► McLaren’s hardcore 765 Longtail coupe and Spider
► Quickest Mclaren convertible ever
► Did the 720S need more power? Clearly…
The excellent McLaren 720S needed more performance and driver entertainment like Alton Towers needs a scarier rollercoaster, but McLaren revealed the 765LT in 2020. Now, there’s the 765LT Spider – the fastest accelerating convertible McLaren has ever made.
Why Longtail? The name’s inspired by McLaren’s 1990s F1 GTR Longtail racer with its lengthier rear end for higher top speeds at Le Mans. This is the third road car, after 2015’s 675LT and 2018’s 600LT. Glad we cleared that one up early.
Power and acceleration numbers are the same as the coupe despite a 49kg increase in weight: 755bhp and 590lb ft (up 45bhp/22lb ft on a 720S) from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, good for a 0-62mph sprint all done and dusted in 2.8 seconds, smashing 0-124mph in just 7.2 seconds and onto a top speed of 205mph.
Read our review of the McLaren 765LT coupe
Those are some fierce stats…
Absolutely. The 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 gets forged aluminium pistons, triple-layer head gasket, extra fuel pump and tweaked ECU, plus there are stiffer engine mounts (more tingles through the chassis, sharper handling) and a distinctive quad-exit titanium exhaust.
The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is also upgraded, with closer ratios, exotic 20NiCh nickel-chrome normally found in F1 for the final drive’s crown wheel and pinion, and a new downshift feature that’ll let you call for a downshift before the engine can actually give it, and then provide it as soon as it can without you clicking away at the left paddle. Top speed drops from 217mph to 205mph due to the shorter gearing, but you get there faster.
Crucially, though, there’s a sharper, grippier chassis to help deploy that extra go. The nose is dropped 5mm, the front track is 6mm wider (the rear is unchanged) and single-rate springs replace the 720’s dual-rate items, plus there are new dampers too.
Elsewhere you get the six-piston Monobloc calipers from the Senna – more feelsome pedal – and ‘regular’ carbon-ceramic as standard, though you can upgrade to the Senna’s CCMR discs too, which are 60 per cent stronger and shed heat four times faster. Finally and very importantly, super-aggressive Senna-style Pirelli Trofeo R tyres are standard. Slap these on a 720S and it’d gain a huge chunk of lap time.
The air-con system (10kg) and stereo (1.5kg) are no-cost extras, and you’ll need to spec the bonnet, front and rear wings and doors in carbonfibre to unlock the full 80kg, which are normally in aluminium. You’ll also want the trick, 12kg lighter carbonfibre Senna seats.
Any Spider specifics?
The retractable carbonfibre hardtop folds in 11 seconds at up to 31mph, and has a dinky rear window that can be lowered so you can experience that V8 on maximum attack no matter what the weather.
The Longtail wing has had its angles adjusted to account for the different aero silhouette, too.
When can I buy one? How much?
You can still order a 765LT coupe, and now the Spider. McLaren says the 765LT Spider starts at £310,500 before you add a single one of the huge catalogue of options available to you. You’ll have to wait a while, though – Woking says that 2021’s production slots are already filled.
Read our McLaren reviews