McLaren calls the successor to the 720S the 750S. He comes back as a coupe and spider. Visually only subtly revised, it delivers on the core values of a sports car: It is lighter and stronger. The 750S is the last McLaren to start without electrification.
At McLaren, too, the era of pure combustion models is coming to an end. With the 750S, the Brits are bringing the last sports car that is still allowed to compete without electric support to the grand finale. The 750S follows the 720S and comes closer to the 765LT with more power and less weight than its predecessor. The 750S is served again as a coupé and as a spider with a removable roof.
Look has been gently developed
However, fans shouldn't expect a completely new car, although around 30 percent of the components of the 750S are either new or have been modified. The 750S can thus be described as a gentle evolution. Visually, this is manifested in an extended front splitter and narrower air intakes in a redesigned front bumper, new air vents on the rear wheel arches and an extended carbon fiber active rear wing that sits over a rear apron with new air outlets. The new exhaust routing is particularly striking. Instead of two separate tubes, they now snuggle together to form a central oval unit. Here the McLaren P1 served as a model. The rear cover above is adjusted accordingly.
The cockpit was also readjusted, which is still driver-centric. The information display mounted on the steering column can be operated entirely using rocker switches on the steering wheel. USB-A and USB-C ports supply mobile devices with power. Apple Carplay ensures contact with the on-board infotainment system. McLaren has also expanded the individual design options for the interior. These include new leather and Alcantara surfaces as well as ultra-light carbon racing seat shells and a new Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system.
Weight down, performance up
For more driving dynamics, McLaren has screwed on the weight and performance. Ultra-light forged wheels, lighter instruments, thinner discs and the lightweight seats already mentioned push the DIN weight of the coupé down to 1,389 kilograms – 30 kg less than the 720S. The Spider, with the retractable composite Retractable Hard Top (RHT) that opens or closes in 11 seconds, is only 49 kilograms heavier than the coupe because the British can do without additional stiffening measures; the carbon monocoque is stable enough.
Fine-tuning of the 4.0-liter V8 petrol engine with double turbocharging - more boost pressure and lighter pistons - increase its output to 750 hp and 800 Nm. Revised ratios in the seven-speed sequential gearbox optimize acceleration.The 750S accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, the 200 km/h mark falls after 7.2 seconds (Spider: 7.3s). The coupé manages the target from zero to 300 km/h in less than 20 seconds (Spider 20.4s). The maximum speed for both models is 332 km/h. The new front splitter and the enlarged rear wing ensure more downforce and an even better aerodynamic balance than on the 720S.
Chassis sharpened
The latest generation of McLaren's hydraulically coupled PCC III suspension also celebrates its premiere in the 750S. It features bespoke memory tuning, new lightweight springs and dampers, and revised geometry with a six millimeter wider track on the front axle, delivering even more agility, feel and feedback. The electrohydraulic steering works even more directly and the ceramic stoppers have been sharpened again. The lift system on the front axle works faster and now raises the front of the 750S in just four seconds at the touch of a button. Previously, 720S drivers had to be patient for more than eight seconds. Time is saved by the new McLaren Control Launcher (MCL) feature, which allows the driver to save a preferred combination of aerodynamic, handling, powertrain and transmission settings and recall them at the push of a button.
Order start and prices
The new 750S can be ordered immediately, although McLaren has not yet communicated any prices. The price should be somewhere in the range of 330,000 euros. Nevertheless, numerous customers are said to have already snapped up and secured a copy. The 750S will hardly roll to customers before the end of 2023.
Conclusion
With the 750S, McLaren brings a conventionally knitted successor to the 720S. It's not a new model, just a further development with more power and less weight. The customers seem to be right, because McLaren is already reporting numerous sales even before the presentation.
