McLaren’s gen-two Super Series’ V8 teased
British supercar brand McLaren Automotive has again teased the imminent 650S/675LT successor that'll make its world premiere next month in Geneva.
Turns out the second-generation McLaren 'Super Series' model will sport a new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that'll hurl the supercar from 0-200km/h in 7.8 seconds.
That's half-a-second faster than the 492kW/760Nm Ferrari 488 GTB which, incidentally, does the 0-100km/h dash in 3.0sec, and 0.7sec quicker than a F12 Berlinetta.
McLaren is keeping its powder dry on other figures bar the 0-200km/h time. It's worth noting that the current 675LT's 496kW/700Nm 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 propels the car from 0-100km/h in 2.9sec.
We've also learned that owners will be able to showcase the heart of their new car with engine bay illumination, visible from the exterior.
This is the latest in a series of teasers precluding the car's launch. Two weeks ago the company told us about its latest Proactive Chassis Control system.
Pictured: McLaren 675LT
The second-generation of the technology uses 12 more sensors than the outgoing version, including an accelerometer on each wheel hub to ‘read’ inputs from the road and measure the contact patch the tyre has with the road.
From there, the information is processed and analysed in milliseconds by the system’s ‘Optimal Controller’ algorithm which then optimises the suspension damping accordingly.
An additional feature is McLaren Variable Drift Control, which allows drivers to control the intensity of the vehicle’s stability control system at the swipe of a finger across a control panel located on the central infotainment screen.
Mark Vinnels, McLaren Automotive’s executive director for product development, said: “Proactive Chassis Control II generates a significant amount of additional grip, but not at the expense of the balance and feel of the car”.
We also know that the new Super Series will have a carbon-fibre central structure dubbed Monocage II, replacing the hybrid carbon-fibre and metal underpinnings of today’s lineup.
According to McLaren, a model in the new Super Series range that’s comparably specified to today’s 650S will be 18kg lighter. The lightest model in the next-generation Super Series lineup will have a dry weight of 1283kg.
McLaren says that the new body structure has a lower centre of gravity for improved handling. The new design also allows for easier ingress and egress thanks to wider entrances and a lower sill.
McLaren says that the new body structure has a lower centre of gravity for improved handling. The new design also allows for easier ingress and egress thanks to wider entrances and a lower sill.
As we wrote just before that, an image believed to be the new ‘720S’ was leaked online (pictured above), though we still have no details on the supercar’s powertrain.
As part of McLaren’s one billion pound ($1.7 billion) Track22 business plan, the initial variant in the new Super Series range will be the first model in a 15 car barrage due between now and 2022. The plan also calls for half of McLaren’s 2022 range to have hybrid drivetrains.
On another note, McLaren Automotive recently announced a strategic partnership with the BMW Group as part of a project to design and develop technologies for its next-generation powertrains.
MORE: McLaren 650S successor revealed in ‘leaked’ photo
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