All posts in “McLaren Lists”

Best of the Current McLaren Lineup

McLaren’s rise to the top of automotive stardom has been nothing short of remarkable, and is a relatively recent one at that. It wasn’t even a decade ago, that McLaren had a rather small portfolio of production models which consisted of just a handful of cars made in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz. Granted, even if McLaren had decided to stop making cars at that point, such icons as the McLaren F1 would’ve been enough to keep the McLaren relevant to this day. Thankfully, they weren’t done there, and the company has gone on to release new models at a pace that has been since unheard of in the world of supercar manufacturing.

In this stage of proliferation, McLaren have – by design, or unintentionally – become the world’s V8 engine savants. Despite only producing V8-powered automobiles since as recently as 2011 (via the MP4-12C), few would dispute that claim today. After all, it’s virtually all they know these days, with every single McLaren model – bar the V6-hybrid McLaren Artura – fitted with some adaptation of their M838T or M840T twin-turbocharged V8 motors.

The 3.8L M838T is found in its Sports Series range of cars, which includes the entry-level McLaren 540C and goes all the way up to the indomitable 666 hp McLaren 675 LT. The 4.0L M840T features on all of the Super Series cars, which covers the ‘700 range’ of models, plus the addition of the McLaren GT. In its Ultimate form, the 4.0L unit – dubbed the M840TR – produces 814 hp in the McLaren Senna GTR. The McLaren Speedtail hybrid ‘hyper GT’ produces some 1,035 hp through the combination of an M840T and electric motor.

A myriad of sports cars, supercars, and hypercars have been launched over the past decade, and quite frankly, each new car has been better than the last; something that speaks volumes about the venerable British automaker. While many argue that most of the McLaren range today follows a single “cookie-cutter” formula, we believe that each current McLaren model is unique enough to appeal to a different and specific kind of buyer. The Senna for the millionaire track junkie, the GT for the utilitarian grand touring driver, or the 570S for the pragmatic supercar owner – take your pick, as there’s plenty to choose from in between as well.

Here are the best brand new McLaren cars you can purchase today.

McLaren Artura

2022 McLaren Artura

Base MSRP: $225,000 USD

The McLaren Artura may not come with a V8 engine like every other car on this list (and indeed the entire McLaren lineup), but it is certainly special, and for all the right reasons. Every ounce of McLaren’s technical expertise and experience has been channeled into making the all-new Artura extraordinary to drive, and wonderfully enjoyable to own. Ever since the 12C revolutionized the supercar segment a decade ago, McLaren Automotive has continued to push the boundaries of supercar innovation. The mission brief for the Artura was even more challenging than its predecessors – to create a series-production High-Performance Hybrid supercar that excels on every level, with performance, engagement, and efficiency sharing equal top-billing.

The engineering and design team approached the challenge holistically – no single part of the process was undertaken in isolation – with ambitious targets set in every area: weight; performance; driver engagement; efficiency; agility; refinement; quality and usability. Every target was met – and in most cases, surpassed – heralding the arrival of the Artura as a next-generation McLaren High-Performance Hybrid that ushers in a new supercar era. The Artura’s hybrid powertrain combines an all-new twin-turbocharged 6-cylinder petrol engine with a game-changing axial flux electric motor (E-motor), all of which is integrated within an all-new 8-speed transmission and a lithium-ion battery pack.

McLaren 765LT

McLaren 765LT

Base MSRP: $358,000 USD, $382,500 USD (Spider)

The McLaren 765LT is the most recent product to join the Woking manufacturer’s esteemed roster of Long Tail variants. Based on the already impressive McLaren 720S, it adds to a growing lineup of track-optimized McLaren supercars. For those unfamiliar with the nomenclature, the LT (short for Long Tail) variants represent the pinnacle of performance for their respective models. Derived from the name is the tradition blueprint of longer body dimensions than its base cars – primarily by way of more aggressive aerodynamics – though the LTs inevitably offer much more than just a cosmetic refresh.

Weight reduction is the primary philosophy at play here. The result is a car that is 176 lbs lighter than the 720S coupé, thanks in part to a titanium exhaust system, bespoke carbon fiber amenities, and the removal of air conditioning and infotainment systems – parts which are in some cases, borrowed from the halo McLaren Senna hypercar. Relatively speaking, power increased by a smaller increment, though by an amount that is perfectly suitable for both the car’s design and its intended application. The efficiency of the engine’s power delivery is also refined, with McLaren stating that a noticeable improvement in throttle response has been achieved to further enhance the car’s precision on the race track. So, what does this all mean at the end of the day? In the McLaren 765LT, you now have a 720S that is lighter, longer, more powerful, more aerodynamic and more hardcore. Quite simply, it’s remarkable.

McLaren GT

2021 McLaren GT

Base MSRP: $210,000 USD

So there’s no hint of an SUV, or even anything that could possibly be conceived with four doors or room for a family.” If we can’t make the world’s best SUV, why the hell would we?” stated GT Global Product Manager, Tom Taylor, who reiterated McLaren’s no nonsense approach to any car they produce; one which I personally find very charismatic. There is instead, the new McLaren GT which debuted for the 2020 model year and has continued into 2021 and beyond. The GT – which stands for ‘Grand Tourer’ – is the British automaker’s first attempt at something other than the raw, unadulterated performance conduits they are most known for producing in the past.

