McLaren presents a Hyper-eMTB with 161 Nm of torque

McLaren launches its first range of electric bicycles with the Extreme and Sport models. The British firm bets on a brutal electric assistance that reaches 161 Nm of torque and a power of 600 W in the most exclusive versions, which will only be available for sale in the United States. Both have a single available assembly and prices start at 8,400 euros.

McLaren makes a grand entrance into the e-MTB territory: power and exclusivity in the two models of the brand

The automotive industry has been showing interest in the cycling sector for years. The real objective of this move is difficult to guess, but recent -and future- changes in mobility have led many manufacturers to put a foot in the pedals in recent times. So, while brands like Mercedes or Bugatti made brief appearances on the scene, others like Porsche have been more ambitious and some like BMW or Yamaha have been linked to bikes for a long time.

In fact, McLaren is not new to the cycling scene either. The legendary British brand -with a history closely related to Formula-1- collaborated with Specialized for the development of the Venge, was one of the main sponsors of the Bahrain team, and acquired the VanMoof brand less than a year ago.

However, now they are going a step further with the presentation of their first range of electric bikes; a trail that McLaren launches in rigid and dual versions and that is also divided into two levels of motor performance.

The British assure that they have used their knowledge in car design to create e-MTBs that they define as aggressive and uncompromising. The frame used by both models has been designed by the manufacturer, is made of carbon, and is largely handmade.

The crown jewels are the McLaren Extreme 600 and Sport 600, the brutal pieces that mount a motor capable of delivering 600 W of power and a torque of 161 Nm; the power-to-weight ratio of the motor is 31.7 w/kg. These numbers mean that both versions will only be sold in the United States.

For other markets, you will have to settle for the Extreme 250 versions -dual suspension with 160 mm of travel in the front and 145 mm in the rear and mullet wheels- and Sport 250 -rigid with 140 mm of travel-. The 3.6 kg motor provides 250 W of power and an equally incredible 121 Nm of torque. The motor unit has five assistance modes -Off, Eco, Trail, Sport, and Race- and is powered by a 36 V, 540 Wh battery.

In the case of the Extreme, McLaren has opted to use its distinctive papaya color in combination with black, in clear reference to the color range used in Formula-1.

They also have an integrated color LCD screen with graphics reminiscent of those used in cars, a dropper post, and an integrated light of up to 1,550 lumens.

McLaren Extreme 250 and Sport 250: setups and prices

The new McLaren creations are available in three sizes -S, M, and L-. Below are the details of both models.

McLaren Extreme 250

• Frame: Carbon
• Fork: RockShox Lyrik Rush RC, 160 mm travel
• Shock: RockShox RS Deluxe Select+, 145 mm travel
• Motor: 250 W; 161 Nm; 5 assistance modes
• Battery: 36 V, 540 Wh
• Groupset: SRAM XX Eagle AXS Transmission
• Brakes: SRAM G2 RE 4-piston hydraulic, 200 mm brake rotors F/R
• Wheels: Carbon eMTB-specific wheelset, mullet
• Tires: Pirelli Scorpion Enduro M, 29x2.6" / Pirelli Scorpion Enduro R, 27.5x2.4"
• Price: 11,150 euros

McLaren Sport 250

• Frame: Carbon
• Fork: RockShox Pike Rush RC, 140mm travel
• Motor: 250 W; 121 Nm; 5 assistance modes
• Battery: 36V, 540 Wh
• Groupset: SRAM GX Eagle, 12 speeds
• Brakes: SRAM G2 RE 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes, 200mm front rotor & 180mm rear rotor
• Wheels: Carbon eMTB-specific wheelset, 29"
• Tires: Pirelli Scorpion Enduro M, 29x2.4"
• Price: 8,400 euros

You can find more information on the McLaren website.