Deliveries of the McLaren 720S, a second-generation Super Series which is the heart of the McLaren brand, will start in May and from July in some overseas markets. The 720S was unveiled at the Geneva motor show in which it undoubtedly stole the show. In Asia, it was launched at the Shanghai Auto Show in April where it attracted equal attention.
Mike Flewitt, McLaren’s CEO, said at the Geneva launch that the “Super Series is the core of the McLaren business and personifies the blend of extreme performance, crafted luxury and unparalleled driver involvement.” He described the 720S as a revolutionary leap forward, for the brand and the supercar segment. Flewitt said that customer interest in the new McLaren 720S following its launch in March at the Geneva show “has significantly exceeded our expectations.”
Recently, the company cleared the deck for full production of the 720S, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the McLaren story. This is the first time that the company has replaced a model family with an all-new generation. It sold about 7,000 of the first-generation Super Series.
The new 720S is the successor to the 650S and is lighter, faster and even more dynamically capable. It is also a bold reinterpretation of the McLaren design language. One of the key design aspects of the new Super Series is the absence of radiator intakes on the side of the car which was a feature that defines the aesthetics of the mid-engine sports car; this function is now performed instead by the unique “double-skin” aerodynamic form of the dihedral doors, which channel air to the high-temperature radiators that cool the mid-mounted engine.
McLaren claims the 720S delivers 50 percent more downforce than the 650S but with less drag and a 15 percent improvement in cooling efficiency
The new M480T engine powering the 720S continues the lineage of McLaren’s twin-turbocharged rear-wheel drive V8 engine series. The 4.0-liter engine, which has 41 percent new part content compared to the 3.8-liter engine that continues to feature in the McLaren Sports Series, generates a maximum of 720PS and 770Nm of torque. It is linked to a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox.
The performance of the vehicle is also impressive: The 720S rockets to 100km per hour in less than three seconds and onward to a maximum speed of 341 km/h. Braking is equally impressive, the new 720S comes to a halt from 200km/h in just 4.6 seconds, covering 117 meters (m).
The 720S has a carbon fiber “monocage,” a technology that provides extreme strength and agility in a lightweight structure. The chassis also contains aluminum alloys.
Handcrafted interior
The interior is more spacious than that of the 650S and it is much easier to get into and out of the car via the top-hinged doors that now open wider. Visibility has been dramatically improved through the use of thinner sills and A-pillars. Controls are mainly through a thin-film-transistor (TFT) instrument cluster, which rotates into a narrower screen in track mode.
The handcrafted skill inherent in a McLaren, with the authenticity of fine leather and machined aluminum, is complemented by the new McLaren Driver Interface, which comprises a folding driver display and central infotainment screen. In combination with a cabin environment that establishes new standards in the supercar segment for visibility, space and comfort, these attributes give the new McLaren 720S a super degree of usability and validate its claim to be a complete supercar.
Three grades of specification are offered, with Performance and Luxury trims extending above the standard level, all complemented by a range of options. An open-top model is scheduled for launch in 2018.
McLaren offers a family of three models graded as Sports, Super and Ultimate Series. The 720S coupe is the first second-generation vehicle in the Sports Series. Prices are likely to start from $285,000 for the basic model. The McLaren Special Operations department can create bespoke features for the clients.
The first of the 15 new McLaren models confirmed for introduction by the end of 2022 under the company’s Track22 business plan, the new 720S personifies the blend of performance, luxury and driver involvement for which the brand is renowned.
