We tried the McLaren 720S: an intense, wild and surprisingly noble supercar
Published by The team in News the 04/06/2023 at 14:18
Welcome to a timeless story. McLaren has just unveiled the all-new McLaren 750S, the latest addition to the legendary British supercar family. Have we tried it? Not yet. Instead, we put the McLaren 720S, the previous model, to the test.
And why would we test a model that is not brand new? Well, simply because the opportunity arose and we were able to do it. Would you turn down the chance to experience one of the best super sports cars?
Of course, now (more) seriously. When presented with a powerful car, with a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-seater, twin-turbo V8 and unibody chassis, it would be rude to turn down the opportunity to try something so extreme to be able to observe from your own eyes how far the industry can go. This is all the more important in a time of change such as ours.
McLaren 720S: British spectacular
I have to admit I have some biases towards Britain, whether it's food, ubiquitous carpeting, left-hand drive or weather. However, there is one thing that appeals to me deeply and that is the British perspective on the car industry.
The phenomenon of burnout pushes this fascination to a higher level, as car culture is firmly rooted in society. The country has a powerful industry with brands that have reshaped the automotive landscape, renowned engineers that have shaken up the competition, and hugely powerful competition teams. And of course, these names are familiar to you.
McLaren (along with Aston Martin, Bentley, Lotus and others, lesser known as Noble, Radical or TVR) is one of those elite companies capable of making you fall in love even before you've seen their models in person. They possess something that goes beyond mere business, aiming for passion rather than economic results.
The McLaren we are discussing today is a car that is reaching the end of its life cycle. She was unveiled in 2017 and her retirement time has now arrived. This yellow version was recently released before heading back to the British Isles to take a well deserved rest, making way for a new model which is about to arrive. We therefore wanted to pay homage to it by devoting a place to it among our pages rather than neglecting it by leaving it.
As soon as you retrieve it, a feeling of excitement invades you. It's not very common to come across supercars (unless you live in Puerto Banús or somewhere similar), but approaching one knowing it will be your car for the next few miles is a special experience.
If you are at all familiar with the automotive world, you will easily recognize the distinctive signs. The design language is typically McLaren, and if we compare with the 750S (or the Artura, or the Senna...), we will find that they share many traits. Fluid and deeply aerodynamic lines, shaped in the wind tunnel.
The design of the car is characterized by a low and sharp front, as well as a powerful rear with a high tail. You can clearly see the painstaking work that has shaped the bodywork, especially with the air ducts that sculpt the cabin in two directions: generating downforce and directing fresh air to the engine for cooling.
As for aerodynamics, the rear of the car has an integrated wing that activates automatically. At constant speed, it lifts to support the rear of the car on the road. When braking, it positions itself vertically to act as an aerodynamic brake and improve stability.
It is remarkable that despite the fame of the brand, McLaren strives to maintain clean and subtle lines in this model. Except for the rear, where the aerodynamic elements are present, they are integrated in a very discreet way, without creating visual dissonance.
The proportions of this creature are incredibly muscular, with a length of 4.54 meters, a width of 1.93 meters and a height of only 1.19 meters. The result is a wild presence that seems to be firmly grounded even when standing still. The car is as long but wider than an Audi RS 3, giving it an imposing look.
Now let's talk about weight. The comparisons may seem unpleasant, but with a weight of 1,494 kg for the British supercar, it is around 200 kg lighter than the German supercompact. I know the comparison is not really relevant, but these cars are unlike anything you've ever driven (unless you've ever driven a supercar). Recently I drove the RS 3, and believe me, if you can go fast with the German, the McLaren can leave you speechless.
mass emotion weapon
If you can have a good time just by looking at the McLaren 720S, getting inside becomes a ritual that is best savored gradually.
The door opening is concealed inside the upper air duct. We roll it out and fully lift on one side. We admire the spectacle of the scissor-shaped hinges, an interesting solution that offers sufficient space to access them.
