After obtaining the 650S Spider from the Forza Horizon 5 Series 6 Hot Season Playlist, it's time to settle the issue of how much the 720S Spider evolved from the 650S Spider. But first, let's get to know the prime specimens.
The 650S Spider offers the same thrills as the coupe version, especially the 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine producing 641hp of power while mated to a 7-speed double-clutch gearbox but with a foldable roof for some open-top enjoyment on the road and track. While the 650S coupe weighs around 1330kg, the Spider weighs 40kg more and as a result, the top speed is dropped by 4mph, resulting to 203mph, but the 0-60mph time is still at three seconds.
The 720S Spider offers the same driving experience as the coupe version only with the retractable roof that can be opened or closed at the push of the button. It carries the same 720PS 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine as well and although it weighs 4% heavier than the coupe, it can still do 0-60mph in almost three seconds and onwards to 212mph.
Now that we get to know these open-top Super Series machines, it's time to revisit the main Horizon Mexico Festival Site to find out how fast it takes for the 650S Spider to evolve into the 720S Spider. Without further ado, let's roll the tape.
After a quick lap, here are the results;
650S Spider - 1:08.635
720S Spider - 1:07.301
Although these two machines weigh the same, it took nearly a second for the 650S Spider to evolve into the 720S Spider. That's evolution, the McLaren way, and I've never felt this surprised over this result. Still, they're worth fun driving both and deciding.
The McLaren 720S is the current evolution of the Super Series, the series that has been around since the 12C, the very first McLaren they've made after the divorce between McLaren and Mercedes-Benz. With its challenging but cutting-edge, motorsport-inspired dynamics, the 720S sure knows the true meaning of respect from those who treat it right.
However, those who demand more respect than the normal 720S should consider its pumped-up version, the 765LT, the prize car that can be obtained from the FH5 Series 6 Storm Season Playlist.
So, what's it all about the McLaren 765LT, you may ask?
The McLaren 765LT is the third Longtail model unveiled since the 650S-based 675LT and the 570S-based 600LT. It's the most potent Longtail ever built as it incorporates most of the know-how from McLaren's motorsport experience and features an upgraded version of the 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine producing 755HP of power and 590ft-lb of torque. Mated to a double-clutch gearbox, it does 0-60mph in less than three seconds. Because of its 1,229kg dry weight courtesy of its extensive carbon fiber use, it has a power-to-weight ratio of 622PS per tonne, beating rivals by over 50PS per tonne. Apart from that, the 765LT features a hydraulically actuated rear wing with three main operational positions; Driver Downforce, DRS, and High-Speed Braking.
How does it compare to the 720S? The 765LT is more potent and crazier to drive compared to the 720S and because it delivers so much power, it takes an expert to handle this monster machine like a boss. Call it a road-legal track toy but it's definitely more than that because the 765LT pushes the definition of what makes a McLaren, well, a McLaren.
To test this notion, it's time to give the 765LT a moment it will never forget and with that, it's a leisurely street race against the best hypercars gathered in the Mexican desert. Hold on to your seats, folks, because it's going to be a crazy ride. Roll the tape.
The craziest moment pulled by a potent McLaren. Makes you want to do it again, huh?
The 765LT demonstrated to the world what happens when you turn the already crazy-but-wonderful 720S into the ultimate expression of the Super Series that possesses motorsport levels of fun and excitement on the open road. It may be a track toy but it's road legal and that's how McLaren rocks.
The McLaren 720S is the current evolution of the Super Series, the series that has been around since the 12C, the very first McLaren they've made after the divorce between McLaren and Mercedes-Benz. Having familiarized with one of the most sensational sportscars of the decade, just how much the Super Series has evolved from the 12C to the 720S?
To find out, let's pit down the three stages of the McLaren Super Series, from the 12C to the 720S, and see how much these machines evolved by taking on a time attack with a major twist; traffic. I know, my experiment is a bit out of touch but I like spicing things up, you know. Before that, let's get to know the Super Series evolution.