Unconventional for a McLaren and for a mid-engined car respectively, are it’s particularly luxurious interior and over 20 cu. ft. of storage space. In spite of its supposed layout handicap, the McLaren GT is not outdone by the likes of Aston Martin with regards to the latter, with plenty of room for bags, skis and a week’s worth of luggage. The new infotainment system also helps to facilitate a comfortable cross-country cruising experience. Traditional grand touring cars are not shy about the shortcomings they are willing to accept in exchange for a heightened level of luxury and refinement; i.e. often heavier and bulkier, with typically softer driving dynamics. McLaren looks to shatter such preconceptions with the new GT.

McLaren Senna

McLaren Senna

Base MSRP: $1,050,000 USD, $1,430,000 USD (GTR)

When it was first unveiled in late 2017, the Senna proclaimed itself as the ultimate street-legal McLaren. We can go back as early as the 1990s when tracing the Senna’s lineage, with the McLaren F1 pioneering the first production car with full carbon-fibre construction. More than two decades later, its predecessor – the McLaren P1 – gave the British automaker a refreshed sense of supremacy with its redesigned flagship car. Fast forward into the current era of automobiles, and the Senna epitomizes a collaboration of the latest and greatest technologies, while paying tribute to a legend of the past – not so much to a car, as much as it is to a driver; none other than the late F1 driver Ayrton Senna.

The McLaren Senna is the pinnacle of McLaren performance. It combines the three principal matters of a high performance vehicle – aerodynamics, chassis and power – in an unrivaled manner. As a purpose-built track car, it still manages to be road-legal; but don’t expect to have a chance encounter with it at any race tracks or on the street. Due to its spartan interior and physically demanding nature, the car precludes mostly any sense of ‘daily use’ and will require an experienced and capable driver behind the wheel to push the car over seven-tenths on a road course. The car is also a bit of a unicorn with all 500 units having been spoken for. An even more hardcore, non-street-legal version of the car – known as the Senna GTR – was also made available by the company shortly after.

McLaren Speedtail

McLaren Speedtail

Base MSRP: $2,250,000 USD

Meet the new Speedtail – an aptly-named addition to McLaren’s Ultimate Series of automobiles. This limited-edition car – of which only 106 examples will be built – represents McLaren’s unyielding pursuit of maximum top-speed. Whereas other McLarens blend handling, acceleration, and driving dynamics in a harmonious package, the Speedtail has a more singular focus. That focus is speed; ludicrous amounts of it. McLaren has labeled the Speedtail a Hyper GT, which seems fitting given the excess of the car and its abilities. More than that, the Speedtail is a car that reminds us that the automotive world serves to inspire and excite us, as much as it does in moving us from one place to the next. Though, in the case of the Speedtail, it moves us unlike anything else out there.

This 1,055 hp car will take you to 250 mph, and then to the Opera, on the same set of tires (to paraphrase McLaren’s spokesperson with a peculiarly interesting name: Wayne Bruce).The McLaren Speedtail hybrid ‘hyper-GT’ produces all that power through the combination of an M840T and parallel system eMotor. This setup – in addition to applying the most genius drag-reduction principles in existence today – has allowed the Speedtail to become the fastest production McLaren ever made.

[2019 Edition] Best New McLaren to Buy

Which McLaren Should You Buy? Our Picks for the Best New McLaren Cars On Sale Today

Updated: June, 2019

Things were much simpler in the 1990s when McLaren only made the McLaren F1. If you wanted to buy a new McLaren, you looked under your mattress for a $1 million and you bought an F1. These days things are much more complicated. If you are shopping for a new McLaren today you need to understand a rather confusing and growing model range.

We decided to create this basic guide to save you some time and help you make a better decision. We recommend the best new McLaren to buy based on your desired use case and driving needs/wants. We don’t go into details on every new McLaren model, you can find that in our new McLaren models post (if you are shopping for a used McLaren check out the historical McLaren model lineup). 

As of June 2019, McLaren makes 11 cars across three different categories plus a couple of race cars if you want to buy a track-only toy. Telling the differences between cars is not easy and it is made harder by McLaren since the company uses a lot of the same technology and platforms across cars. If you are confused, don’t feel bad because most people are. 

Which McLaren is Which? Understanding the Sports, Super & Ultimate Series Ranges

First things first, let’s explain how McLaren groups their cars. There are three categories (“Series”) where models are grouped based on price, performance and focus. The groups are the Sports Series, the Super Series and them Ultimate Series. 

McLaren Sports Series

In some ways these are the perfect daily driver sports cars in the McLaren range. The Sports Series cars are not as extreme as the Super Series cars, but they are still crazy fast, awesome driving machines that are cheaper and more practical. What isn’t there to like. Think of these cars as competitors to Porsche GT models and you are right on the money. They are super light, have incredible power and a chassis designed for pure driving fun. The Sports Series model range offers unparalleled feel and connection to the road. Heart-stoppingly exciting and rewarding to drive but also highly useable. Yes please.

McLaren Super Series

Currently in its second generation of Super Series cars with the 720S and 720S Spider. We consider this McLaren’s core supercar model range. These cars use the top-end of McLaren’s performance equipment and technologies. Things like active aerodynamics and Proactive Chassis Control (PCC) are standard on the current McLaren Super Series models. Uncompromising performance and focus.

McLaren Ultimate Series

The pinnacle of the McLaren model range is the Ultimate Series. It is the top of the most extreme McLaren cars and (so far) is made up of McLaren’s hypercars and very limited edition machines. The original Ultimate Series car was the McLaren P1. The current crop of Ultimate Series McLaren models includes both the McLaren Senna and the McLaren Speedtail. McLaren have said that the original McLaren F1 is retroactively included in the Ultimate Series.

McLaren GT

It is worth mentioning the new McLaren GT. Technically the GT does not belong in any of the above “Series” groupings. McLaren says it is a true GT supercar and deserves its own standalone designation. Fine by us, just a little more McLaren confusion I guess.

Which New McLaren is Best to Buy?

We have already created a guide that goes through every current McLaren model so we are not going through every car in this post again. Instead we are just going to tell you which new McLaren to buy based on your driving needs. 

McLaren 570SMcLaren 570S

Best Entry Level McLaren

McLaren 570S

If you are contemplating the purchase of a Porsche 911 Turbo or Audi R8 V10 then the McLaren 570S coupe should be on your shortlist of potential alternatives. Technically, the McLaren 540C is the entry level McLaren, but frankly, the 570S is better and worth the premium. You can also opt for the McLaren GT and if you drive long miles on the highway, the 570GT with its more compliant ride may be the wiser choice than the 570S, but for everybody else we recommend the 570S Coupe as the best entry level McLaren. The 570S Spider is also great, but we just find the coupe a better all around proposition.

While this is the entry-level McLaren you still get a carbon fiber tub and a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 driving the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. We are talking 562 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, so it is fair to say “entry level my a**”. This is a bonafide supercar in terms of firepower and performance.

How is the 570S different than the more expensive 720S? Instead of composite bodywork, the 570S has an aluminium structure and body parts. Instead of the advanced linked hydraulic suspension system, the 570S gets regular anti-roll bars. There are also no active aerodynamics on the 570S either. The 570S does get its own Active Dynamics system, allowing you to pick driving modes that suit your mood.

Driving the McLaren 570S is fun. The ride is flat, taut and feedback is perfect. Normal mode is enjoyable and does a decent job of smoothing rough road surfaces. You could drive this car everyday and not feel like you need back surgery once a week. Grip is tremendous and with the 570S’ class-leading steering you always feel 100% in control. The car is never hyperactive or nervous, just always fluent, predictable, tactile and absorbing. The 570S is a real pleasure to drive both slow and fast but it is clearly more at home hammering through back roads on weekends than cruising on a highway. The non-stop pull of the twin-turbo V8 is addictive and it is more than enough (if you never drove a 720S you would never ask for more performance). Sure it doesn’t have the refinement of a 911 Turbo or the sound of a naturally aspirated Audi R8, but it has a driving experience that is unmatched at this price point and enough daily utility that I would choose it over the 911 and R8 all day long.

Best entry-level McLaren? Say hello to the 570S.

McLaren 600LTMcLaren 600LT

Best Driver’s McLaren & Track Day Special

McLaren 600LT

This is the car I would buy if I had to choose the best supercar on sale today. Forget the Pista, forget the Senna, I would buy the McLaren 600LT Coupe (yes the 600LT Spider is also awesome).

Based on the already highly impressive 570S, the LT adds power, cuts weight and puts a more uncompromising twist on driving dynamics. The 600LT gets the same 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 and seven-speed dual-clutch as the 570S, but power increases from 562 bhp to 592 bhp and torque is up from 443 lb-ft to 457 lb-ft. Weight is also down about 220 pounds thanks to carbon seats, forged alloys, shorter top-exit exhausts and new carbon front splitter, rear diffuser and fixed rear wing. The new aero parts also increase downforce to 220 pounds at 155mph. Overall, the increase in power and weight loss means the 600LT has 474 bhp-per-tonne, 46 bhp more than the 570S on which it is based. Impressive.

Performance numbers as would expect are scintillating. The 600TL goes from a standstill to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds, zero to 124 mph in 8.2sec to 124 mph and on to a top speed of 204 mph. The most impressive part of the 600LT is not the absurd straight-line numbers either, it is the way that the 600LT goes about its performance. There is a precision and feel that comes from all the changes that just elevates the 570S-based chassis to another level of greatness. The steering, chassis and engine work together to create a spectacular drive. The whole experience is more raw than a base 570S. The acceleration is more intense, the car carries more grip in corners and the steering wheel has more feel. It is just perfect.

To be clear, this isn’t a daily driver. The 600LT is definitely a track-focused special edition car that does compromise daily comfort for thrilling performance. With its uncompromising chassis settings, the 600LT does feel less forgiving on a bumpy road, but in what little suspension travel it does have there is exceptionally well-judged damping. That means the car can feel busy over bumps and ridges, but never brittle or uncomfortable. On smoother roads, you’ll never give the car’s ride quality a second thought.
Capable of eye-watering performance it is deserving of the LT name and it is the best drivers car that McLaren makes today.

The 600LT is the perfect drivers car. If you love getting behind the wheel on an open road and hammering around for a few hours, then this is the car for you. It’s a revelation, calibrated just perfectly and with absurd levels of performance yet able to be enjoyed by regular drivers on normal roads. This is what cars are meant to be about. 

McLaren 720S CoupeMcLaren 720S Coupe

Best McLaren Supercar

McLaren 720S Coupe

The McLaren 720S isn’t just the best supercar that McLaren makes, it is the best supercar on sale today period. It beat the Ferrari 488 in multiple tests by reputable car magazines and that says a lot because the 488 is a masterpiece. The McLaren 720S is a more sensational supercar and easily the best of the current breed.

The 720S is an exotic for sure. It is a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive supercar with an advanced carbon fiber chassis and a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that produces 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. It also has the most advanced suspension system on the market. Called Proactive Chassis Control II it gets improved sensors combined with a hydraulically connected damper system that means there’s no need for anti-roll bars. It also has the awesomely named Variable Drift Control system that ummmm is great for sideways fun.

The McLaren 720S is a performance monster. Monumentally fast, it goes from 0 – 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds and onto a top speed of 212 mph. These are hypercar-like performance numbers and indeed, flooring a McLaren 720S on road or track is not that different than the McLaren P1. It isn’t just straight line speed either because the 720S has an uncanny ability to blend pointy and balanced handling with supple ride making the chassis a work of brilliance.

Superb ride and handling, crazy performance and everyday usability, no wonder Top Gear said the 720S was “Probably the single most accomplished supercar we’ve ever driven.”  Best supercar on sale today, bar none. 

McLaren GTMcLaren GT

Best McLaren for Daily Use

McLaren GT

Ok, so we are cheating a little bit here since we have yet to drive the McLaren GT and we have yet to read any reviews either. Given that McLaren has said the GT model was built with express purpose of delivering a better overall daily car that is more comfortable and luxurious, it is hard to imagine any other McLaren being better for daily use.

The car has a mid-engine 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 that makes 612 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. McLaren has changed the way that power is delivered, making it different than the rest of the range in order to suit a GT-like driving experience. The car isn’t some plush boat though. It is still a McLaren and as such performance will be amazing. It can do 124 mph in nine seconds flat and has a top speed of 203 mph.

Physically, the GT is a bit longer and more elegant than the other models from the brand, creating more storage space and giving occupants a larger feeling cabin area. It sits up a little higher than the other supercars in McLaren’s lineup and offers segment-leading cabin refinement, according to the company. It also comes with a reasonably generous 14.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Add in the additional storage areas in the car and you have a combined total of over 20 cubic feet of cargo space. The infotainment system is new (thank goodness) and the interior has high-quality interior materials, including Nappa leather and Alcantara laid out in more of a luxurious manner than the rest of the range.

We think it is safe to say that the McLaren GT will be the best new McLaren for daily use on sale today.

McLaren SennaMcLaren Senna

Best Money No Object McLaren

McLaren Senna

McLaren claims this is the most extreme road car it’s ever built. It was designed to smash lap records and spend days destroying circuits lap after lap. Named after Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna, the McLaren Senna is a track-focused hypercar.

The first time you see the Senna is can be a little jarring. It certainly isn’t the prettiest car in the world but it never was meant to. Every aspect of its design is focused on making it fast around a track. The Senna is all about aerodynamics – up to 1500 pounds of air pressing the mid-engined two-seater into the tarmac at 155 mph. It could produce more, but above that speed McLaren alter the wing angles to maximise acceleration.

It makes our list because it is in fact road legal and because it really is a stunning achievement by the team at McLaren. It develops 789 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque all deployed through the rear wheels via a seven-speed twin clutch gearbox. The sprints to 62mph is over in 2.8 seconds while 124mph comes up in just 6.8 seconds. To be fast on track a car needs to be both powerful and lightweight and the Senna is a relative lightweight, weighing just 2800 pounds with all fluids and fuel. All 500 units are already sold out though so you may need to buy one second hand if you really want one.

McLaren 720S SpiderMcLaren 720S Spider

Best New McLaren – Overall Winner

McLaren 720S Spider

If your only criteria is simply, “I want the absolute best new McLaren for all conditions and driving needs” then you cannot go past the McLaren 720S Spider. I would personally buy the McLaren 600LT but that is because I am willing to live with the compromises of a track-focused car and all the rough-edges that come with a hardcore car driven on normal roads. I am also only going to drive the car once or twice a month based on my crazy schedule so those issues come up less of the time.

For everybody else, you should buy the 720S Spider. I  guarantee that anybody who buys it will be happy. It does everything exceptionally well. In fact, the 720S Spider does everything the 720S coupe does but with the added benefit of getting a tan and some fresh air when it is sunny outside.

The McLaren 720S is a sensational supercar, easily the best of the current breed. It has a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that produces 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. We said it was the best supercar on sale today, bar none. It is.

Sure, the Spider weighs about 300 pounds more than the coupe, but this is a car with 710hp – you are not going to be able to feel the performance differences (the Spider is 0.1 seconds slower to 124 mph versus the coupe) . The roof has cool electric motors which means it takes just 11 seconds from open to close (and vice versa) and can be operated up to 31 mph.

