2018 Mclaren 720s Luxury on 2040-cars

Auto blog

McLaren ponders Acura NSX-style hybrid all-wheel-drive system

As cars get faster, there will come a point where horsepower will exceed the grip level of even the stickiest tires. There are all sorts of ways to manage traction, from trick differentials to traction control to torque vectoring, but the most tried and true way is adding all-wheel drive. While this isn't ideal for a number of reasons, sending power to all four wheels generally improves performance. That's why McLaren is investigating all-wheel drive systems for future products. Car and Driver spoke with McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. He confirms the automaker is looking at adding AWD on future products, though if and when that happens could be a long way off. He argues that with horsepower and torque levels creeping ever higher, we're getting close to the limits of what a tire can handle. Unlike traditional mechanical all-wheel drive systems like those found on the Nissan GT-R, Audi R8, and Porsche 911 Turbo, look for electric motors to drive the front wheels, similar to the Acura NSX. Not only would a hybrid system help packaging, electric motors give McLaren much more control over what's happening at each individual wheel. McLaren told Autoblog that the automaker's plan through 2022 involves mid-engine two-seat sports cars, so don't look for an all-wheel drive SUV to come out of Woking anytime soon. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2017 McLaren 720S First Drive View 115 Photos News Source: Car and DriverImage Credit: Mike Dodd (Beadyeye) for McLaren McLaren Coupe Performance Supercars

2019 McLaren 600LT — lightweight car gets heavyweight price

We now have word on just how much it'll set you back to buy McLaren's latest ultra-lightweight track-ready but road-legal car: The 600LT Coupe starts at $240,000 and includes what the company calls a "Pure McLaren Road Owner Track Day" at a race circuit with expert driving tuition. Order books are now open at dealers. McLaren says the 592-horsepower sports car is its quickest, most powerful and most track-focused but road-legal Sports Series car. With 457 pound-feet of torque, weighing 211.6 pounds less than the 570S and with upgrades to the cooling system of the twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8, it does 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds, the equivalent of the McLaren 675LT, and 0-128 mph in just 8.2 seconds. Top speed is 204 mph. The car achieves its weight savings through extensive use of carbon fiber, including in the monocoque chassis, which McLaren says is also around 25 percent stiffer than a comparable aluminum chassis, and the use of forged aluminum double wishbones and uprights in the suspension. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. There are two weight-saving packages available from McLaren Special Operations. For an additional $29,370, the MSO Clubsport Pack adds carbon-fiber racing seats, roof and controls, gloss-finished fender louvres and interior parts fitted in carbon fiber like extended gearshift paddles, steering wheel spokes, switch and IRIS display surrounds, plus titanium wheel bolts. The MSO Clubsport Pro Pack, meanwhile, adds an MSO harness bar and six-point harness for track use in choice of black, blue, red or McLaren Orange, and costs $34,600. The carbon-fiber racing seats are also available as a standalone feature for $6,060, and you can add five-spoke ultra-lightweight aluminum alloy wheels as a $4,950 option (the standard is 10-spoke). Production starts in October and will go for around 12 months, with build slots scheduled around existing Sports and Super Series models and the sold-out Senna, Senna GTR and BP23. It makes its debut tomorrow at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2019 McLaren 600LT View 13 Photos Image Credit: McLaren McLaren Coupe Lightweight Vehicles Racing Vehicles Performance sports car mclaren sports series mclaren 600lt

McLaren Senna GTR spied testing at the track

The McLaren Senna really moves. With its 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 789 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, it's a fitting tribute for the legendary driver it's named after. While it's a road-legal car, it does have a race mode. But if that weren't racy enough for you, McLaren has a gnarlier version on the way, as you can see from these spy photos. That car, the McLaren Senna GTR, will be too hot for public roads, though, and will be a track-only version of the car. McLaren first envisioned the Senna GTR as a concept car, which it trotted out at the Geneva Motor Show last spring. The British automaker has said it only intends to build 75 examples, and each will cost around $1.4 million. That'll buy the lucky owners at least 813 horsepower and 2,200 pounds of downforce. A lot of dramatic carbon fiber bodywork helps it perform that aerodynamic feat. As McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt has said, the GTR will offer "more power, more grip and more downforce ... than the McLaren Senna and post even faster lap times." The prototype we see in the spy shots above looks incomplete, so expect to see more aero bits as development continues. It has a more aggressive stance, with wider fenders to match its wider track. We'll be curious to hear more details from McLaren closer to the car's production launch late next year, but seeing the Senna GTR hit the track is certainly a thing to behold. Related Video: