Lighter, faster, Ferrari-fighting British supercar makes world debut
The new 2024 McLaren 750S appears to answer a problem that doesn’t exist. The prospect of a lighter, faster version of the already preposterously rapid McLaren 720S is like making water wetter, the sun hotter or chocolate more delicious.
Nevertheless, here it is and rather than just a slight power tweak, McLaren claims that 30 per cent of 750S components are new or revised over the 720S.
Australian pricing starts at $585,500 for the Coupe and $654,600 for the Spider – both figures before on-road costs.
Lightweight pistons from the 765LT and more boost pressure increase outputs from the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 to 552kW/800Nm, which combine with shorter ratios for the seven-speed gearbox to improve acceleration.
McLaren claims the 750S Coupe will hit 100km/h in 2.8 seconds and 200km/h in 7.2sec – numbers that happen to be 0.1sec quicker than the figures claimed by the Ferrari 296 GTB, which presumably is a coincidence.
The quarter-mile takes just 10.1sec, 300km/h arrives in 19.8sec and the top speed is 332km/h, though the slightly heavier Spider is a fraction slower across each acceleration increment.
Speaking of weight, McLaren has managed to shed 30kg compared to the 720S, leaving the 750S Coupe weighing in at 1389kg (Spider 1438kg).
Standard carbon-fibre seats account for most of that (-17.5kg), while new lightweight 10-spoke wheels also contribute greatly (-13.8kg), before we start getting into detail changes.
There are new springs and dampers (-2kg), a carbon rear wing (-1.6kg), central-exit exhaust (-2.2kg), lightweight instrument display (-1.8kg) and even thinner windscreen glass (-1.6kg).
The chassis has had a similar going-over, the third-generation Proactive Chassis Control hydraulic suspension featuring small adjustments to the spring rates (softer fronts, firmer rears) in addition to a wider front track, quicker steering ratio and the option of a new track brake package.
Using technology from the Senna, the 390mm carbon-ceramic discs and monobloc callipers are claimed to be 60 per cent stronger than conventional carbon-ceramic discs and to offer four times the thermal conductivity for better wear and fade resistance.
Changes that won’t necessarily generate headlines but will be hugely important to customers are those made to daily useability.
The nose-lift function now takes four seconds instead of 10 to do its job, the revised driver controls make it easier to adjust the powertrain and chassis settings, and the new McLaren Control Launcher sadly doesn’t fire rockets but allows a favoured combination of drive settings to be called up at the touch of a button.
The steering column is now electrically-adjusted, the infotainment system now includes Apple CarPlay and the Bowers & Wilkins stereo system is more powerful. Small touches, but they all add up.
McLaren offers a three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty as well as a three-year maintenance/service plan, with visits required every 12 months or 15,000km.
Stay tuned for our first drive review to see what this all adds up to from behind the wheel.
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Keyword: 2024 McLaren 750S revealed