The new standard for convertible hardtop supercars
By Jason Grunsell
As is traditional with most supercar companies these days the coupe version always precedes the spider version, and McLaren Automotive has stuck to this formula introducing the replacement for the super series 650S with the all new 720S. I had the good fortune to test the new 720S last year, although my test was all to brief I was bowled over by the jump in performance and styling over the 650S model. Needless to say I was eagerly anticipating driving the 720S spider and I was not disappointed.
Converting a coupe to a spider involves structural changes to accommodate the deletion of the roof. In the case of the McLaren 720S spider this is made easier as the 720S spider shares most of the “Monocage II” carbon chassis with aluminum front and rear structures, but unlike the coupe, this “Monocage II-S” version has no central T-top mounting point for the doors. The 720S spider therefore has new dihedral door hinges. In addition the 720S spider has a lower rear deck and Gothic inspired glass flying buttresses which dramatically improve rear visibility.
The party piece of the 720S spider is the electrically driven folding glass roof which can be raised or lowered in 11 seconds at speeds up to 30 miles per hour. The expensive optional cheery extra that you can add to your folding roof is the $9,940 option of glazed electrochromatic glass. Tint or clear your roof window with the touch of a button. The glass top tints automatically when the car is turned off, then returns to it last setting upon restart. For me this is a must have feature. Included with the folding roof comes the ability to drop the rear glass section a feature not available in the 720S coupe. Let’s you hear the engine noise without getting your hair all mussed up.
The heart of the McLaren 720S spider is a 4.0 L V8 twin turbocharged engine that displaces 720 horsepower and 568 pound feet of torque. It will hurtle you down a glorious stretch of road and reach a maximum speed of 212 mph, slightly less if you have the top down then you will have to make do with a more modest 202 mph. Sadly I did not have the road or race track to prove these figures. Acceleration is instantaneous. I thought the 12C was fast, then I drove the 650S and that was faster, and now the 720S takes McLaren acceleration to another level entirely.
So what this supercar is like to drive, surprisingly it’s actually quite easy to drive. The cockpit of the 720S spider makes for a comfortable environment, the seats are comfy, the controls are all near to hand and best of all the sight lines out of the car are excellent. Personally I find McLaren steering wheels are a perfect fit for my hands. This particular spider features slightly longer carbon fibre paddle courtesy of McLaren Special Operations (MSO). The 720 spider like its coupe sibling is a bloody damn fast supercar and one that will get you a speeding ticket or worse if you don’t exercise due caution. The electric hydraulic steering allows you to precisely place the car. The ability to transform from docile daily driver around town to a rocket ship is nothing short of phenomenal. It will put a huge grin on your face every time you drive this car.
My test car came in silica white with carmine red interior. I cannot say I am overly fond of white cars, however I did see a recently delivered 720S spider in Belize Blue which I would seriously consider for my 720S spider. Naturally if you choose to go to MSO then a plethora of options in carbon fibre and colours becomes available for a hefty price. I personally have a fondness for Memphis red.
The McLaren 720S spider turned quite a few heads during our 45minute drive. For the moment this is a rare car on the streets of Vancouver, however that will be changing as the summer allocation of spiders hits Vancouver. A novel feature on the 720S spider is the ability to configure your rear wing. You can leave it in the upright position or keep it integrated into the rear bodywork to harmonize with the styling lines of the car. I am partial to having the wing in the upward position. After making this momentous choice you can decide on how to display your information dash. You can have a flat screen with all the usual parameters displayed or at the touch of button the dash will fold in on itself to display minimal information (echoing racing days gone by when you had only the bare minimum for racing, a rev counter, oil pressure gauge and if you were lucky a speedometer). I did try both settings, though I suspect you would leave the dash in the upright position thereby saving the party trick to show off to your friends.
The 720S spider can be used for a weekend getaway provided you only bring soft bags with you which you can stow away in the front trunk. Supercars are not renowned for their luggage space. The 720S spider has numerous small nooks and crannies around the cabin to store small items like your phone or a small slot for your key fob. It even has a cup holder. What the 720S spider does not have is a glovebox. Some sacrifices must be made after all when driving a supercar.
The McLaren 720S provides you all the theatre you could want on a $327,991 supercar. In my humble opinion the McLaren 720S spider is the best hardtop convertible supercar you can buy at the moment so run, jog or drive down to your local dealership to put your order in as there is already a 6 month waiting list.
