Tag: 650S

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McLaren

McLaren 675LT gets limited production run

McLaren 675LT

This is the McLaren 675LT. In basic terms it’s the ‘longtail’ version of the 650S. Aside from the proud heritage of the longtail name to the McLaren brand, in this context longtail means the 675LT is 100kg lighter than the 650S, has more power, is more extreme and is, of course, a bit faster as well.

The 675LT is now on show in Geneva and McLaren announced the production run will be limited to 500 units worldwide.

At 1230kg it has a power to weight ratio of 549PS/tonne. Peak power is 675PS, as the model’s name suggests, and it can reach 100km/h in 2.9 seconds, 200km/h in 7.9 seconds and has a top speed of 330km/h.

In actual terms “longtail” is apparent in name only. Despite being 34mm longer there are no extensive changes to the car’s dimensions, other than the rear airbrake being 50 per cent larger than found on the 650S.

Where the 675LT does differ, aside from its weight loss, is with extensive changes to the M838TL engine. Around half of its components are different to the 650S. Modifications include more efficient turbos, uprated cylinder heads and manifolds, lightened conrods, a revised camshaft and a faster flowing fuel pump.

In future the longtail name will be used as a marketing device to indicate more extreme models, in much the same was as GT3 is used by other marques.

Full details can be found after the break, including video of the McLaren Automotive press conference from the Geneva Motor Show.

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Ferrari McLaren Porsche Video

A decent day out indeed

Ferrari 458 Speciale v McLaren 650S v Porsche 911 GT3

Steve Sutcliffe and his mates from Autocar recently spent the day at Castle Combe with half a million quids worth of track toys. Fighting for their attention was the Ferrari 458 Speciale, the McLaren 650S and the Porsche 911 GT3.

Which one do you think will be the fastest? And which one would you take home?

[Thanks to Tim for the tip]

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McLaren

McLaren reveals special edition 650S

McLaren Special Operations 650S

McLaren is rocking up to the Goodwood Festival of Speed with this black ops (say, that again) version of its 650S. Lovingly crafted by McLaren Special Operations only 50 of these will be made available worldwide.

We’d not be so rude to call this car a cynical exercise in extracting more folding stuff from cashed up buyers, but for your extra money you get “a number of carbon fibre styling upgrades” painted in a choice of three unique colours: Papaya Spark (a slightly different McLaren orange), Agrigan Black (a slightly different metallic black, with hints of ruby sparkles, ooh) and Sarigan Quartz (a slightly different metallic silver, with a subtle gold infusion—can anyone say alchemy).

You also get fancy 10-spoke “Palladium colored” alloy wheels. Sorry, “super lightweight” alloy wheels with a unique diamond-cut effect. To be fair they do save 4kg of unsprung weight.

And to top it all off, when you collect the car, you’ll be handed a goodie bag containing a pretty picture signed by Frank Stephenson and another bag, this one is very fancy with MSO branding and it’s even made from stealth black carbon fibre leather. Truly, it is!

There’s no word of any performance enhancements.

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McLaren Video

Just shut up and drift

Chris Harris in the McLaren 650S

Chris Harris has already told us what he thinks about the new McLaren 650S. However, it would appear he thinks we didn’t get the drift the first time around, so has come back for seconds.

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McLaren Video

“Faster than an original McLaren F1”

Chris Harris drives the McLaren 650S

Chris Harris is taking a week off from his Drive duties, which means we can bring you up to speed with what he did in his last video. You may have already seen it, but if not here he is waxing lyrical about the McLaren 650S. As is customary now, we get a bit of behind the scenes technical talk which is much easier to take in than reading press releases word for word.

We only see the car on the track but that’s still enough to make us think we wish we were there too. Just watch the super slo-mo of the 650S slicing through some esses at the 10:00 mark.

But before you do watch the video take a moment to read and take in the quote we’ve used to title this post. Then look out for it in the commentary and also ponder how nonchalantly Harris delivers those words.

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2014 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 2

2014 Geneva Motor Show

Here’s your second batch of photos from the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, that makes it 155 photos in all. We start part 2 with the very cool Maserati Alfieri concept and end with the very cool Volvo Concept Estate. Cool!

