The Mclaren Super Series lineup is growing as the
company has dropped the top on the all-new 720S Spider. The roadster features a familiar front fascia with distinctive
headlights. Bigger changes occur aft of the A-pillar as the 720S Spider has a
retractable hard top that consists of a single carbon fiber roof panel. McLaren
says the hard top is the “fastest-operating convertible roof in the supercar
class” as it can be raised or lowered in 11 seconds at speeds up to 50
km.
Customers looking to fully embrace the open air
experience can order an optional electrochromic glass panel for the hard top.
It transitions from transparent to tinted at the touch of a button and the
panel will automatically tint itself when the engine is shut off.
Besides the high-tech roof, the 720S Spider comes
equipped with aerodynamic buttresses and an active rear spoiler which
automatically adjusts itself depending on whether the roof is opened or closed.
Last but not least, the model has unique 19- and 20-inch lightweight alloy
wheels that come with either Pirelli P Zero or Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires. Like all McLarens, the 720S
Spider has a lightweight carbon fiber structure that is extremely strong and
rigid. The car is so rigid that engineers didn’t need to add additional
supports despite the removal of the roof.
However, McLaren did add fixed carbon fiber
structural supports for added rollover protection. They replace the steel
supports used on the 650S Spider and the change enables the rollover protection
structure to be 6.8 kg lighter than its predecessor.
Speaking of weight, the 720S tips the scales at 1,332 kg and this means the model only weighs 49 kg more
than the coupe. That’s a modest gain and it enables the roadster to weigh 88 kg less than its “closest competitor” which McLaren declined to name.
The 720S Spider is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter
V8 engine that produces 710 hp and 769 Nm of
torque. It is connected to a seven-speed sequential shift transmission which
enables the car to accelerate from 0-96 km/h in 2.8 seconds and
0-200 km/h in 7.9 seconds. Given enough room, the model can eventually
hit a top speed of up to 341 km/h. However, when the roof is lowered,
the model tops out at 325 km/h.
The McLaren 720S is currently available to order and
the first deliveries are slated to begin in March 2019. Pricing starts at US$ 315,000
in the United States, £ 237,000 in the United Kingdom and € 273,000 in Germany.
