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McLaren opens up the 650S Spider

A good solid year separated the release of the McLaren MP4-12C and its Spider counterpart. McLaren isn't waiting that long, however, to reveal its new 650S Spider – in fact it's presenting both versions at the same time here at the Geneva Motor Show. But while Woking has given us plenty of details and photos of the coupe to chew on in the lead up to the show, it has just now revealed the full skinny on its open-topped companion, presented here in a new shade of McLaren's signature orange. With the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 producing the same 641-horsepower, McLaren quotes the 0-62 mile-per-hour time for the 650S Spider at the same 3.0 seconds flat as the 650S coupe. Line up both versions and keep the pedals planted on both all the way up to 124, however, and the coupe will get there 0.2 seconds faster than the roadster. It'll take just one-tenth longer to cover a quarter mile, and it'll also top out at 204, three fewer miles per hour than the coupe, but fuel consumption is quoted as identical. In other words, the performance difference is negligible. That's because the Spider weighs just 88 pounds more than the coupe – less even than what Alfa Romeo took to chop the roof off the 4C, and the new McLaren (like the 12C Spider) uses a retractable hardtop at that, taking just 17 seconds to drop or raise at speeds of up to 19 mph. That's a pretty impressive transformation, leaving those who enjoy the best of both worlds with few reasons not to go with the roadster. But while pricing hasn't been announced, we have the distinct feeling it's not a choice many people will have to make. OPEN-TOP MCLAREN 650S SPIDER JOINS 650S COUPE IN GENEVA GLOBAL DEBUT - New McLaren 650S Spider just as engaging on road and track as fixed-roof Coupe - 0-100km/h (62 mph) takes 3.0 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in 8.6 seconds - No reduction in torsional strength due to unique carbon fibre MonoCell chassis; similar weight, too - Two piece roof can be raised or lowered in less than 17 seconds on the move at speeds up to 30 km/h (19 mph) McLaren Automotive has now released images and full information for the convertible version of its latest model, the McLaren 650S, unveiled at the 84th International Geneva Motor Show. The McLaren 650S Spider is a no compromise open-top high performance sports car offering the same performance, handling and driver enjoyment, with the addition of a two-piece retractable hard top.

F1's Daniel Ricciardo a Monaco spoiler? 'I run those streets'

MONACO - Daniel Ricciardo jokes that he has a new strategy for Monaco this year - no pitstops, just keep going all the way to the checkered flag. The rules do not allow him to do that, of course, but the comment underlines the lingering pain of last year when the Australian seized pole position but was robbed of victory by a pitstop bungle. "It sucks. It hurts," said the Red Bull driver, who finished second to Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, at the time. "I got to the pits and everyone's running around like headless chooks (chickens)." The pole position was the only one that escaped champions Mercedes last year, and Ricciardo took some solace when he then won in Malaysia after Hamilton suffered engine failure. Title rivals Hamilton and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, separated by just six points and with two wins apiece, will be the favorites in Sunday's showcase race around the metal-fenced streets. But Ricciardo reckons he can again muscle in on the action, even if his car's Renault engine is down on power. "Regardless of where the car is at come Monaco, I'm certainly confident going there," he said at the previous Spanish Grand Prix, where he finished third. "I certainly feel like I run those streets ... I already get excited thinking about Monaco, I love that place. It's cool," he added. "The memories of last year are still more sweet than bitter so I'm just excited to get another chance this year." MILESTONES IN MIND Both Hamilton and Vettel have their own milestones in mind on what promises to be a sunny week in the Mediterranean principality for the two multiple title winners. Vettel, the championship leader, is aiming to become the first Ferrari driver to win in Monaco since Michael Schumacher in 2001 -- almost ancient history as far as Formula One is concerned. Hamilton meanwhile can equal his late, great idol Ayrton Senna's career tally of 65 pole positions on the 30th anniversary of the Brazilian's first Monaco win. Mercedes are going for their fifth successive Monaco win, with Hamilton triumphant last year after three victories in succession for now-retired champion Nico Rosberg. The title duel, in the sixth and slowest round of the championship, will also be about absent friends and returning heroes. Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion who called it a day last year, will be filling in for Spaniard Fernando Alonso at McLaren while the double champion takes on the Indianapolis 500 on the same weekend.

McLaren 675LT aims at the track with more power, less weight

Rumor had it as the McLaren 650S GTR, but it's actually the 675LT – "LT" being for Long Tail – that will come to the Geneva Motor Show. This will be the track-honed, road-legal version coupe in the Super Series, getting 666 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque from its 3.8-liter V8. Combined with a weight loss of 220 pounds for a 2,711-pound dry weight, the hard-charger gets from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 205 mph. Changes outside include a large carbon fiber front splitter at the base of a new front bumper, end plates ahead of the front wheels, an extra cooling intake nested in a larger door blade, and twin titanium exhaust pipes in back below a longtail airbrake that's larger yet 50 percent larger than the one on the 650S. Inside will come carbon fiber buckets inspired by those in the P1, and a "stripped out" interior. In addition to McLaren Orange, five brand new exterior hues will be available: Silica White, Delta Red, Napier Green and Chicane Grey. If the 650S had you on the fence, this might be the not-so-gentle nudge you've been waiting for. The press release below has more details. McLAREN 675LT: POWER, WITH MINIMAL WEIGHT, IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL THING - 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds; 0-124 mph in 7.9 seconds - 220 lbs weight savings makes the 675LT the lightest in its class, and gives a power-to-weight ratio of 4 lbs per bhp (549PS per ton) - 33 percent of parts are different from the 650S, which it sits alongside in the McLaren Super Series - Five unique 'By McLaren' hero specifications to be offered - Global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015 on stand 1240, at 12.15 CET (11.15 GMT / 6:15AM EST) The McLaren 675LT will make its world debut at the 85th Geneva Motor Show, with a clear focus on outright performance, weight reduction and ultimate levels of driver engagement – all key attributes of a 'Longtail' McLaren. Offered as a Coupe only, the 675LT will be the most track-focused, yet road legal, model in the McLaren Super Series, with a power to weight ratio that eclipses established rivals. The sprint from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) takes just 2.9 seconds, with controlled torque delivery ensuring optimized traction off the line. Acceleration continues at a relentless pace with the 124 mph (200 km/h) barrier broken in 7.9 seconds, on to a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h). The first images of the car show a darker side of the McLaren brand than has been seen before.