The McLaren 675LT Spider has been revealed. The topless Longtail comes less than a year since the 675LT Coupe became the first model in nearly 20 years to resurrect the name, and is in response to significant customer demand, Woking says. It is limited to only 500 examples worldwide.
The fixed roof 675LT focused on light weight, enhanced aerodynamics, increased power and track-focused dynamics, and was sold out before the first deliveries commenced. What is being described as the most focused, fastest and exhilarating open top car to ever wear a McLaren badge should follow the same trend.
Under the skin sits the heavily revised 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 from the coupe with 675 PS at 7,100 rpm and 700 Nm available between 5,000 to 6,500 rpm. 0-100 km/h takes just 2.9 seconds, and 200 km/h is achieved in 8.1 seconds, 0.2 seconds slower than the lighter and more slippery coupe. Top speed is 326 km/h.
The three-piece folding hardtop can be opened at speeds up to 30 km/h. It stows below a colour-coded tonneau cover, and the engine remains visible through a lightweight vented polycarbonate engine cover.
Plenty of carbon fibre here. As with the coupe, the front bumper with larger splitter and end plates, front under body, side skirts, side intakes, lower side intakes, rear bodyside lower, rear fenders, rear deck, rear bumper, diffuser and ‘Longtail’ Airbrake are all CF. They contribute to a dry weight of just 1,270 kg, a full 100 kg lighter than the 650S Spider.
McLaren says that due to the inherent strength of the carbon fibre MonoCell chassis, no further strengthening – and associated weight increase – has been added through the removal of the roof, and the McLaren 675LT Spider is only 40 kg heavier than the Coupe, all due to the retractable roof system.
The car’s titanium crossover twin exhausts exit below the active ‘Longtail’ Airbrake which is 50% larger than other Super Series models. Despite the larger size, carbon fibre construction means it’s actually lighter. A pair of CF-shelled racing seats, modelled on those on the P1, save 15 kg. Air con is not standard, but the 16 kg system can be specified as a no-cost-option.
The Spider is fitted with 10-spoke “Ultra-Lightweight” forged alloys – 19-inch at the front, 20-inch at the rear – and Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres as standard, but the set you see here is a new 20-spoke design from the “Super-Lightweight” options list.
A Club Sport Professional Pack adds further visual carbon fibre and stealth detailing, but the Coupe’s Club Sport Pack (titanium rollhoop, four-point harnesses, fire extinguisher) is not available here. Deliveries of the £285,450 car (RM1.82 million before Malaysian taxes) start in summer 2016.
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