McLaren shows its 720S in Geneva

• Published On: 10 March 2017
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The replacement for the sportscar maker's 650S is powered by a 720hp, 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8.

MacLaren launched its new core model in Geneva this week, the MacLaren 720S. It is the first of 15 new-generation McLarens, half of which will be hybrids. These are part of the new Track 22 development plan introduced by MacLaren CEO Mike Flewitt. These cars are all set to be released by 2022.

The new 720S will share many of the family MacLaren attributes. It is a two-seat supercar based on an all-carbonfibre tub with aluminium space frames carrying the front and rear suspension. But the resemblance seems to end there. The exterior has what the company calls 'double-skin' technology – this renders the prominent side air scoops previously thought essential in supercar design unnecessary.

At 1,283kg, the car is an impressive 18kgs lighter than its predecessor. The body panels are made either of carbonfibre or superformed aluminium, with their unique shape contributing to the car's superb aerodynamic performance. Ultra-compact LED headlights fit into frontal ‘eye sockets’, allowing room to include vents for the air-conditioning and oil cooler.

Under the hood of this car sits a 4.0-litre twin turbocharged V8 with a peak output of 720hp at 7,000rpm and maximum torque of 770Nm at 5,500rpm. It drives through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox mounted end-on to the engine. Launch control has also been improved, and as before, there are three driving modes – Comfort, Sport and Track – that govern both engine and dynamics. MacLaren claims the car can go from 0-100kph in just 2.8sec and has a top-speed of 341kph. The launch edition featured 400 units, all of which have been sold. The company expects to sell 1200 units of this car this year.