McLaren MP4/4
Honda-powered and driven by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, the MP4/4 won 15 of the 16 races of 1988.
- Power
- 675 bhp
- Top speed
- 207 mph
About the McLaren MP4/4
Designed by a team led by Steve Nichols with Gordon Murray as technical director, the MP4/4 paired a low carbon fibre chassis with Honda's all-new RA168E turbo V6, built for 1988's 2.5-bar boost limit and 150-litre fuel allowance. The drivers lay almost flat in the cockpit to suit the car's low-slung aerodynamics. Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost won 15 races and took 15 poles, 13 of them for Senna, who won the title with eight wins to Prost's seven. McLaren scored a then-record 199 points and led 97.3 per cent of the season's laps, and the only defeat came at Monza when Senna collided with a backmarker two laps from the end.
McLaren MP4/4 specs
The McLaren MP4/4 produces 675 bhp (503 kW) and 424 Nm (313 lb-ft) of torque. It has a top speed of 207 mph (333 km/h).
| Make | McLaren |
|---|---|
| Model | MP4/4 |
| Years | 1988 |
| Type | Race car |
| Body style | Open-wheel single-seater |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Production | About 6 built |
| Engine | 1.5L twin-turbocharged V6 (Honda RA168E) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 1,494 cc (1.5 litres) |
| Induction | Twin-turbocharged |
| Power | 675 bhp (503 kW) at 12,500 rpm |
| Torque | 424 Nm (313 lb-ft) |
| Top speed | 207 mph (333 km/h) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 540 kg (1,190 lb) |
| Power-to-weight | 1250 bhp per tonne |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
McLaren MP4/4 rarity in CarSpot
The McLaren MP4/4 is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 100 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
McLaren MP4/4 fun facts
- Senna and Prost were both speed-trapped at 333 km/h in qualifying at Hockenheim, the fastest speed trap of 1988.
- At Imola both McLarens lapped the field, and both set race laps faster than third-placed Nelson Piquet had qualified with the same Honda engine.
- All six chassis survive. McLaren still owns two, and Honda keeps chassis 5 at its collection hall at Motegi.
