Just days after being officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the McLaren 720S
swiftly made its way to the Amelia Island Concours in Florida for its
official stateside debut. Arguably one of the most significant supercars
in recent history, the McLaren 720S is a wondrous mix of design,
performance, and luxury.
Seeing the McLaren 720S in person for the first time drove home all
the dreams I’ve had of it the past few weeks, from the time the first
teaser hit Instagram to official unveil in Geneva. The aero work on the door is better in person,
while the F1 design of the doors make the cabin experience more profound
than we initially envisioned. Sitting in either seat gives a spaceship
feel while the amount of exposed carbon on the interior and exterior is
just tremendous.
This is the future of supercars, except it’s here. Now.
Check out the new shots of the McLaren 720.
The 2017 McLaren 720S official presentation at Geneva Motorshow
McLaren have officially taken the covers off the McLaren 720S, the
replacement model for the Super Series McLaren’s, at the Geneva Motor
Show 2017. It is probably the biggest release at the Geneva show this
year and does not disappoint! McLaren will be hoping that it builds upon
the hugely successful 650S model it replaces.
The McLaren 720S is a completely new
design language for McLaren. The body panels are mostly aluminium,
wrapped around the carbon fibre structure. It looks delicate and
futuristic yet manages to retain familiar elements of McLaren’s previous
models. The side profile has a clear teardrop shape to it with slim
windscreen pillars and a complete panoramic glasshouse feeling. It
should feel light inside with plenty of visibility.
It is a two-seat supercar based on an all-carbonfibre tub, with
aluminium space frames carrying the front and rear suspension, and it is
powered by a twin turbocharged V8. However, within that envelope, it
has been redesigned and updated in every detail. The exterior introduces
a new ‘double skin’ door construction that eliminates the need for the
prominent side air scoops previously thought essential in supercar
design, while the engine grows to 4.0 litres, up from 3.8-litres, and
now produces 710bhp.
The 720S’s peak output of 710bhp is produced at 7000rpm, while maximum
torque of 568lb ft is delivered at 5500rpm. Max speed is 212 mph, around 341 km/h. Zero to 100 km/h in just 2,9 seconds...it's a rocket. The engine, longitudinally
mounted behind the occupants, drives as before through a seven-speed
dual-clutch automatic gearbox mounted end-on to the engine, but McLaren
says further refinement of its control software brings smoother
gearchanges at low speeds and faster, sharper shifts at higher speeds.
The launch control has also been improved, and as before, there are
three driving modes — Comfort, Sport and Track — that govern both engine
and dynamics.
One crucial aspect is the conspicuous absence of radiator intakes on
the side. McLaren have designed a unique double skin to the dihedral
doors which channels air into the radiators. Cooling is actually
improved by 15% over the 650S. The front bumper features digital LED
headlights integrated within aerodynamic ‘eye-sockets’ which channel air
to the low-temperature radiators. The headlights incorporate Static
Adaptive Headlight technology with five LED’s producing the base, static
beam pattern and the remaining 12 operating in accordance with the
direction the front of the car is moving.
