2017 Geneva Motor Show: McLaren 720S revealed

McLaren brings the 650S replacement to the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. 

Feast your eyes on the all-new McLaren 720S that made its global debut at the ongoing 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Billed as the first ever second-generation model of McLaren’s Super Series of performance cars, the 720S takes the baton from the 650S and is claimed to have raised the “previously accepted limits of performance in the supercar sector.”

First things first, the 720S introduces a brand new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that develops 710bhp of peak power (or 720PS as its name suggests) and 770Nm of torque. The new engine is largely based on the outgoing car’s 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, although 41% of the components are all-new, insists McLaren.  A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission has been appointed to send the drive to the rear wheels.

Performance-wise, the 720S boasts a 0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds and 0-200km/h will be done within 8 seconds. And if you keep on going, you’ll hit a maximum speed of 341km/h, says McLaren. Deceleration is equally impressive, courtesy its carbon ceramic brakes – it’ll come to a halt from 200km/h in 4.6 seconds or 117m.

Its straight-line shenanigans tell only half the story, though. As per McLaren, the 720S is also dynamically much more capable than the 650S. The 720S is underpinned by McLaren’s Monocage II one-piece carbon fibre tub while the chassis now also gets aluminium alloys in its construction. In addition to that, the 720S also gets McLaren’s new-gen Proactive Chassis Control, new suspension and a recalibrated electro-hydraulic steering system.

On the design front, the 720S follows an evolutionary approach, albeit it does come with some interesting bits. For example, there are no radiator intakes on the side of the car now since that function is now carried out by the new “double-skin” dihedral doors. What they do is they channel air to the radiators directly.

Inside, you get more bells and whistles. There’s a new Folding Driver Display along with a vertically positioned tablet-type infotainment screen. Apart from that, you get fine leather upholstery and a steering wheel with carbon fibre treatment. McLaren claims it’s a practical and spacious supercar, and even goes on to claim the 720S is the “most complete supercar on sale today.”

McLaren will be offering the 720S in three trims – standard, Performance and Luxury – with prices starting at a whopping 208,600 British pounds (Rs 1.70 crore). Customer delivers are set to begin in May 2017 in global markets. Ferrari 488 GTB, be worried!