McLaren 720S Spider to be revealed in December
A new preview picture confirms that the convertible supercar will have a folding hard top
McLaren has released the first image of its upcoming 720S Spider in the run up its December 8th reveal, although it barely shows that the 720hp supercar will get a folding hard top because half of the car is draped in shadow. We've had a go at lightening the image, the result of which you can see at the bottom, but really the only thing we can be certain of are the obvious bits. Like, for example, that the Spider will use the same 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 to offer performance in a similar region to its hard top sibling - 0-62 in 2.9 seconds and a 212mph top speed - just now with the option for your noggin to be exposed to the elements. Further technical details are as yet a secret.
The biggest question for the Spider relates to how the 720S's Monocage II structure will have been affected by the loss of its lid. Of course, the challenge befitting the 720S Spider is greater than that faced by its Monocell-based predecessors for the simple reason that its structural rigidity relies in part on a roof bar. Monocell cars like the 650S Spider had no worry of reduced stiffness because the tub-shaped base never came with a top section. The Monocage design incorporates a T-top-like arm that connects the windscreen and rear section in the 720S.
If the 720S Spider's preview picture is anything to go by, the drop-top supercar won't retain this bar but instead adopt a more conventional folding hard top like its convertible predecessors. Does this mean McLaren's engineers have had to bolster the rest of the Monocage's structure in order to claw back some lost rigidity? We'd assume so, which suggests the 720S Spider might gain a little more weight than we've become accustomed to in convertible McLarens. Then again, with 720hp and 568lb ft of torque, would anyone actually be able to notice?
We'll know more when the car's revealed online in a little over two weeks. Watch this space...
Have you driven one? It certainly isn't dull to drive, in every metric it's outstanding. I've done around 1000 miles in them and i'm in no doubt it's one of the most exciting cars I've ever driven.
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On the car though, looks decent to me and let’s be honest if it’s a little heavier it’s hardly going to be a pudding. I doubt your average ‘driving god’ would notice. Still be stupidly fast and that’s fine by me.
About as tiresome as the continually dull dross being churned out of Munich
t. You’re a moron. The 720 is an amazing vehicle. Have you driven one? Have you driven any of the ‘dross’ coming out of Munich either or are you just trolling? I’m guessing you haven’t a clue about these vehicles. Clown.
Have you driven one? It certainly isn't dull to drive, in every metric it's outstanding. I've done around 1000 miles in them and i'm in no doubt it's one of the most exciting cars I've ever driven.
What is dull, what is boring is that the industry has become fixated upon outright speed, bhp and technology. They (not just McLaren) continue to churn out more cars which are essentially facelifted, more powerful and tweaked versions of the car before.
It would be interesting and exciting if someone would do something different, something bold.
I'm nonplussed with new cars at the moment. None interest me. 2018 is the first year in as long as I can remember that I haven't added a new car to my collection.
Hopefully someone, in one of the supercar manufacturers will stand up and say, "Enough is enough. We don't need more power, we don't need to be the fastest around the 'ring, lets make something different, something fun, something that changes the game".
What if the 488 replacement actually had less power and a manual box? Now I'm interested. But, unfortunately, most would say, "Slower than the previous car? Eh? I'm not having that" even though they drive it on the road, leave it in sport all the time and never go beyond 4000rpm.
Shame.
In what f
ked up universe of petrolhead-ism is a 720hp convertible supercar that is faster than pretty much anything else on the roads boring?!
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