McLaren 600LT revealed – new Longtail with 600 PS

The McLaren 600LT is the latest model to be revealed by the Woking-based carmaker, and it is the fourth McLaren to sport the ‘LT’ or ‘Longtail’ name – previous cars include the McLaren F1 GTR LT race car as well as the 675LT Coupe and Spider.

Like those models, the 600LT gets more of everything to deliver more driver engagement and track-focused dynamics. Essentially, it is the most extreme car available in the company’s entry-level Sport Series line-up – any higher and you’ll have to enter the Super Series that includes the 720S.

There are plenty of facts and figures to sift through here, but we’ll start with the way the thing looks. While it may appear to be a kitted-up 570S Coupe, McLaren says more than 23% of parts used are different and the 600LT’s body is 74 mm longer by comparison.

The latter is largely due to the new carbon-fibre bodywork that includes a front splitter, side sills, extended diffuser and fixed rear wing, all of which contribute to optimise aerodynamics. The rest of the 23% of new components used also help bring the car’s dry weight down to just 1,247 kg, which is 96 lighter than a comparable 570S Coupe.

Despite all these revisions, it’s still quite hard not to look at the 600LT as a spruced-up 570S. To make sure the discrepancy is as clear as possible, the 600LT gets top-exit exhausts mounted just a few centimetres behind the driver’s shoulder to ensure the engine note intrudes into the cabin with little opposition.

All that noise is generated by a more powerful version of the M838T 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8, which also outputs 600 PS and 620 Nm of torque. Both figures exceed those offered by the 570S, largely due to the 600LT’s uprated cooling system and reduced back pressure in the exhaust system.

To go along with the power, the 600LT also gets bespoke Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres, the forged aluminium double-wishbone suspension and brakes from the 720S, quicker steering, sharpened pedal response, and significantly firmer engine mounts.

This track-focused mentality extends into the cabin as well, with lots of Alcantara trim carbon-fibre racing seats adapted from those in the P1. Those with more money can splurge on super-lightweight bottom holders from the Senna, or one of many features available through McLaren Special Operations (MSO).

Speaking of money, the 600LT will be priced from 185,500 pound sterling (RM980,977), with each unit being hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking. The company says volume of the model will be strictly limited – production begins in October 2018 and last for around 12 months.

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