{"id":16284,"date":"2025-04-14T18:59:15","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T18:59:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1413044"},"modified":"2025-04-14T18:59:15","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T18:59:15","slug":"how-the-mcmurtry-speirling-defied-gravity-to-become-the-first-car-to-drive-upside-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=16284","title":{"rendered":"How the McMurtry Sp\u00e9irling defied gravity to become the first car to drive upside down"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Motorheads have long theorised that the extreme downforce generated by high-performance cars could one day let them drive upside down. Now, British carmaker McMurtry has turned that wild idea into a reality for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a stunt that would make Batman jealous, McMurtry drove its insanely fast electric Sp\u00e9irling flipped over. More impressively, it did that for over a minute while keeping the vehicle completely stationary \u2014 save for a quick acceleration to prove the car wasn\u2019t tied down. <\/span><\/p>\n

While it might look like the car has defied gravity, in reality, it\u2019s basic physics coupled with some clever engineering. <\/span><\/p>\n

To drive upside down using conventional aerodynamics, an F1-style car would need to hit at least 100\u2013150 mph to generate enough downforce to exceed its own weight and \u201cstick\u201d to the ceiling.  <\/span><\/p>\n

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But the Sp\u00e9irling is a <\/span>fan car<\/span><\/a>. Twin electric turbines positioned behind the cockpit of the vehicle pull air from under the chassis and expel it through a rear-mounted exhaust system, creating a low-pressure zone underneath that presses the car onto the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

This system means the Sp\u00e9irling can generate 2,000kg of downforce on demand. That\u2019s great for grip in high-speed turns, but it also means the 1,000kg car can hang upside down, even when standing still. <\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s how McMurtry\u2019s co-founder Thomas Yates was able to drive the Sp\u00e9irling onto a rotating rig, flip it 180 degrees upside down, and have it stay there. No wires. No magnets. Just an insane amount of downforce. <\/span><\/p>\n

The route to public roads for McMurtry<\/h2>\n
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McMurtry steered the Sp\u00e9irling up a ramp and drove it upside down. Credit: McMurtry<\/figcaption>