HomeTechnologySideways on the ice, in a supercar: Stability control is getting very good

Sideways on the ice, in a supercar: Stability control is getting very good

TechnologyFebruary 16, 2026
1 min read
Sideways on the ice, in a supercar: Stability control is getting very good
To test stability control, it helps to have a wide-open space with very low grip.
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McLaren provided flights from Washington, DC, to Ivalo, Finland, and accommodation so Ars could drive its car on a frozen lake. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.

SAARISELKÄ, FINLAND—If you're expecting it, the feeling in the pit of your stomach when the rear of your car breaks traction and begins to slide is rather pleasant. It's the same exhilaration we get from roller coasters, but when you're in the driver's seat, you're in charge of the ride.

When you're not expecting it, though, there's anxiety instead of excitement and, should the slide end with a crunch, a lot more negative emotions, too.

Thankfully, fewer and fewer drivers will have to experience that kind of scare thanks to the proliferation and sophistication of modern electronic stability and traction control systems. For more than 30 years, these electronic safety nets have grown in capability and became mandatory in the early 2010s, saving countless crashes in the process.

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Source: Ars Technica

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