McLaren
Automotive will return to the International Geneva Motor Show this year 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.
The 650S
badge designation refers to the power output – 650PS (641 bhp), - of the unique
British-built McLaren M838T twin turbo V8 engine. ‘S’ stands for ‘Sport’,
underlining the focus and developments made to handling, transmission,
drivability and engagement. Performance
figures will be confirmed ahead of the Geneva Show but will improve on the
already rapid 12C which continues on sale.
The design
is inspired by the McLaren P1™, previewing a new family design language. The
front bumper gives the McLaren 650S a dramatic, yet clean appearance and sits
below new LED headlamps which reflect a similar look to the McLaren P1™. The
more integrated front splitter contributes to increased levels of downforce,
giving a greater level of steering feeling and confidence to the driver on
turn-in, while also adding to the agility and the car’s handling balance.
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 is as efficient as the 12C,
boasting the same drag coefficient figure, yet the air is being worked harder
and more efficiently as it flows over, and through, the functional bodywork. At
150 mph, downforce levels are increased by 24 percent.
‘As always with McLaren, the new design is there for good
engineering reasons,’ says McLaren
Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt. ‘The newly designed front bumper improves
downforce and steering turn-in. The high speed handling balance is now even
better. The LED lights use less power and last longer.
Unique side
intakes behind the dihedral doors feed large, efficiently packaged, radiators
which help provide the cooling requirements of the mid-mounted, compact engine.
A new design five-spoke lightweight forged ‘650S’ alloy wheel is unique to the
model, and are fitted with Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyres to offer optimised
roadholding, handling and driver feedback – the bespoke ‘MC1’ branded tyres
have been developed alongside the McLaren 650S by McLaren technology partner
Pirelli, and offer strong performance in normal road conditions and on track.
The McLaren
650S builds on experience from success on the track, and groundbreaking
technologies fitted to other McLaren models. Active aerodynamics, which feature
on both the 12C and McLaren P1™, have been further developed and honed to
ensure the ultimate performance and ability for the McLaren 650S. The McLaren
Airbrake, originally fitted to the 12C and 12C Spider and designed to offer
optimised levels of downforce on the rear of the car, now operates with a
greater level of functionality providing increased stability. The newly developed system means the Airbrake
deploys 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, developed by
McLaren, has been further enhanced for the McLaren 650S. A feature of the
system is the ability to adjust the ride and handling modes – Normal / Sport /
Track – in isolation from the drivetrain, which gives complete freedom in terms
of ride and handling. These settings, for both powertrain and suspension, have
been recalibrated to improve driver engagement. The updates are especially
noticeable in Sport mode.
‘McLaren is a fast moving company, continually striving for
improvements and technical advantages. We are always seeking to innovate, to be
the class leaders, to bring new technologies and thinking to market. That’s our
Formula 1 heritage shining through,’
explains Mike Flewitt. ‘Everything we’ve
learnt from the 12C and the McLaren P1™ has gone into the design and
development of the McLaren 650S.’
The McLaren
650S is designed to be the best and most engaging driver’s car in its class,
yet it is not a stripped out road racer. Ride comfort and refinement are to
executive saloon standards. The McLaren 650S models are equipped with IRIS
satellite navigation with Bluetooth telephony, DAB digital radio (SIRIUS
satellite radio in North America), wireless tethering, audio streaming and
voice control as standard, while also offering enhanced levels of optional
specification than previously offered. Options include fixed-back carbon racing
seats, based on the lightweight design found in the McLaren P1™, an electric
steering column adjustment assisting ingress and egress, a rear parking camera
and extended carbon fibre throughout the interior.
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