McLaren 650S : Official images of new supercar revealed

Reports claim the new 650S is based on the brand's entry-level MP4-12C, and will reportedly sit between that car and the exotic P1 hypercar. The name indicates the car's power output - 650PS, or 478kW, a jump of 37kW over the MP4-12C - but the changes don't stop there.

The more luxury focused coupe will fuse styling elements from both its of its sibling models.

It looks more like the P1 at the front, with a pair of sleek crescent shaped headlights and a blacked out bumper section, while at the rear end its tail-lights and exhausts look almost identical to the more affordable MP4-12C.

"As always with McLaren, the new design is there for good engineering reasons," said McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt. "The newly designed front bumper improves downforce and steering turn-in. The high speed handling balance is now even better. The LED lights use less power and last longer."

The car's interior is trimmed in bright yellow stitching, a prominent use of alcantara and carbon fibre, and turbine-look air-vents. McLaren claims the new 650S offers "saloon-like" levels of interior comfort, stating the new model sees the addition of a new ride and handling adjustment system that - unlike the previous cars offered by the brand - can be changed separately to the settings for the engine and gearbox.

McLaren says the three mode system, which has Normal, Sport and Track settings, has "been calibrated to improve driver engagement", and that the biggest changes have been made in Sport mode. Seems fair, given that the "S" in the car's name stands for "Sport".

The brand's push-button gear selector remains, though there are rumours of tweaks to the car's seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

The brand's existing 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo engine falls well shy of rivals such as Ferrari's F12 Berlinetta, which has 544kW. However, as with all McLaren models, the car will likely make extensive use of lightweight technology.

A release from the brand states the 650S is: "Designed and developed to offer the enthusiast driver the ultimate in luxury, engagement and excitement, as well as dramatic yet beautiful styling.

"It takes learnings from both the 12C as well as the sell-out McLaren P1 and will be positioned between the two on McLaren Automotive’s supercar grid."

McLaren has also revealed that at the same time the 650S Coupe is revealed at the Geneva motor show in early March, a 650S Spyder will also be shown. Both models will go on sale in the European spring.

There's no word yet on a local launch for the Mclaren 650S, though if it does arrive, it could cost upwards of $500,000. McLaren recently slashed the price of its entry-level car by as much as $102,000, down to a new starting point of $398,000, to "attack" its rivals - however, the strategic price cut may also have occurred to make room above for the new model.

Click the Photos tab above to see more leaked images of the McLaren 650s.