The MP4-12C harks the return of McLaren making supercars since the legendary F1. As a pure McLaren sportscar, the 12C features cutting edge-technology borrowed from McLaren's racing data which harks back to the time Lewis Hamilton represented McLaren, making it well adapt to any road and track condition while being aerodynamically efficient at high speeds. Its 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine which is somewhat small but packs a heavy punch when you put your foot down.
Most people believe that the 650S is a mashup between the 12C's body and the P1's face but there's more to its questionable styling than that because while it represents the next step of the Super Series range, the 650S picks up where the 12C left off by incorporating some of the P1's knowhow and improving the 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine that powers it, making it a supercar that can be driven faster and harder for longer.
And now, the latest generation of the Super Series, the 720S. Powered by a brand new 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine and mated with the double clutch gearbox, it does 0-60mph in less than three seconds and onwards to 341km/h (212mph). Apart from the performance, the 720S is all about form and functionality as well as employing McLaren's racing know-how on the road and track, giving the Italian rivals a run for their money.
Now that I got to know about the evolution of the Super Series, it's time to take these three for a sprint on the Monument Wynds. Ready, GO!
After surviving the Monument Wynds, here are the results;
12C - 2:23.010
650S - 2:18.505
720S - 2:12.666
By science, it took somewhat eleven seconds to evolve from the 12C to the 720S and seems that McLaren wasn't joking about improving the Super Series with new and exciting ways to make it faster everywhere.
Call it challenging to drive and tricky to master but the 720S is here to stay and as the Italian rivals get better and better, this British icon stays defiant to the very end and this 720S shows that McLaren is a force to be reckoned with on the road and on the track. Speaking of which, now that the 720S passed my little experiment, how about I treat this little charmer a little something?
This is something to smile about or scare about if it catches you by surprise but anyway, this pesky little joker is ready for action and with that, I'm off to LEGO Valley to get its comic mischief on...
I should warn you that when you inject this fellow with lots of power, it's going to be catastrophic at the start. Trust me, it happens a lot. Anyway, with my favorite joker in place, it's time to see if this is worthy of being my favorite McLaren.
Man, this is messy and anticlimatic from start to finish but the 720S sure knows how to put a smile in my face, especially with a special someone by its side.
The 720S is the evolution of McLaren's Super Series that started from the 12C and the 650S and by blending performance and technology with motorsport know-how in mind, this British supercar truly adapts to the road and track in a way no driver ever experienced before.
I have fallen in love with the 720S because it really pulls the joker right from its trumpet and with such character, it makes me want to go back for more. Now, however, there's the Spider version that I just won from the recent Horizon Playlist and the main question is, do I still love the 720S even though the roof is opened?
The 720S Spider offers the same driving experience as the coupe version only with the retractable roof that can be opened or closed at the push of the button. It carries the same 720PS 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine as well and although it weighs 4% heavier than the coupe, it can still do 0-60mph in almost three seconds and onwards to 212mph.
While the 720S Spider is downright stylish right from the skin deep, it's surprisingly aerodynamic and cutting edge. The buttresses on it direct air over the tonneau for better powertrain cooling and downforce while the most of the body is shrink-wrapped through the carbon fiber Monocage II-S structure and the V8 Twin Turbo engine for the sake of efficiency, performance, and drag, and thanks to applied science, the Proactive Chassis Control II monitors the car's dynamics while delivering the perfect balance of body control and ride comfort.
Although different from its hardtop equivalent, the 720S Spider still behaves just like it and I'm starting to fall in love with the 720S even more. Even with the roof opened and with a few weight gain compared to the coupe, it is still a fun-to-drive car that I can always come back for more not just for the styling but for the characteristics lurking through this supercar.
Having gotten to know the 720S Spider, the question is how does it really differ from the coupe? With Princes Street at hand, it's time to see how much difference the two 720S models made. I know the Spider is 4% heavier than the coupe but would that translate to such slower times compared to the coupe? To find out, let's roll the tape for the answer.
After a quick lap on the Princes Street, here are the results;
720S - 0:56.156
720S Spider - 0:58.959
These two cars are almost three seconds apart as a result of this comparison between the two 720S models, the coupe and the Spider, but still an impressive feat these two supercars shown.
