This is the 720S, the latest supercar from British luxury carmaker McLaren Automotive. Unveiled today at the Geneva Motor Show, it succeeds the 650S in the Super Series. There is a rawness to its layered design, a striking clarity with each sheet of slim metal teasing us to the high power and incredible technology that lies beneath.
The 720S is also a hugely important product for the marque for it represents the first production vehicle to be replaced since the company was formed seven years ago. It is one of 15 new models planned for 2022 in McLaren’s Track22 business plan, half of which will be hybrids. Production volumes will be kept low for exclusivity and the firm says all 400 of the 720S Launch Edition models were sold pre-production.
“It is special. It almost feels like a milestone in the maturity and development of the company,” McLaren Automotive chief executive Mike Flewitt told me at Geneva. “We started out with one car, the 12C, in 2011 which evolved into a range of cars. Now that journey is over, we are replacing them one by one with new models. What has gone into the 720S reflects how the company has matured. It is nice seeing the reaction of people when they see the car. That’s when it clicks that this isn’t an evolution of a car but a step into something new.”
Last month I visited the McLaren HQ in the UK for a sneak preview of the then heavily embargoed 720S and to find out how this complex product was conceived. The chief designer Robert Melville told me that the car carries the spirit of the original Bruce McLaren F1 road car with its versatility to be a perfect road cruiser and race track contender. It appears McLaren customers are using their cars much more for their daily commute than the company had anticipated and in many ways the 720S is responding to this.
Melville says the design brief was to visualize “a breathtaking product that tells the story of its function”. And the spirit of company founder is very much evident in the design of the 720S. “It is about taking risks,” he says. “We have to be brave and bold and not follow trends.”
As with all McLaren road cars, the design and engineering departments worked intimately for both teams typically set tough challenges. At the centre of the 720S is a stiff, strong and light new Monocage II carbon tub to which is attached the rest of the mechanicals, including the expansive glass roof. This clever structure allows the car to have slim pillars for clear road visibility which in turn, when driving, adds to the sensation of speed. The technology has also allowed the team to design a new door structure to help getting in and out of this low sports car so much easier. There are no radiator intakes on the side of the 720S; instead the ‘double-skin’ aerodynamic form of the doors channel air to the high-temperature radiators that cool the mid-mounted engine.
“We knew we could do fast when we did the 12C six years ago,” says Alex Long the Super Series product manager referring to the original name given to the 570S. “Since, we have focused on developing fun - the ability to engage with the car, feel the feedback through the steering. This is a real differentiator for us... that detail that gives you the sensation of speed even when you’re not travelling quickly.”
The 720S promises an enormous 720ps horsepower from its V8, it sprints from 0-62 mph in just 2.8 seconds and deliver a top speed of 212 mph. The car also previews the new Proactive Chassis Control II which generates a significant amount of additional grip, but not at the expense of the balance and feel of the car, says Long.
The layered design not only distinguishes the 750S from other supercars on the road, but expresses this powerful engine. It tells the story of how air travels over and through this car to cool the engine. It also helps make the car seem visually nimble. Melville says: “We removed all the fat, shrink-wrapping and sculpting the body to convey aerodynamic functionality.”
The interior represents a big leap for McLaren too. The fabrics and finishings, interface design, ambient lighting together they add a touch of theatre - they mellow the mood of an otherwise tech-heavy environment. If McLaren Super Series drivers are using their cars for their daily commutes, then the interior has to respond to their needs.
The 720S can be tailored to cater for individual tastes through McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the department dedicated to personalization. “You can make this car what you want it to be,” smiles Melville before adding: “This is the most exciting car I’ve worked on so far.”
The 720S debuts a bold new face for the Super Series and features an dramatic ‘fighter jet’ glass roof. It is lighter, faster and even more dynamically capable than its predecessor. This two-seat mid-engine sports car is based on an all carbon-fiber tub and the new and powerful 4-liter twin turbo V8 illuminates for a spectacular sight and sound. This is a truly exciting motor car and it represents a lively episode in vehicle design for McLaren.
The 720S is also a hugely important product for the marque for it represents the first production vehicle to be replaced since the company was formed seven years ago. It is one of 15 new models planned for 2022 in McLaren’s Track22 business plan, half of which will be hybrids. Production volumes will be kept low for exclusivity and the firm says all 400 of the 720S Launch Edition models were sold pre-production.
“It is special. It almost feels like a milestone in the maturity and development of the company,” McLaren Automotive chief executive Mike Flewitt told me at Geneva. “We started out with one car, the 12C, in 2011 which evolved into a range of cars. Now that journey is over, we are replacing them one by one with new models. What has gone into the 720S reflects how the company has matured. It is nice seeing the reaction of people when they see the car. That’s when it clicks that this isn’t an evolution of a car but a step into something new.”
Last month I visited the McLaren HQ in the UK for a sneak preview of the then heavily embargoed 720S and to find out how this complex product was conceived. The chief designer Robert Melville told me that the car carries the spirit of the original Bruce McLaren F1 road car with its versatility to be a perfect road cruiser and race track contender. It appears McLaren customers are using their cars much more for their daily commute than the company had anticipated and in many ways the 720S is responding to this.
Melville says the design brief was to visualize “a breathtaking product that tells the story of its function”. And the spirit of company founder is very much evident in the design of the 720S. “It is about taking risks,” he says. “We have to be brave and bold and not follow trends.”
As with all McLaren road cars, the design and engineering departments worked intimately for both teams typically set tough challenges. At the centre of the 720S is a stiff, strong and light new Monocage II carbon tub to which is attached the rest of the mechanicals, including the expansive glass roof. This clever structure allows the car to have slim pillars for clear road visibility which in turn, when driving, adds to the sensation of speed. The technology has also allowed the team to design a new door structure to help getting in and out of this low sports car so much easier. There are no radiator intakes on the side of the 720S; instead the ‘double-skin’ aerodynamic form of the doors channel air to the high-temperature radiators that cool the mid-mounted engine.
“We knew we could do fast when we did the 12C six years ago,” says Alex Long the Super Series product manager referring to the original name given to the 570S. “Since, we have focused on developing fun - the ability to engage with the car, feel the feedback through the steering. This is a real differentiator for us... that detail that gives you the sensation of speed even when you’re not travelling quickly.”
The 720S promises an enormous 720ps horsepower from its V8, it sprints from 0-62 mph in just 2.8 seconds and deliver a top speed of 212 mph. The car also previews the new Proactive Chassis Control II which generates a significant amount of additional grip, but not at the expense of the balance and feel of the car, says Long.
The layered design not only distinguishes the 750S from other supercars on the road, but expresses this powerful engine. It tells the story of how air travels over and through this car to cool the engine. It also helps make the car seem visually nimble. Melville says: “We removed all the fat, shrink-wrapping and sculpting the body to convey aerodynamic functionality.”
The interior represents a big leap for McLaren too. The fabrics and finishings, interface design, ambient lighting together they add a touch of theatre - they mellow the mood of an otherwise tech-heavy environment. If McLaren Super Series drivers are using their cars for their daily commutes, then the interior has to respond to their needs.
The 720S can be tailored to cater for individual tastes through McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the department dedicated to personalization. “You can make this car what you want it to be,” smiles Melville before adding: “This is the most exciting car I’ve worked on so far.”
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