The 720s Spider is a great daily driver too. Sure, the GT is more luxurious and has some more space. But, the 720S has McLaren’s special hydraulic cross-linked variable dampers and they work like magic. They make the 720S Spider ride like a luxury car over bumps and rough roads. It is uncanny in its ability to make a supercar feel like a regular luxury car, delivering a remarkable ride: flat, yet amazingly supple.

From a performance perspective it can destroy anything else on the road. Sure the Senna is faster but you can’t drive a Senna to get groceries. The 720S can be driven to work and hammered on back roads on weekends. It handles amazingly well, it has so much punch in any gear that it is legitimately scary in a great way. The performance is absolutely astonishing. The open top makes it feel more liberating and more immersive than the coupe. The 720S Spider has been so well calibrated, is so clear, clean and faithful in its responses that you have utter confidence in its manners. The steering is the best of any supercar. 

Out of this world performance, stunning looks, advanced technology and most importantly tons of soul. The best new McLaren for sale today is the McLaren 720S Spider

The Best McLaren Cars of All Time

Updated: June 2019

We recently finished creating a guide to the current McLaren range as well as a full list of every McLaren ever made. As part of that process we were awed by some of the amazing cars that McLaren has produced over the years. It is even more impressive when you consider that McLaren Automotive has technically only been around since 2010. That was the year McLaren decided to give the whole production car manufacturing thing a real business. Prior to that there were a few cars like the stillborn McLaren M6GT, the mighty McLaren F1 and a collaboration with Mercedes-Benz in the form of the Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR.

McLaren has a rich racing history and deep technical knowhow as a company. Despite some recent woes in Formula 1, this is a team (and company) that knows how to win races and knows how to innovate when it comes to high performance machines. I was personally surprised when the 12C was released in 2011. It was way better than I expected and to McLaren’s credit they did things their own way, without copying other carmakers. From the one-piece carbon fiber tub to their inhouse M838T 3.8 liter twin-turbo V8 engine and their innovative and unique hydraulic configuration suspension, McLaren came out of the gates swinging. 

They haven’t stopped since. In fact, the pace has increased with every passing year. Sure, many pundits argue that all of McLaren’s cars are basically the same these days, but screw them. It is hard to argue that a McLaren Senna and McLaren 570S are all that close in nature so I choose to cut McLaren some slack and let the folks in Woking keep cranking out new machines.

What I do know is that in the last decade McLaren has created some simply fantastic supercars and I expect that they will continue to do so as they execute on the ambitious product roadmap in coming years. With that in mind, lets celebrate the top McLaren models of all time so far. Here is to the McLaren icons, the recent best McLaren cars and to the ones yet to come. Enjoy.

McLaren F1McLaren F1

McLaren F1

Engine: 60 Degree V12 / Power: 627.1 bhp / Torque: 479.0 ft lbs / 0-60 mph: 3.2 sec / 0-100 mph: 6.7 sec / Top Speed: 240.1 mph

The McLaren F1 is the best supercar ever made. Its top speed of 240 mph puts much of even today’s supercar crowd to shame, and ergonomic features like the driver-centered, three-seat cockpit have rarely been seen since. Sure there are cars that are faster, but nobody did it the way the F1 did it. 

Originally a concept conceived by Gordon Murray, he convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and engaged Peter Stevens to design the exterior of the car. The McLaren F1 debuted in 1992. It was the cost-no-object approach to building a car and was such a leap ahead in almost every imaginable way that it changed way we think about supercars forever. 

The McLaren F1 was a clean-sheet design, with all components except the tail lamps built specifically for it. The guiding principle was efficiency. Thus it is compact, with body panels and understructure of featherweight carbon fiber, and virtually every mechanical component of aluminum or magnesium. The obsession with weight was the stuff of legend. The Kenwood stereo, the air conditioning and the gold-plated titanium tools were all designed by their manufacturers to specific weight specifications that Murray has asked for. Completely customized for the F1 and so light that most parts manufacturers at the time were not sure they could meet the targets. 

On 31 March 1998, Andy Wallace set the record for the fastest road car in the world, topping at 231 mph (372 km/h) with rev limiter on, and 242.95 mph (391 km/h) with rev limiter removed. Many still believe that with better gearing (inclusion of a 7th gear) the McLaren was capable of even higher speeds. Drivers who got the McLaren up to top speed said the car was still pulling and only gearing stopped them for achieving more.

Most people don’t know that the F1 had a great racing history. The 220-mph GTR competition version took first, third, fourth, and fifth overall against a slew of purpose-built racers and did so almost immediately after launching. It blew the competition away.  When production of the F1 ended in 1998, McLaren had given the world seven prototypes, seventy-two street-legal examples, and twenty-eight full-on race versions. The Sultan of Brunei owns eight or so, and untold numbers have been destroyed at the hands of over-exuberant owners.

McLaren 570S CoupeMcLaren 570S Coupe

McLaren 570S Coupe

Engine: 3.8L twin-turbo V8 / Power: 562 bhp / Torque: 443 lb-ft / 0-60 mph: 3.1 sec / 0-124 mph: 9.5 sec / Top Speed: 204 mph

This one is going to seem odd but let me explain. The McLaren 12C came along and showed that McLaren could be a very fast supercar. It was innovative, insanely fast and yet it was flawed. McLaren had some bugs to work out and they did just that with the 650S a few years later. That sold well and definitely set McLaren on the right path. BUT, it is the McLaren 570S Coupe that showed that McLaren can make an everyday supercar that competed with the Porsche 911 Turbo and that is just amazing. The local McLaren dealership by me says that he is up to his eyeballs in Porsche 911 Turbo trade-ins, people making the leap from Porsche to McLaren because of the 570S. 