The next step is to overcome the massive door sill, which, we recall, is huge, since it is an integral part of the car's structure. We lean over, slide into the seat, and oh dear! I believe this is the car with the lowest seat I have ever sat in. The back is about a foot (30 centimeters) off the ground. We are once again captivated by the imagination provided by the closing of the doors. It's magnificent, with an irreproachable electric closure.
Inside, I begin to familiarize myself with the surroundings and mentally organize the location of each command. McLaren has its own approach and it's time to get used to it. The interior has a hunting feel, but without being too confusing. Yes, the digital instrument cluster folds out to "avoid distractions" and turns into a small screen displaying only essential information such as gear ratio, engine rpm and tachometer, which is a bit unusual.
In normal mode it offers a good variety of information, looking more like a GT than a supercar, but the central tachometer and speedometer are still present. These are the two elements that we will have to watch the most carefully.
The materials and finishes of this car, which costs more than 250,000 euros, are of very high quality. There's carbon fiber, leather and Alcantara, plus extremely strong metal gearshift paddles and body-matched stitching. There's plenty of carbon fiber too, with ample space for two occupants (even the floor is reduced to the sides of the front). The steering wheel is also covered in carbon fiber and fiberglass, and there is a 210-litre front trunk with an exposed carbon fiber structure.
The center console has a screen for the infotainment system, which is a real relief, like a rain in May. However, the interface is quite slow and the experience takes us back a bit, especially since the climate controls are also integrated, which is not very comfortable.
On the right, there are the controls for the different driving modes (Comfort, Sport and Track), as well as the ESC regulation with three levels. Below there are shortcuts for the touch screen, and at the bottom, a gear selector with three switches: D, N and R. Between the two, there is a red start button that has been asking us for some time. time.
We can't wait to get started, and will it be possible? A wonderful sound begins to tickle our minds. In an automotive world increasingly focused on modesty with an overabundance of good humor, it's a pleasure to still be able to enjoy a cold start such as that offered by this McLaren 720S.
It resonates considerably, it sounds pleasant, and it does not emit excessive volume. It depends on the comparison you make, but there are German or British models that produce more noise and less finesse. Through the titanium exhausts, a breath of metallic timbre and high notes manifests itself when accelerating at no load... phew!
We chose D mode on the gearbox and the first few meters were perhaps some of the most intense I've ever experienced behind the wheel. (Unless you count tricky maneuvers with a top-loaded truck.) Even in Comfort mode, the McLaren 720S feels like a race car.
The steering is particularly heavy, the suspensions are extremely rigid, the reactions of the transmission are dry. This car does not like slow speeds and its visibility is not its strong point. However, I would like to qualify this last point: the visibility pleasantly surprised me, even in the central rear-view mirror. However, the prospect of sitting so low is more daunting than usual.
We are so low that we have to be mindful of headroom. Bumps that are usually uncomfortable for an everyday car should be approached with even more caution in a McLaren 720S. Indeed, it is essential to watch the 'lift' button which raises the nose of the car in 10 seconds to overcome obstacles without touching them. At a speed of 60 km/h, it automatically returns to its normal position.
There is something disturbing about driving this car. It's not specifically related to the car itself, although it does. Everyone is watching you. We are now used to people staring at cars, but never as intensely as with this McLaren 720S. Maybe its yellow color isn't the most discreet, or maybe it's because of the noise it makes, or who knows. Looks, comments and gestures from others are way above average.
McLaren 720S: 720 reasons...
Given the extensive work required with a car of this caliber, we quickly headed to an open space to begin work. As we drove out of town, the McLaren 720S continued to impress us, and being one of the fastest cars in the world, I don't find it uncomfortable for travel at all. It is not stiff as a board, and the suspensions work perfectly.
Little by little, we explore the capacities that the right foot hides, and we allow a fantasy to appear in this feeling of incorporation. It accelerates brutally, even if it is only an appetizer.