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McLaren Motor Shows

Geneva 2014: McLaren 650S & 650S Spider

McLaren 650S Spider and 650S Coupe

We already knew McLaren would unveil its new 650S Coupé at the Geneva Motor Show, and we knew there would be a 650S at some stage too. We didn’t know both would be taking centre stage under the bright lights in Geneva.

The 650S, then, is a cross between a 12C and a P1, in that it’s built on a 12C platform but has styling tweaks clearly inspired by the P1. Following the Porsche style performance is somewhere in between the two.

There’s a stack of written text from McLaren after the break and before you begin to get stuck in here’s a quick look at the key numbers for the 650S Coupé, which is powered by a specially tuned version of the familiar 3.8 litre twin turbo McLaren M838T engine.

  • Drivetrain Layout: Longitudinal Mid-Engine, RWD
  • Engine Configuration: V8 Twin Turbo / 3799cc
  • Engine (PS / rpm): 650 / 7250
  • Torque (Nm / rpm): 678 / 6000
  • Transmission: 7 Speed SSG
  • Dry Weight (kg / lbs): 1330 / 2932
  • Power to weight (with lightweight options): 500 PS (493 bhp) /tonne
  • Power to weight (with lightweight options): 500 PS (493 bhp) /tonne
  • 0-100 kph (62 mph): 3.0 s
  • 0-200 kph (124 mph): 8.4 s
  • 0-300 kph (186 mph): 25.4 s
  • 0-400 m / ¼ mile: 10.5 @ 224 km/h (139 mph)

The Spider version weighs in at 40kg more than the Coupé and there’s a slight performance drop in some of those numbers above as you might expect. But it’s so close as to be barely noticeable. Read more below.

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McLaren

McLaren 650S Coupé officially previewed

McLaren 650S Coupe

McLaren has reacted to leaked images of the new 650S by giving us a handful of images and a few details to go with. This comment from the press release pretty much sums up the current approach: “Performance figures will be confirmed ahead of the Geneva Show but will improve on the already rapid 12C which continues on sale.”

We do know that there will be a Spider version with a metal folding roof added to the range later this year and that the car has a M838T twin turbo V8 engine producing 650hp, but that’s about it in terms of hard facts.

There’s been tweaks to the aero package and the P1-inspired front-end is said to provide more downforce with improved turn-in. While the active aero systems have been enhanced also. The aero brake will now function when required, rather than simply during braking as with the 12C.

Model specific lightweight forged alloys are wrapped in “MC1” branded Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.

“We are always seeking to innovate, to be the class leaders, to bring new technologies and thinking to market,” explains Mike Flewitt, McLaren Automotive CEO. “That’s our Formula 1 heritage shining through.

“Everything we’ve learnt from the 12C and the McLaren P1 has gone into the design and development of the McLaren 650S.”

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McLaren

McLaren 650S gets the leaky treatment

McLaren 650S

Apparently the McLaren 650S has been presented to a private audience and these grainy leaked images are the dregs left for the common man like you and me. That’s until the 650S is revealed at Geneva next month.

Based on the 12C, the 650S has, as its name suggests, an engine producing 650PS (478kW). It’s the familiar twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8, of course.

From the back there’s no mistaking the car’s 12C roots, but up front it’s a slightly uneasy amalgam of a P1 front on a 12C back. A bit like a pantomime creature with a horse’s head and a donkey’s arse.

That mix of 12C and P1 will continue with lighter seats from the P1 helping to reduce weight along with a few software tweaks to the suspension and transmission likely to have been inspired by the all-conquering P1.

[Source: Autocar]

UPDATE: Now with video (see below).

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McLaren

McLaren 650S model name announced

McLaren 650S

McLaren inconsistent model naming regime has extended with official word its bringing a new model to the Geneva Motor Show called the 650S. Understood to refer to its peak horsepower the 650S will be a limited model sitting between the 12C and the P1. That still leaves the entry-level P13 in the pipeline too.

Aside from confirming the model name this is what else McLaren had to say:

Designed and developed to offer the enthusiast driver the ultimate in luxury, engagement and excitement, as well as dramatic yet beautiful styling, the McLaren 650S is the result of 50 years of competing, and winning, at the highest levels of motorsport.  It takes learnings from both the 12C as well as the sell-out McLaren P1™ and will be positioned between the two on McLaren Automotive’s supercar grid.