McLaren Automotive returns to the International Geneva Motor Show with its “fastest, most engaging, best equipped and most beautiful series-production supercar yet”.
The McLaren 650S joins the range as an additional model alongside the 12C and sold-out McLaren P1™, and learns from both models as well as 50 years of competing in the highest levels of motorsport. Available as a fixed-head coupé or as a Spider, with a retractable folding hard top, the McLaren 650S promises to redefine the high performance supercar segment, and has been designed and developed to provide the ultimate in driver engagement on the road and on the race track.
650S refers to the power output – 650PS (641 bhp) - of the British-built McLaren M838T twin turbo V8 engine. As you would have guessed ‘S’ stands for ‘Sport’.
Starting with the new LED lamps, the design is inspired by the McLaren P1™ suggesting a new family design language. The more integrated front splitter contributes to increased levels of downforce, steering feeling and better turn-in. Unique door blades behind the front wheels direct air from the trailing edges of the front splitter, further benefiting front-end grip and vehicle balance.
The aerodynamic performance of the McLaren 650S has the same drag coefficient as the 12C, yet the air works more efficiently as it flows over, and through, the functional bodywork. At 240 kmph, downforce levels are increased by 24 percent.
The side intakes behind the dihedral doors feed large, efficiently packaged, radiators that cool the mid-mounted, compact engine. The McLaren Airbrake, originally fitted to the 12C and 12C Spider now operates with greater stability by deploying whenever the car senses extra downforce is advisable – rather than simply under braking or when manually operated in ‘Aero’ mode. Below the Airbrake, a distinctive rear three-piece bumper, similar to the GT3 racing version of the 12C, compliments the aerodynamic shaping of the McLaren 650S.
The pioneering ProActive Chassis Control (PCC) suspension system can adjust the ride and handling modes – Normal / Sport / Track – separately from the drivetrain, offering more freedom of ride and handling quality. A new design five-spoke lightweight forged ‘650S’ alloy wheel is unique to the model, and are fitted with Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyres branded with MC1.
