The McLaren 720S has been revealed at the Geneva Motor Show as McLaren’s Super Series replacement for the 650S, with 710bhp and 2.9 seconds 0-62mph.
McLaren has been teasing a replacement for the 650S in its Super Series for a while, and here it is – the new McLaren 720S.
Revealed at the Geneva Motor Show today (7 March 2017), the 720S sees McLaren having to deliver the difficult seconds album, which it does with a new carbon fibre chassis, plenty of fresh tech and an engine which is the same just dialled past 11 and out to 4.0 litres.
The headlines are 710bhp and 568lb/ft of torque, emissions of 249g/km (not that anyone cares), 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds (and 0-186mph in 21.8s) and a top speed of 212mph.
That’s the bare statistics of performance taken car of, but what about how the 720S looks?
The MP4 12C was a bit of a supercar by numbers in design and, although the 650S improved on that, the 720S is actually a properly stunning looking supercar.
Yes, it might just have a hint of being built by numbers rather than emotion, but it does look good.
In fact, the design by numbers has been created by the desire to control every bit of air that flows in, around, over and under the 720S, and its form is a result of its function. But it’s so cleverly done with air ducts abounding – even in the headlights – bonkers front spoiler, bonnet gills and an active rear wing to optimize airflow and act as an airbrake if you need it.
Under all that clever bodywork lies the new carbon fibre Monocage II which is even more rigid than the old one with its upper structure, despite which it’s lighter and everything is lower than before.
On the road (or track) you can still choose Comfort, Sport, or Track modes on the Proactive Chassis Control (PCC), but it gets more sensors to monitor inputs and deliver optimum settings, and now there’s a McLaren Drift Mode too (for which we should probably thank the Focus RS for making it acceptable).
Inside, the 720S takes the best of the 650S and improves it, with fine leather and machined aluminium, the new McLaren Driver Interface with its folding dynamic display and centre infotainment screen, and McLaren say it is still a supercar with huge levels of comfort and impressive visibility.
If all that has whetted your appetite, you’ll need to find £208,000 to buy a new McLaren 720S.
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