McLaren 720S 2017 review

Years ago, McLaren didn't actually make McLaren. The ill-fated SLR was still in production, but it was an oddity that didn't make much sense - it was a highly specialized Mercedes built to sell for crazy money to mega-rich F1 fans. Production was kept to a minimum, with the iconic and legendary F1 finishing ten years early.

The "new" McLaren Automotive had a shaky start in 2011 with the unloved MP4-12C, which became the 12C and then the 650S, getting better with each new invention. 

The P1 was a car that really caught the world's attention and was the first project of new designer Rob Melville for the British sports car manufacturer. 

McLaren sold its 10,000th car last year and production figures are approaching those of Lamborghini. Sales in Australia have almost doubled and Rob Melville is still there and is now the Design Director. The company has clearly done very well.

Now it's time for the second generation of McLaren, starting with the 720S. Replacing the 650S, it's the new McLaren Super Series (fitting above the Sport Series 540 and 570S and below the Ultimate P1 and the still-cryptic BP23), and according to McLaren, it's a car with no direct competition from its rivals in Ferrari or Lamborghini. 

It has a twin-turbo V8, carbon fiber bodywork, rear-wheel drive, and sophisticated stealth. 

McLaren 720S 2017: Luxury
Safety Rating	-
engine's type	4.0 L turbo
fuel type	Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	10.7l / 100km
Landing	2 Places
Price from	No recent ads

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

The 720S has received mixed reviews, but no one can say it's not impressive. I love it - all the designers say their influence is the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird (designer Melville even jokes about it), but you can really see it in the 720S, especially in the cockpit design, which looks like a glass skylight from that observation. jet.

McLaren's signature dihedral doors, which hark back to the 1994 McLaren F1, are solid, double-skinned to act as a serious aero package.

Melville told me in January that he thinks cars look shaped by nature, using the example of a rock left in a creek to break down. The 720S is full of details that evoke this look, with a clean, taut surface. Where everyone complained that the 12C was "designed in a wind tunnel", the 720S looks like it was created by the wind. In carbon and aluminum, it looks unusual.

Designer Melville said he believes the look of the cars is shaped by nature, using the example of a rock left in a creek to break down.

One of the most talked about features are these headlights - almost always painted black, these are known as "sockets". As you get closer, you'll see thin LED DRLs, small but powerful headlights, and then you'll find two heatsinks behind them. Follow it and the air will come out through the bumper, around the wheels, and then through the door. It's something.

Inside the McLaren we know and love, but with a smart kicker. The dashboard looks like a racing car, but with much nicer graphics. Switch to "active" mode, put everything in "Tracking" mode, and the panel will drop down and present you with a minimized set of tools to avoid distractions and compensate for the lack of a head-up display - only speed, acceleration and revs.

How practical is the interior space? 6/10

For a supercar, there's surprisingly much room in the cabin. You can buckle up 220 liters of (hopefully) soft stuff on the rear shelf behind the seats, and there's a 150-liter trunk under your nose. You can store your sports equipment there, including a helmet, or even put in a few padded bags for the weekend.

Again, unusual for a supercar, you're also treated to a pair of storage bins in the center console.

There is enough space for two bodies in the cabin, and the driver's seat has many adjustments. Even though you are so close to the front wheels, your legs have room even for my ridiculous duck legs. There is enough headroom even for those over six feet tall, although the glass portholes at the top of the dihedral doors may not be as desirable in the Australian summer.

There is enough space for two bodies in the cabin, and the driver's seat has many adjustments.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 7/10

Starting at $489,900 plus on the roads, it's pretty clear the car the local company has in mind is the Ferrari 488 GTB, which sells for around $20,000 less but rarely comes with options for less than $40,000 on board. . Two more 720S versions are available starting at $515,080, Luxury and Performance levels, both mostly cosmetic.

The 720S comes with 19" front wheels and 20" rear wheels wrapped in Pirelli P-Zeros. The exterior is trimmed in dark palladium, while the interior is trimmed in alcantara and nappa leather. Also on board is a four-speaker stereo, digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, satellite navigation, active LED headlights, power windows, sports front seats and more.

A predictably long list of options includes paint jobs ranging from $0 to $20,700 (McLaren Special Operations or MSO will happily find ways to charge you more for that extra special paint job), but most of the list is carbon fiber bits, rearview camera (2670 dollars!), a Bowers and Wilkins stereo system for $ 9440… you get the idea. The sky or your credit card is the limit.

