McLaren’s new 600LT Spider has made its first public
appearance at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. What separates this car from the
rest of the McLaren range is that it actually weighs less than more powerful
models like the 720S or even the Senna, while presenting the driver with a more
track-focused experience than your regular 570S or 570GT.
Then there’s the fact that it’s a convertible, which
for some buyers, makes it a more exciting car to own than its 600LT fixed-roof
sibling. In today’s horsepower-crazy world, having 600 PS and 620 Nm of torque at your disposal might not even sound all that imposing
to some people, seen as how the industry actually makes SUVs that carry around
more muscle than that. The 600LT Spider however happens to weigh just 1,297 kg, which according to McLaren makes it at least 80 kg lighter than any of its direct competitors.
So on paper, it has a power-to-weight ratio of 463
PS per tonne, which helps it rocket to 96 km/h in a
hypercar-like 2.8 seconds, needing an extra 0.1 seconds to breach 100 km/h. Its top speed? That would be 324 km/h with the roof up, and 315
km/h when lowered.
Other impressive stats include how the fixed rear
wing generates an impressive 100 kg of downforce at 250 km/h, but also how it can get from zero to 200 km/h in 8.4 seconds,
the same as a Pagani Huayra.
The interior of the 600LT Spider is very race-y, as
you get the same Carbon Fiber Racing Seats from the McLaren P1 as standard,
plus lightweight Alcantara trim as far as the eye can see. Customers can also
opt for the Super-Lightweight Carbon Fiber Racing Seats from the McLaren Senna,
which can be purchased either as a standalone option or together with the MSO
Clubsport package.
Further weight-saving can be achieved by ditching
the audio and climate control systems, although one is definitely easier to
live with than the other.