The reason is simple. Ultimately this entry level McLaren is simply awesome. It offers a true sports car experience in a package you could live with every day. It is driver centric with epic performance. It is also perfectly positioned car in the range. It has more performance than you could ever need on the road. It is lightweight, has direct steering and tremendous dynamics and will destroy just about anything else on the road. What more could you want from a sports/super car? 

Learn more: McLaren 570S Coupe

McLaren 600LT

Engine: 3.8L twin-turbo V8 / Power: 592 bhp / Torque: 457 lb-ft / 0-60 mph: 2.9 sec / 0-124 mph: 8.2 sec / Top Speed: 204 mph

This is the car I would buy if I had to choose the best supercar on sale today. Forget the Pista, forget the Senna, I would buy the McLaren 600LT Coupe (yes the 600LT Spider is also awesome).

On paper, the limited-edition 600LT is the ultimate version of McLaren’s 570S/GT range. It uses a variation of 570S’ McLaren’s twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8, in this guise making 592 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. It has a dual-clutch automatic transmission and is rear wheel drive. The handling is perfectly balanced and reassures you with its predictable nature with the ride a little firm due to its track nature approach. Standard carbon-ceramic brake discs, extensive carbon fiber and that massive wing let you know this is a limited edition car designed for the track. Capable of eye-watering performance it is deserving of the LT name.

The 600LT is the perfect drivers car. If you love getting behind the wheel on an open road and hammering around for a few hours, then this is the car for you. It’s a revelation, calibrated just perfectly and with absurd levels of performance yet able to be enjoyed by regular drivers on normal roads. This is what cars are meant to be about. Future classic and the best car McLaren currently makes.   

Learn more: McLaren 600LT

McLaren 720S

Engine: 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 / Power: 710 bhp / Torque: 568 lb-ft / 0-60 mph: 2.9 sec / 0-124 mph: 7.8 sec / Top Speed: 212 mph

The McLaren 12C never really worried the guys at Ferrari. Sure it was fast and smooth and had some cool tech, but ultimately it lacked the soul of a Ferrari and most supercar armchair critics panned it as a great attempt but ultimately not quite there. McLaren quickly made improvements and launched the 650S and that went some way to helping McLaren in the supercar bragging rights. But it is this, the McLaren 720S and 720S Spider that finally did it. McLaren built a supercar that was the best in the world. Out of this world performance, stunning looks, advanced technology and most importantly it has tons of soul. Better than the Ferrari 488? You betcha. 

The McLaren 720S is a sensational supercar, easily the best of the current breed. It has a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that produces 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. Monumentally fast, great steering and perfect high-speed balance. Top Gear said it best when they said the 720S was “Probably the single most accomplished supercar we’ve ever driven.” Best supercar on sale today, bar none. 

McLaren SennaMcLaren Senna

McLaren Senna

Engine: 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 / Power: 789 bhp / Torque: 590 lb-ft / 0-60 mph: 2.8 sec / 0-124 mph: 6.8 sec / Top Speed: 211 mph

McLaren claims this is the most extreme road car it’s ever built. It was designed to smash lap records and spend days destroying circuits lap after lap. Named after Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna, the McLaren Senna is a track-focused hypercar.

The first time you see the Senna is can be a little jarring. It certainly isn’t the prettiest car in the world but it never was meant to. Every aspect of its design is focused on making it fast around a track. The Senna is all about aerodynamics – up to 1500 pounds of air pressing the mid-engined two-seater into the tarmac at 155 mph. It could produce more, but above that speed McLaren alter the wing angles to maximise acceleration.

It makes our list because it is in fact road legal and because it really is a stunning achievement by the team at McLaren. It develops 789 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque all deployed through the rear wheels via a seven-speed twin clutch gearbox. The sprints to 62mph is over in 2.8 seconds while 124mph comes up in just 6.8 seconds. To be fast on track a car needs to be both powerful and lightweight and the Senna is a relative lightweight, weighing just 2800 pounds with all fluids and fuel. All 500 units are already sold out. 

Learn More: McLaren Senna

McLaren 675LTMcLaren 675LT

McLaren 675LT

Engine: 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 / Power: 666 bhp / Torque: 515 lb-ft / 0-60 mph: 2.9 sec
0-124 mph: 7.9 sec / Top Speed: 205 mph

The 675LT was McLaren’s answer to the Ferrari 458 Speciale, a harder, lighter, faster upgrade to the 650S. It is a track-focused supercar. . Track-focused but still absolutely scintillating on the road and nothing less than one of the greatest automotive experiences ever. Available as both a coupe and a spider the 657LT showed that McLaren could create the perfect package. Remember, this is a car from a time before the 600LT and before the Senna. McLaren had launched the 12C to great reviews, but it fell shorts in a few areas. To add injury to insult it seemed at first that McLaren was ignoring the feedback. They had built the 12C to be faster than any of the other supercars of the time, but it didn’t sound like a supercar and it wasn’t fun to drive, the electronic nannies and tuning of the chassis left people feeling it was too synthetic an experience. The 650S came along and was better than the 12C, but it was the 675LT that unleashed the McLaren beast.

