McLaren: To the future with the new 750S Spider: The window to success

class = “sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

It was a cloudy winter morning 13 years ago when two friends appeared outside the British editorial office. You want to introduce McLaren’s new model, are you interested? An orange, papaya orange, and halibut colored car was waiting outside. Two Englishmen assured that this is how the company’s founder Bruce McLaren painted his racing cars. To spread? Unfortunately for now, they just said look and pushed the two-door car back onto the trailer.

The beginning of a success story: Even the cryptic name could not prevent the success of the MP4-12C. In just a few years McLaren has become a favorite among supercar lovers, reaching sales of almost 5,000 cars in good years. Everything CEO Mike Flewitt, 59, started was taken away. So far, each of the 17 models is excellent; The fastest, most powerful or coolest in its segment. Whether it’s the switch to an alien-like front design with massive air ducts around the headlights on the 720S or a missing windshield on the Elva, nothing can slow McLaren down. Almost nothing.

Lightweight construction is important

The 750S is now available as the successor to the 720S. The coupé and the convertible Spider are being launched together, with the latter going on a test tour around the Portuguese capital Lisbon. Enter the cockpit under the butterfly doors and then open the window first, not the roof: the small window behind the headrests of two surprisingly comfortable carbon sports seats hums downwards – a clear path for the full sound pressure from the engine compartment: it wakes up with a hissing sound Directly behind us is the new 750 hp (552 kW) engine with a four-litre V8 and sinks to an angry, growling idle. Put the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission into first gear and away you go.

Behind us is a symphony of saws, shrieks and explosions coming from the two central exhaust pipes, while ahead of us every bend approaches at lightning speed. Forward movement is irresistible, the McLaren Senna’s brakes are incredibly effective, the steering turns with precision. Using the two new push buttons in the digital cockpit, you can shift the engine and chassis configuration from docile to racetrack. But the softer the shock absorbers remain, the smoother the 750S dances over bumpy country roads. Despite the 49-kilogram folding roof, the 750S remains six kilograms lighter than the previous model, thanks to lighter wheels.

Practical: At the press of a button, the two-seater raises the front end so that the front spoiler does not rub against speed bumps. There is more comfort overall. Nappa leather or vegan Alcantara on the doors and cockpit, while the optional Bowers & Wilkins sound system sounds off against the sound hell coming from behind. And finally, the navigation system and its operation can give it an edge over significantly cheaper models from competitors.

Rising and falling

But McLaren also needs success. Because after the high came the collapse in the Corona epidemic: Supply chains collapsed, production almost came to a halt due to lack of parts, one in three employees had to leave their jobs in 2020, and the financial limit was quickly reached without deliveries. . A sale was also being discussed – losses of over 230 million francs from January to September 2022 alone; Audi and BMW are said to have already positioned themselves for the takeover. Finally, CEO Flewitt took off his hat; Ferrari’s former head of technology, Michael Leiters (52), has been in office since 2022. Fortunately, with a sharp pen and, for example, the sale of the classic collection, he kept McLaren in the race.

But a McLaren spokesman admits the problems are also our fault: “We have exceeded our limits.” There are too many models that are not designed to be selective and steal customers from each other. And so many variants and special models: coupes and spiders, versions with extended long tails, three parallel entry-level models and another GT as a touring McLaren, because the other models were so sporty; customers couldn’t keep up. Some customers have purchased all three hyper sports cars McLaren has introduced since 2013: P1, Senna and Speedtail. But at some point, that was enough for even the most devoted fans.

It will be electric later

The 750S is now intended to form the basis as a volume model for McLaren to actively rebuild its future. Electric drives? 2029 or 2030 at the earliest. Until then, McLaren will focus primarily on hybridization and lightweight construction to reduce fleet consumption and at the same time gain experience with electric motors. What about an SUV? In the Mike Flewitt era, this topic was taboo. But CEO Leiters was ultimately one of Ferrari’s drivers on the road to Purosangue. But no one at McLaren has dared to come out of hiding yet. The important thing is to establish a healthy foundation through consolidation and stable sales figures; We’ll see what happens next.

The 750S Spider is non-negotiable, even considering it’s the best-selling McLaren. Its price starts from 332,350 francs; but you can easily invest another 37,000 francs in carbon plating alone.

Source: Blick