Race track test with the new 750S: McLaren is back on the tracks

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More powerful, faster, more expensive! Since there was a department for street sports cars in parallel with the McLaren racing team founded in 1966, the brand launched super sports cars one after another. Whether P1, Senna, Elva or Artura: Each of the crazy cars offered top performance and quickly became a collector’s item for wealthy customers. Until the coronavirus pandemic plunged the British into crisis, including a lack of parts, fewer deliveries, a lack of money and a management change from former CEO Mike Flewitt to former Ferrari technical director Michael Leiters. There was even talk of Audi or BMW taking over.

Lighter and stronger

But now the brand is looking forward to it with a new volume model; Of course, we can also say this for a McLaren. The new 750S is based on the 720S, but 30 percent of the parts are newly developed. The most significant change: 30 kilograms reduction in weight, 30 hp increase in performance. The four-litre V8 biturbo engine at the rear now produces 750 hp (552 kW) and delivers 800 Nm of maximum torque; This means you can reach 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, 200 km/h in 7.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 332 km/h. /hh hint. McLaren is launching the open-top Spider in a single model: It weighs just 49 kilograms more than the hardtop coupé, thanks to carbon fiber materials and a lightweight folding roof.

There is real progress for drivers in the cockpit: until now the navigation system was two generations behind the latest technology. Now it can finally be operated intuitively; Alternatively, Apple Car Play now guides you to your destination as standard. Until now, the center console had controls for adjusting the driver and chassis. It was annoying because you always had to look down the street.

The indicators are now mounted on the steering column and are perfectly visible at all times. The engine and chassis can be adjusted by snapping the two-speed knob with your fingers, without having to take your hands off the steering wheel – great! Also ideal for the test tour at Autódromo do Estoril near Lisbon. You can enter through the doors opening diagonally upwards. The lightest and most comfortable seats are available at no extra cost; Carbon racing seat provides excellent feedback, comfortable seat is suitable for long distances. You can save almost 4,000 francs for electric adjustment and seat heating; The 750S is still exciting and hot.

Acceleration frenzy, braking frenzy

Towards the narrow and winding still wet mountain and valley circuit in Estoril. And we are immediately surprised by the wonderful sound of the central exhaust pipe: the sounds of the exhaust range from the bass roar to the powerful cutting sound beyond 7500 rpm. Forward movement is still irresistible, but the bite under braking before the right bend at the end of the main straight is even more impressive – with each lap we delay pressing the pedal longer. In race mode, the 750S is slightly softer at the front and slightly harder at the rear than the previous model; This provides better traction and feedback when turning the steering wheel. Ferrari has more tradition, Porsche is better suited for driving towards Beck and Lamborghini offers more drama; but it narrowly leaves the McLaren behind when it comes to precision.

The 750S is expected to be McLaren’s bestseller, despite a base price of at least 302,105 francs for the coupé and 332,350 francs for the Spider. Of course, more is always worth more money; From the 81-franc ashtray to the 97,068-franc paint in Gulf Oil colours.

Source: Blick