Styling cues run from the extended carbon fibre front splitter, through an extended door blade and additional cooling intake, to the circular twin titanium exhaust pipes, giving a hint to the performance available for the most powerful and lightest model in the McLaren Super Series. The active ‘Longtail’ Airbrake is 50 percent bigger than the one fitted to the 650S yet, due its carbon fibre structure, is actually lighter. This is just one of the enhancements that add up to a dry weight of just 1,230kg.

More than 50 percent of parts have been changed in the 3.8-litre V8 engine to deliver increased levels of power, torque and driveability. Upgrades include new, more efficient turbos, detail design changes to the cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds, new camshaft and lightweight connecting rods, and a faster-flowing fuel pump and delivery system. These changes are so significant, that the engine unit receives a new, unique code – M838TL. The low weight, low inertia power unit produces, as the name suggests, a power output of 675PS and a power-to-weight ratio of 549PS per tonne.

The 675LT is as fully track-focused as it is road legal with around a third of parts modified to suit this purpose compared with the 650S Coupé and Spider that continue in production alongside it. Yet, like its iconic predecessor, the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’, from which the LT name is derived, this is a car that is as exciting to look at as it is to drive. It also embodies the key attributes of the ‘Longtail’ ethos targeting light weight, optimised aerodynamics, increased power, track-focused dynamics and driver engagement.

0-62 mph is over in 2.8 seconds, 0-124 mph in 7.9 seconds, the quarter mile in 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph. Wow. The way it gets there is what makes the 675LT special. The faster spooling twin-scroll turbochargers, lighter connecting rods, more aggressive camshafts and ECU tuning all combine to make the car more emotional and visceral driving experience. As Top Gear said when they first tested it, this is “nothing less than one of the greatest automotive experiences ever”.

Learn More: McLaren 675LT

McLaren P1McLaren P1

McLaren P1

Engine: 3.8 L twin-turbo V8 + electric motor / Power: 986 hp / Torque: 774 lb/ft / 0-60 mph: 2.8 sec
0-124 mph: 6.8 sec / Top Speed: 217 mph

This is the car that won the first Hybrid Hypercar War. Compared to the controllable yet vivacious characters of the cars it met when it emerged in production in 2013 – the Ferrari LaFerrari and Porsche 918 Spyder – the P1 delivered an altogether more sinister side, gaining it a reputation for having more of a bite. It was also a better performing, better handling and outright more aggressive car. Limited production run of 375, the P1 showed people that hybrid hypercars could be astonishing from a performance perspective. Cool electric motor handily fill in the torque hole left by turbo lag. One of the best ever.

The McLaren F1, released back in the nineties, was designed to be the most technically capable sports car of its era. It surpassed expectations, becoming the world’s fastest production car – a record it held for seven years until the Koenigsegg CCR and Bugatti Veyron overtook it. By that yardstick, the McLaren P1 had a lot to live up to as the F1’s spiritual predecessor at the top of the McLaren range. But McLaren, as a company, had changed a lot since the creation of the P1.

Given the focus on performance, it’s no surprise that McLaren allowed aerodynamics to define the overall design of the P1. The carbon fibre bodywork is draped over a monocoque chassis, with a fighter-jet inspired teardrop cockpit sloping up out of the bonnet to funnel air across the rear wing, helping create a distinctly mid-engined silhouette that reveals how tightly-packaged and honed the car is. Twin air vents up front hint at a venomous undertone to the P1, while an active rear spoiler provides F1 DRS-style aero advantages on the straights as well as acting as an air-brake. This rises in “Race Mode”, as the rest of the car hunkers down – creating an athletic stance and oozing menace.

The top speed may be below the F1 – an electronically limited 217 mph to the F1’s 240+mph VMax – but absolute maximum speed is not what P1 is about. A 1547 kg car with 903hp is not going to hang about off the line, and the P1 makes the dash from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds. 186mph comes up in just 16.5 seconds from standstill. The P1’s` power comes mostly from a twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 – the same as used across the McLaren range, but tweaked to output 727hp and 531 lb-ft of torque – combined with a lightweight and KERS-fed electric motor, that puts a further 176 hp and 192 lb ft at the driver’s disposal. That power reaches the rear wheels via seven-speed twin clutch gearbox.

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McLaren F1 LMMcLaren F1 LM

McLaren F1 LM

Engine: BMW 70/2 60 Degree V12 / Power: 668.0 bhp  / Torque: 520.0 ft lbs / 0-60 mph: 2.9 sec
0-100 mph: 5 sec / Top Speed: 225 mph

I know we included the McLaren F1 already, but the McLaren F1 LM is sufficiently awesome in its own right that it deserves to be here too. First of all, the “LM” stands for Le Mans which is cool.

