This is the McLaren 620R, a road-and-track high-performance car that will be limited to just 350 units. It's an evolution of the 570S GT4.
Capable of 322km/h
The 570S GT4 has been a successful Customer Racing machine around the world and the 620R has been built to celebrate that fact. It classifies as a Sport Series model of McLaren, which allows it to be tagged as the most track-focused, track-ready but roadgoing McLaren Sports Series vehicle of them all. It is therefore free from the rules and regulations of homologation, that racing-only cars must adhere to.
It shares much with the 570S GT4, such as the carbon-fibre Monocell II chassis and adjustable aerodynamic elements, race-derived suspension components and powertraing recalibration to increase power and performance. And it should be light: McLaren is targeting a lightest dry weight of just 1,282kg for the 620R. All the grunt comes from the M838TE 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, which here delivers 620hp at 7,000rpm and a matching 620Nm at 3,500rpm. You might think this sounds like the motor from the recent GT but of course that's a 4.0-litre V8, not this 3.8 unit. Any which way you cut it, though, performance on the 620R is brutal. The 0-100km/h run is done and dusted with in 2.9 seconds, 0-200km/h takes just 8.1 seconds and the top speed is 322km/h; that's bang on 200mph, in old money.
32-click adjustable dampers
Stiffer drivetrain mounts help the seven-speed Seamless Shift Gearbox transmit the engine's massive power most efficiently to the rear wheels, while two-way manually adjustable coilover motorsport dampers from the GT4 are fitted to the suspension; these have 32 clicks of adjustment per corner, for both rebound and compression. Said dampers are 6kg lighter taken overall than the shock absorbers fitted to regular Sports Series cars. More suspension goodness comes in the form of aluminium wishbones and uprights, stiffer anti-roll bars and springs than on a regular Sports Series vehicle, and stainless-steel top-mounts, rather than rubber bushes.
Meanwhile, the brakes are carbon-ceramic composite discs, measuring 390- and 380mm front and rear respectively, gripped by aluminium callipers all round. Aiding the anchors' stopping power are semi-slick Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres as standard, which provide immense grip, but McLaren says owners can opt for full racing slicks from Pirelli Motorsport and these increase the retardation even further. With its 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, McLaren claims that this is the first time that a road-legal car has been engineered to be able to run on slick tyres without the need for additional mechanical adjustment, while the rear wing can cram 185kg of downforce onto the back axle in its most aggressive setting.
Lightweight spec
Outside and in, the 620R looks special and is made of lightweight stuff. All of the front bumper, splitter and carbon-fibre bonnet have been redesigned, while there are twin 'nostrils' in the last of these to aid downforce and clean up airflow over the car. Dive planes can be seen on the outer edges of the front bumper, while inside it's all stripped out - there's no glovebox nor floor carpeting. Even air-con the IRIS navigation system and a sound system are all removed too, although they can also all be specified at no extra cost. A lightweight Bowers & Wilkins audio upgrade is a cost option and the two occupants will enjoy sitting in super-light carbon-fibre racing seats with six-point harnesses. Lotsa carbon-fibre and a 12 o'clock marker on the steering wheel complete the ambience, with a sequentially numerical plaque saying which number example of the run of 350 cars you're sitting in.
Any 620R buyers will get a choice of just three colours inspired by GT4 racers, such as McLaren Orange with white racing stripes, Silica White with orange stripes or Onyx Black with orange stripes, but personalisation will be available to customers. The price is going to be somewhere in the order of €476,000, assuming that a) it will emit more than 226g/km of CO2 once it is certified and b) you can even get hold of one.
'Authentic motorsport driving sensation'
Mike Flewitt, the CEO of McLaren Automotive, said: "The McLaren 570S GT4 is a first-class GT race car that - having won races in every championship it has competed in since its first appearance in 2017 - is attracting an increasing number of customer racing teams. Now, in response to repeated customer requests, we have homologated that class-leading package for the road in the new McLaren 620R, a limited-edition, 620hp superlight coupe that is the perfect choice for an enthusiast wanting an authentic motorsport driving sensation - and performance to match - on both track and road."