McLaren carried on with the expansion of its “Longtail” line-up of performance cars, debuting the new limited-edition 765LT, the fourth LT model since it began offering them in 2015.
The British super car maker was set to unveil its latest speed machine at the Geneva Motor Show but concerns about the coronavirus caused the show to be shut down. Instead, the company showed off its newest entry at the McLaren Technical Center in Woking, England.
Fittingly, McLaren plans to produce just 765 of the new coupes, the first of which will arrive sometime in October. The new vehicles come with a price tag of about $375,000.
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“The 765LT is the most accomplished and exhilarating LT model ever from McLaren Automotive,” said Mike Flewitt, CEO, McLaren Automotive, in a release.
“Incredible performance and astonishing levels of driver engagement – the result of hundreds of detailed engineering actions undertaken to ensure the purest possible connection between driver and car – are the stand-out attributes of an LT developed with single-minded determination to deliver a wholly immersive driving experience to those who secure one of the 765 available to customer order.
The 765LT’s stunning capabilities come from mixture of its 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged McLaren V8 engine, which puts out 755 brake horsepower and torque of 590 pound-feet, and the fact that it’s amazingly light — just 2,952 pounds (DIN weight) and just 2,709 pounds at its lightest dry weight, which is more than 110 pounds less than its closest competitor, the company is quick to point out.
The combination results in 0 to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds; 0 to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds; and 0 to 124 mph in 7.2 seconds, as well as a class-leading power-to-weight ratio of 614 bhp-per-ton at its lightest dry weight.
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McLaren’s engine prowess is well known, so the performance numbers aren’t really a surprise; however, the key to squeezing everything out of that high-performance V8 is the use of advanced carbon fiber technologies, including body panels and other aerodynamic enhancers. Those “enhancers” include: front splitter, front bumper, front floor, side skirts, rear bumper, rear diffuser and larger ‘Longtail’ active rear wing
The company’s push to save weight wasn’t just limited to converting as many things to carbon fiber as possible. Engineers and designers used a titanium exhaust system, Formula 1-grade transmission materials, thinner glass and motorsport-style polycarbonate glazing to cut weight as well. If that isn’t enough for the new owner, McLaren will let them delete the car’s audio system and air conditioning to wring out a little more weight.
Going fast means being able to stop fast, and McLaren covers that on the new longtail model by using carbon-ceramic discs, calipers from the McLaren Senna and Formula 1-inspired, integrated caliper cooling ducts.
The handling of the new 765LT comes not only from the low stance of the vehicle, but the robust combination of suspension and shoes it boasts. The car uses a unique software program for state-of-the-art, linked-hydraulic Proactive Chassis Control II suspension. Also it wears 10-spoke Ultra-Lightweight forged alloy wheels, titanium wheel bolts and bespoke Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R circuit-bred tires as standard.
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Once inside, drivers are treated to a motorsport-inspired interior with carbon fiber racing seats, a carbon fiber center tunnel, exposed carbon fiber floor and lightweight Alcantara throughout. And for those on the outside looking in, they can get an eyeful through the optional double-glazed panel integrated within the carbon fiber rear upper structure that showcases the V8 engine.
