McLaren 788HS Evolves the SupercarMcLarenMcLaren introduced its new 788HS at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.The Supercar is an evolution of the 720S, 750S, and 765LT.Look for it in showrooms next year, price to be released closer to launch.Only McLaren would have a category for cars called Supercars that would be only the middle of its lineup. And yet there it is, sitting above GT but below Ultimate.GT, you'll recall, is for Gran Tursimos, those cars that are still fun to drive but won't beat you up after a full day behind the wheel. The GT category is now filled by the McLaren GTS, a lovely, elongated two-seater that McLaren actually claimed could carry golf clubs.AdvertisementAdvertisementAt the very pinnacle of performance are the Ultimate cars: the P1, Senna, Speedtail, Elva, and the W1.McLarenIt's in between that the "mere" Supercars dwell. The 788HS is the Supercar successor to the McLarens 720S, 750S, and 765LT. They get better every time a new one comes out. As such it sports 37 hp more than the 765LT and even manages to shave off 26 pounds from that vehicle's dry weight, with the 788HS tipping the scales at 2,789 pounds before you add gas, oil, and windshield washer fluid.That power comes from an M840T 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo, an evolution of M840T on the 765, an engine that debuted in the 650 and can even trace its roots back to the MP4 12C if you wanted to win a bar bet (and even earlier to the Tom Walkinshaw Racing Nissan R390 GT1 intended for Le Mans).It redlines at 8,500 rpm, 1,000 more than its power peak at 7,500 rpm. With 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque, McLaren says the engine "delivers immediate response and sustained acceleration"—from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, 0-124 mph in 7.0 seconds, and to a top speed of 205 mph.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt even feels fun. A unique engine mount calibration "delivers heightened engagement and connection between powertrain and driver without compromising long-distance usability." There's proper sound, too. The quad-exit titanium exhaust system amplifies the V8's distinctive soundtrack, "with more intensity throughout the rev range, while carefully engineered induction and exhaust sound symposer technologies immerse occupants in the unmistakable soundtrack of McLaren's twin-turbocharged V8."McLarenChassis control comes from McLaren's Proactive Chassis Control III from the 750S, an advanced, linked-hydraulic active suspension system designed to manage body roll, pitch, and heave independently without needing traditional mechanical antiroll bars. As in previous Supercar McLarens, instead of traditional sway bars, Proactive Chassis Control III connects all four dampers via hydraulic lines. When taking a turn, hydraulic fluid transfers pressure across the vehicle to aggressively resist body roll while maintaining high-speed stability and comfort. But you already knew that.The front end is lowered two tenths of an inch, "for a more dynamic and engaging driving experience." The 788HS gets the same carbon ceramic discs as the Senna, with black six-piston forged aluminum monoblock front calipers and integrated cooling for sustained high-performance use. And, like the W1, it gets center-lock wheel mechanisms instead of five lug nuts per wheel, the first such use in the McLaren Supercar series.McLarenThat sculptured body is aerodynamically efficient, as you'd expect, increasing downforce by 10 percent over the 765LT. The 788HS' new S-Duct hood, a raised active rear spoiler, and an intricate Formula 1-inspired rear diffuser work in concert with a bespoke front splitter to enhance stability, performance, and driver confidence, McLaren says. The louvered under-wing panel further supports powertrain cooling and aerodynamic efficiency.What will all this cost? McLaren didn't say. Online speculation has pegged it at $600,000, but the 765LT was "only" $365,100. Maybe it'll fall somewhere in between? Look for it next year.
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