The engine, placed just behind the cabin, is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 (M840T of 3,994 cubic centimeters) which represents an evolution of the previous block (M838T). Nearly half of its components have been replaced to create an all-new engine. Mainly, the displacement has been increased by 3,799 cc thanks to new connecting rods and a new crankshaft (which by the way is flat), lighter, while increasing the stroke of the piston.
This engine block is equipped with two twin-scroll turbochargers which, when you press the accelerator, produce an extremely powerful intake noise. The result of this configuration is a power of 720 CV (incredible, isn't it?) and a maximum torque of 770 Nm transmitted to the rear wheels.
According to the figures, this car reaches 100 km/h from a standstill in just 2.9 seconds, 200 km/h in 7.8 seconds and 300 km/h in 21.4 seconds. We haven't made precise measurements, but in practice this car is incredibly powerful and extremely capable. It offers impressive thrust that few cars on the market can match.
You really have to master the gear changes to take full advantage of the performance of this car. From 4,000 rpm, the thrust becomes brutal, and reaching 6,000 or 7,000 rpm gives the impression that your neurons are going to disintegrate. If you don't upshift, the engine speed will reach its limit just over 7000 rpm. It's quicker than you think at times, as the engine is incredibly responsive and nimble as it climbs through the revs.
Retrievals show the same phenomenon. In Sport and Track mode, the punch becomes even more intense, causing jumps in the controls and injecting a dose of adrenaline that exceeds all measures.
This car is not only extremely powerful, it is also designed to channel energy efficiently. Thanks to its central engine position, mass distribution and reduced weight (compared to an Opel Astra), as well as its wide 305 mm rear wheels, it is a real spicy recipe for time trial performance. .
In addition, its maneuverability is also one of its strengths. Its Monocage II carbon fiber monocoque chassis and independent deformable parallelogram suspension system provide excellent road holding. These suspensions are also electronically controlled thanks to the Proactive Chassis Control II system.
The resulting car not only offers efficient transmission of power to the asphalt when exiting corners or cornering fast, but in most cases it feels like approaching each corner extremely slowly.
This chassis is specifically designed to optimize its performance on the circuit, which makes it seem like its limit (logically) is well above our capabilities and the limits of driving on public roads. A car like this is extremely fun on the road, but it can also border on the absurd.
This vehicle can be described as a lightweight package, with precise, resilient and highly responsive electro-hydraulic steering to guide the car exactly where you want it to go with tactical precision and surgical execution. The suspension system provides excellent support and allows for flat cornering, providing a sublime level of control.
The car's suspensions use an oleo-pneumatic scheme with connected axes. A system of pressure-controlled pipes connects the axles, ensuring that the car remains horizontal regardless of the inertial force. This eliminates body tilt when cornering, which greatly improves steering precision.
When it comes to the rear of the McLaren 720S, if one is looking for a feeling of lightness, it can be compared to a game of tickles. Fortunately, the electronics intervene as a security measure, keeping everything in place. Even when the car moves slightly out of position, it does so predictably and neutrally.
...and an indelible memory
When it's time to return the McLaren 720S, it's inevitable to feel a bit of melancholy. It's like a summer passion, intense and sudden, which marks you and which you will always remember with tenderness.
This car is not only fast, it is exceptionally precise, with transmission reactions as dry as a racing car. It's incredibly attractive, with a special charm... It's the fastest car I've ever had the opportunity to test, and yet, I found it strangely affordable because of its noble and captivating nature. . She gave me the privileged opportunity to spend time in her company.
This car is not really affordable in terms of price. Its initial price reaches dangerously 300,000 euros (about 285,000 euros). In addition, its fuel consumption often exceeds 20 liters per 100 km, although this is not the main concern of its potential clientele.
It is a car that evolves in a higher category, alongside vehicles such as the Lamborghini Aventador or the Ferrari 488. Like the latter, the 720S is also an emblematic car that participates in the history of the automobile. . We are going to miss these magnificent cars and their thrilling performances.
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