The front lift kit costs $5540 and is totally worth it to protect the underbody from the roadways. Unlike a couple of Italian rivals, this is not required for all speed bump climbs.

Every time we look at a car like this, we find that its specs seem narrow, but none of its competitors have anything special, so it's a lineball.

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10

The 720S is powered by a 4.0-liter version of McLaren's familiar flat-crank V8 engine with twin turbocharging. Power is up to 537kW (or 720bhp, hence the name) and torque is up nearly 100Nm to 770Nm from 678. McLaren says 41 percent of the components are new.

Power is up from the 678 thanks to a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine now delivering 537kW/770Nm.

A seven-speed dual clutch sends power to the rear wheels, and the 1283kg monster dry (106kg less than the 650S) sprints to 100 mph in 2.9 seconds, which is certainly a cautious statement. The more disturbing clam sprints to 0 km/h in a terrifying 200 seconds, half a second faster than its closest rival, the 7.8 GTB. It's serious, insanely fast, and top speed is 488 km/h.

Instead of a complex and heavy active differential, the 720S uses rear brakes and various other methods to achieve the same effect. This is one of several ideas borrowed from F1, some of which are now banned.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

McLaren claims the European combined cycle can return 10.7L/100km, but we have no way of knowing if that's the case because we didn't dabble the day we had the car.

What is it like to drive? 9/10

One of the biggest changes from the 650 to 720 is the new Monocage II carbon tub. The reduction in overall weight is partly due to the fact that the frame now includes a windshield wrap that was previously metal. Curb weight with all fluids and a fuel tank 90 percent full (don't ask why 90 percent, I don't know either), it weighs 1419kg, giving it the same power-to-weight ratio as a Bugatti Veyron. Yes.

The 720S is an amazing car. We always say a modern supercar is rideable, but the 720S is so easy to use, nimble and so easy to see - there are no significant blind spots with an almost all-glass roof - you can cruise around town and out of town in comfort. mode and actually be comfortable. By comparison, the Huracan is bluffing in Strada mode and the 488 GTB keeps begging you to kick him in the gut. The McLaren is light, livable and smooth. 

I was driving in the UK in a left hand drive car, which should have been a complete nightmare, but it was ok - visibility is excellent, especially over the shoulder. 

But when you do decide to run the 720S, it's wild. Acceleration is brutal, handling is flawless and the ride is, oh, the ride. No supercar can handle bumps, bumps and flat surfaces like the McLaren. The ride of the 540C is incredible on its own, but the 720 is just wow.

Because it's quite light, its nose goes where you point it, huge brakes slow down less, powerful force pushes less. The steering in the 720S is well-weighted yet gives a ton of feel - you know what's going on under the double-wishbone front wheels and you can tweak what you're doing accordingly. The stabilization system is great too. Never overbearing or edgy, where talent ends and help begins is delightfully blurry.

The new engine is a bit more tuneful than past McLarens - there's even a loud start gimmick at the party - but it's not loud or overbearing. You'll hear the whistle, gasp and chug of the turbos, the deep bass sound of the exhaust and the awesome roar of the intake. But there's not much off-throttle character there. At least it gets rid of the theatricality of the Italians.

The only major drama is the amount of noise reverberating through the cabin at about 100 km/h. There is much more glass than the sound-absorbing Alcantara, which explains the extra tire noise compared to the 650S. You can't have everything I guess.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10

Along with a heavy-duty carbon bath topped with aluminum skids front and rear, the 720S features six airbags, stability and traction control, and carbon ceramic brakes with ABS (100-0 in less than 30 meters).

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 7/10

The 720S comes with a three-year McLaren unlimited mileage warranty and roadside assistance. McLaren will want to see you every 12 months or 20,000 km, which is pretty unusual at this level.

Verdict

Past McLarens have been accused of being a little soulless, but this one is alive. The last time I felt this way in a car was a Ferrari F12, one of the scariest but most brilliant cars I've ever driven. Except that the 720S isn't terrible on the road, it's just brilliant.

The 720S doesn't necessarily outperform the competition, but it opens up new possibilities for supercars. This is a car that looks amazing, is more than fit for its purpose, but has a wider range of talents than others. 

This makes it all the more appealing, both as an automotive brilliance to admire and as something to consider when you have half an apartment in Sydney to spend on a car.

Australian roads await, but driving through rural English back roads and villages was a great preview. All I can say is: give me one.

McLaren will do it for you, or do supercars have to be only Italian?