We'll be seeing the McLaren Sports Series very soon - its official debut is at the New York motor show later this month. But, if you can't wait that long, we're able to bring you some more details about it now.
Expect a 625C-aping 'base' model...
Following a conversation with Mike Flewitt McLaren Automotive CEO at the Geneva show, we can confirm most of what has been previously suggested. As reported, the Sports Series will use a revised version of McLaren's MonoCell carbon fibre tub, and be powered by a slightly downtuned version of the familiar twin-turbocharged V8 engine and seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox. It will have dihedral doors (McLaren speak for upward-opening), and it will be priced - depending on market territory - somewhere between the Porsche 911 Turbo and
Turbo S
. Or between £120,000 and £140,000.
But then it gets more interesting. Flewitt confirmed that, as with the 625C/ 650S/ 675LT - which we're now to refer to as the 'Super Series' - McLaren will be selling several different variants. From launch there will be a basic 'C' and a more powerful 'S' version of the Sports Series, and although Flewitt wouldn't give specific power outputs, he did say that both would "start with a five". Place your bets now on the final numbers...
... plus a Sports Series Spider too
"The C model will still be an absolutely complete car in terms of technology," he said, "but the S becomes almost our ideal specification - more power, more focus and so on."
The Sports Series will launch as a coupe, and a roadster has to be inevitable given the dynamics of the global sports car market, but beyond that there will be a third variant. "There will be more than two body styles," Flewitt told us, "if you think of the Super Series we've got the 650S Coupe, the 650S Spider and the 675 Long Tail."
Which, although he didn't actually tip us a comedy wink, we're taking as confirmation we can expect to see a 'Long Tail' version of the Sports Series as well, which we believe - based on previous digging - will be a grand touring version of the car with a bigger luggage compartment positioned behind its mid-mounted engine.
So what will the Sports Series not have? We're pretty certain that it won't have a rear wing with the scale of movement of the Super Series, and we think it also misses out on the more expensive car's adaptive suspension.
A Long Tail should feature at some point as well
"The 650S will remain the premium product of the two," insists Flewitt, "it's faster on the road, faster on the track, has more advanced suspension and more advanced aerodynamics. It is a senior car to the Sports Series and that will carry on. I'm not saying there won't be any cannibalisation, but it will be a small overlap."
We'll have full details soon, but the prospect of a sports car with a carbon chassis, a V8 engine and a McLaren badge priced hard against the Audi R8, Aston V12 Vantage S and the 911 Turbo does look set to dramatically alter the dynamics of this part of the market.
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