, powered by fans that pull air in with impressive force, create a “vacuum” effect between the car and the ground (or ceiling!), fixing it to the surface with unwavering grip.
- What’s next? Cars that climb buildings? Roads on the roof of tunnels? Or maybe vehicles that stick to vertical surfaces in case of emergency?
The automotive world, no matter how advanced it is, needs these kinds of crazy ideas – ones that break barriers and create new standards. Speirling is proof that sometimes, to move forward, you have to completely change your perspective......literally.