At first glance, the McLaren 750S doesn’t look brand new. Like an old friend who’s had some unusual plastic surgery, the British brand’s latest model looks more shapely, but the underlying bone structure is still in place. It’s an impressive base; After all, its genes are directly inherited from the 720S.
Now the 750S is about 30 percent new, performance improvements include the inevitable increase in power to 740 horsepower, livelier handling and a more powerful and aggressive engine.
The advantage is even more noticeable on closed tracks, as we saw at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada. The car’s increased muscle and smaller gears quickly become apparent. The twin-turbo V-8, with 590 pound-feet of torque, churns out power quickly, allowing the 2,815-pound car (dry weight) to accelerate to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and top out at 206 mph. Picks up speed.
New, optionally available aggressive Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires are supported by a rear spoiler that has been lengthened by 20 percent to increase downforce. The 750S handles surprisingly well when set on the track; The force increases gradually, and it is easy to hook the top. But holding down the ESC button and switching to Dynamic mode at the same time brings out the wild side of this supercar, allowing for plenty of smoke to flow. Also included is a new feature that holds the engine at redline during braking and downshifting in manual mode, keeping the engine optimally tuned to get the car out of corners. To balance out the speedy arsenal of technology, optional monoblock calipers and carbon-ceramic brakes accelerate from 124 mph to zero in 371 feet, which is 16 feet less than the 720S. he looks
This time there are more theatrical presentations also. McLaren has added a launch control setting that allows more wheel slip, as well as a shift function that decelerates the ignition for faster gear changes. These obvious embellishments won’t make you faster, and the model still lacks the sharp handling and attractive modernity of the 765LT. However, just as the 720S was not without its shortcomings, such as the harsh brake pedal and byzantine infotainment system, its successor leaves room for improvement, especially in the cabin, which remains as basic as ever. And while the infotainment system is now compatible with Apple CarPlay (though the phone still requires a wired connection), it’s not integrated with Android Auto. But the bigger question is McLaren’s incredible reputation and whether the 750S can improve on that record.
When looking at the four models in McLaren’s current line-up, including the Touring GTS, Artura Hybrid and the extreme (and very limited edition) Solus GT, the 750S is a happy medium. This is not just a modernization, it successfully develops the versatility and breadth of capabilities of its predecessor. As consumers are now relying on electric vehicles to move away from safe bets, McLaren is doubling down on what they expect.
