McLaren 720S Coupe

The McLaren 720S Coupe is a 2-seater sports car with butterfly wing doors.

Development and production

In just seven years of its existence as an automobile manufacturer, McLaren Automotive has expanded its lineup to three series (Sports, Super and Ultimate) and managed to change three generations of supercars. Its first product was the McLaren MP4-12C, in 2014 it was replaced by the McLaren 650S, and in March 2017, the McLaren 720S, a new member of the Super Series family, debuted at the 87th Geneva Motor Show. In May 2017, the supercar went to dealers at a price of 247,350 euros.

The car was also a two-seat, rear-wheel-drive, longitudinal-engined supercar that was built on a modified carbon-fiber chassis that was lighter and stiffer than its predecessor. According to the manufacturer, the supercar was 91% new.

Facts

The Lego company at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June 2017 presented a full-size replica of the McLaren 720S. Six McLaren and Lego employees assembled around 280,000 terminal blocks in about 2,000 hours. The Lego model weighed 1.6 tons, about 300 kg more than the production car.

Engine

The 720S was powered by the new McLaren M840T 4-litre flat-crank twin-turbocharged engine, which was an evolution of the 3.8-litre M838T engine (41% new) used in the 650S. The increase in engine volume was due to an increase in the piston stroke by 3.6 mm. Power increased to 720 hp. at 7500 rpm, which gave the car its name, and the maximum torque was 770 N∙m at 5500 rpm.

Transmission

The engine was mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that sent power to the rear wheels.

Chassis

The McLaren 720S was built around an improved Monocage II carbon fiber monocoque with front and rear aluminum subframes that was even lighter and stiffer than the McLaren 650S (18kg lighter). This design resulted in a 3 percent lower center of gravity and a dry weight of 1,283 kg – more than 135 kg lighter than the Ferrari 488 GTB. The monocoque had dihedral doors with large cutouts to facilitate entry and exit. It also reduced the size of the roof pillars, improving visibility for the driver. The same monocoque was used in the Senna, Speedtail and Elva sports cars.

The ProActive Chassis Control II active suspension system and Variable Drift Mode stability control used in the 720S was an evolution of the systems used in the 650S, but was 16kg lighter than previous versions. The new active suspension system was equipped with accelerometers at the top and pressure sensors at the bottom of the shock absorbers to accurately communicate real-time road conditions to the vehicle's on-board computer for optimal suspension settings. The system used the results of a doctoral dissertation from the University of Cambridge, which was developed over five years.

Brake system

The carbon-ceramic brake system had 6-piston calipers at the front and 4-piston at the rear. The rims were shod with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tires measuring 245/35 R19 at the front and 245/35 R19 at the rear.

Exterior

The design of the supercar was developed under the guidance of the new chief designer of McLaren, Robert Melville. The sloping nose and wavy lines of the wings made it look like a great white shark, and the fully glazed, teardrop-shaped cockpit was reminiscent of a jet fighter's canopy or a computer mouse. "Double-deck" LED headlights were located in triangular recesses along with grilles to cool small radiators in front of the wheels. There were no side air intakes: they were replaced by hidden air channels in dihedral doors that open according to the “butterfly wing” principle. At the rear, the car featured thin LED taillights, two round exhaust pipes and an integrated active wing that provided 50% more downforce than the McLaren 650S.

The car had two luggage compartments: front for 150 liters, rear – for 210 liters.

Interior

The interior combined modern and racing elements. Alcantara and Weir leather upholstery along with carbon fiber trim came as standard. A Bowers & Wilkins audio system and fixed carbon fiber racing seats were available as options. The main focus of the cabin was on the driver, and this was reflected in a new digital display behind the steering wheel that turned into a thin screen when the car was in track mode. The touchscreen on the center console was positioned at an angle away from the driver, but important controls were positioned for easy access by the driver.

Three levels of trim and equipment were offered, with a base category and two options to suit each customer's needs, such as Performance and Luxury, as well as a wide range of additional options and customization details.

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