Second, the McLaren road car had basically gone to Le Mans and won, so Gordon Murray decided to make a road version with the kit from Le Mans. Brilliant idea that was not so straightforward. The parts from the race car included a ground-effects underbody, unique front bodywork, a rear diffuser and a carbon fiber rear wing engraved with the legend ‘GTR-24 Heures du Mans Winners 1995’. The wheels grew in width, and from 17in to 18in in diameter, while the gearbox contained racing-style straight-cut gears.

The LM was a monster. It could go from standstill to 100 mph in less than five seconds. 

From a performance perspective the changes lead to a big increase maximum downforce, up some 50 percent. It was almost 150 pounds lighter than the standard F1 and has better ventilation and cooling. Perhaps the biggest change came from the removal of the air restrictors which meant the LM had 668 horsepower at 8500 rpm vs the regular F1’s 627 hp. Torque was also up from 479 to 520 pound-feet at 4500 rpm. Top speed was unchanged, with Gordon Murray gearing the LM for fast acceleration and quick gear shifts with closer ratios. 

The McLaren F1 LM costs just over $1 million and only five will be built. All five were painted Papaya Orange.

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Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling MossMercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss

Engine: Supercharge AMG V8 / Power: 641 bhp  / Torque: 605 ft lbs / 0-60 mph: 3.5 sec / Top Speed: 217.35 mph

We are counting this Mercedes-Benz and McLaren collaboration as an awesome McLaren car even though we know deep down that Mercedes-Benz probably did most of the work. It was the crowning glory to the highly successful SLR super sports car. We love how modern it was and just how uncompromisingly spectacular the car was. 

The SLR Stirling Moss had a supercharged V8 engine good for 650 hp. Standstill to 60 mph was over in less than 3.5 seconds. It was limited to just 75 units and cost a healthy 750,000 euros when announced in 2009. 

The SLR Stirling Moss sports an exciting, pronounced arrow-shaped form and is characterised by an elongated bonnet and a compact, muscular rear. As there is no windscreen, the exterior and interior flow smoothly into one. The bonnet also stretches from its striking tip right down into the interior, giving the vehicle body a distinctly sleek air. Even when standing still, the sports car radiates such dynamism that the observer immediately falls under its spell. The SLR Stirling Moss is the kind of high-calibre speedster coveted by the sporting gentry and enthusiasts alike. One of McLaren coolest models for sure. 

McLaren M12McLaren M12

McLaren M12

Engine: 6.4 L V8 / Power: 770 hp

Most people don’t know about the M12GT which was one of McLaren’s earliest road cars. It is very rate. The M12 was basically a road legal Can-Am car. Back in the late 1960s the M12 was McLaren’s customer car offered to privateers for the 1969 Can-Am season. Basically, it’s an upgraded version of the M6 chassis from two years earlier with a more aerodynamic body, and an 800-hp Chevy big block in the middle. That is what we consider a cool production car, something based on the M8As which successfully used to win the 1968 Can-Am season, as well as the M8Bs which the team were developing for 1969.

However, the M12s did not share everything from the M8 series. Instead, the monocoque chassis were actually based on the early M6 series initially developed in 1967. On top of this chassis, the aerodynamic bodywork of the M8A was added. The engine bays were specifically designed to house a Chevrolet V8 engine, but several customers opted for other manufacturers. All M12s were built by Trojan, rather than at McLaren’s racing headquarters

Several M12s were later modified by customers in order to cope with necessary demands. Many Can-Am M12 customers added larger rear wings for better downforce, in an attempt to keep up with competitors which had already done the same. Two M12s were imported to Japan by Toyota and received revised bodywork to allow better results at Japanese circuits as well as to fit company’s own V8 engine. 

McLaren M6GT

Engine: V8 / Power: 370 bhp / Torque: 370 ft lbs / 0-60 mph: 3.2 sec / 0-100 mph: 8 sec / Top Speed: 165 mph

In the late 1960s, company founder Bruce McLaren was inspired to build a road car the likes of which the world had never seen. Bruce McLaren’s vision for the M6GT is the genesis for all McLaren road cars.

Based on the latest race technology, the M6GT was superlight, blisteringly quick, confidence inspiring and safe. It would feature a closed cockpit, the running gear from a Can Am racecar. Three prototypes were produced, each capable of zero to 100 mph in eight seconds. Bruce even drove his car ever day which says a lot about how good it was. Bruce died in 1970 and with it so did the McLaren M6GT. Unfortunately, Bruce’s death and the FIA changing the rules governing homologation for the World Championship of Makes (now requiring manufacturers to complete a minimum of 50 production examples before a car could be considered) effectively killed off the project. Unable to meet the requirement at the time, the racing project was shelved and so was the production car.

Learn More: McLaren M6 GT

675 LTS Carbon675 LTS Carbon

MSO Carbon Series LT

I am including this limited edition (only 25 cars) MSO car because frankly I love the way it looks. The MSO team works their magic on a number of cars, but the limited production cars they create are some of my favorite McLaren’s.

Based on the 675LT Spider, the Carbon Series LT was produced in response to requests from McLaren customers captivated by the visual carbon fibre bodied McLaren P1. Staying true to the ‘Longtail’ ethos, the MSO Carbon Series LT was developed with a focus on light weight and optimised aerodynamic performance. Applying gloss carbon fibre to the entire body of the car further extends its appeal to bring a brutal beauty to the existing 675LT Spider body.