Coupe or Spider, it doesn't matter which 720S I chose because deep down, the 720S range really tickled my fancy into coming back for more because of its performance that overshadowed its illustrious style and that is the bottom line.
Last year, Aston Martin brought back the DBS as the balls-out, amped-up version of the luxurious DB11 that blends comfort and performance at the same pace and with the new Volante version, the DBS gets even better-looking with the roof down, meaning there's plenty of cruising to do with the most powerful open-top Aston Martin ever made.
2020 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante
The 247,500 Pound Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante delivers the same excitement as the hardtop equivalent, only this time, with the top opened. Unlike the DB11 Volante, which is available only with the AMG-derived 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine, the new DBS Volante carries the same 725PS 5.2L V12 Twin Turbo engine as the hardtop equivalent and while it weighs slightly more than the hardtop equivalent, it still goes from 0-60mph in three and a half seconds and onwards to 211mph, which is surprisingly impressive in a car that blows its Vanquish Volante predecessor in hard water.
Unlike the coupe, the DBS Volante features numerous aerodynamic tweaks that differ from its hardtop equivalent because of the clear difference what happens when the roof is opened or closed and with that, the downforce is about 3kg less than the coupe but despite that, it is still as savage and lairy the coupe of course. It maybe a super grand tourer, it maybe quiet, and it maybe as classy as a woman in track suit doing zero gravity stuff but it is heavenly addicting to drive. You'll find plenty of reasons to enjoy the new open-top DBS any time you want.
The DBS Superleggera Volante is still a slice of heaven to drive even with the roof open but while this is all about heavenly shades of glory, the DBS Volante should better watch its back because in about a second, it might get yanked by a certain joker out of nowhere and there's one...
2019 McLaren 720S Spider
This is the new 720S Spider, the open-top version offers the same thrills as the hardtop equivalent, only with the roof opened. Although it is priced ten grand cheaper than the DBS, the 720S Spider will surely toy around the DBS for fun.
It carries the same 720PS 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine as the coupe but thanks to McLaren's skillful engineering, the weight has only gone up to 4%, meaning it can still do 0-60mph in almost three seconds and onwards to 212mph, just like its coupe equivalent.
Although different than the coupe in terms of performance and looks, the 720S Spider still behaves like a proper open-top hypercar. Still comes with the same high-tech wizardry as well, making the 720S Spider more of a toy rather than a car. It's like an iPhone for milky jokers but aside from being a claws-out, gung-ho, high-tech supercar, the 720S Spider can act like a grand tourer on its own right one switch at a time and like the coupe, the 720S Spider is an all-rounder, meaning it has all the speed, the comfort, the drift, and the space fit for a sportscar like this.
It's easy to fall in love with the joker than a little slice of heaven even though both of these cars were deemed to be challenging to get off the starting line. The DBS is very exciting to look at for a Super Grand Tourer, the 720S is all about a mentalist that delivers all the right stuff to entertain wealthy owners into driving one. These two British open-top sportscars may be in a different class but they can deliver the best driving experience drivers can't get enough of.
The Super Series range of McLaren served as their comeback for making fast cars that can compete against Italian dominance in this fast-changing world. From the 12C to the 650S, the Super Series is all about showcasing its British engineering to the rest of the globe in speedy levels and by showcasing how much racing know-how they've invested during their F1 heydays, they really mean business.
By the time the Super Series is ready for its metamorphosis, McLaren gave us their latest sportscar which serves as the evolved form of the 12C and the 650S, and here it is...
This is the new McLaren 720S and I just picked it up from Forza Motorsport 7's Top Gear Car Pack. Man, looks like the SCAMCO boys gave up the keys of the new McLaren to the Forza producers, eh? Such luck but anyway, let's talk about the 720S.
The second chapter of McLaren's Super Series range begins with the launch of their all-new supercar made to tackle both roads and tracks with its racing pedigree in mind, known as the 720S.
The 720S is powered by brand new 4.0L V8 twin turbo engine that delivers a titular 720PS power output and 770Nm of torque. Armed with the double clutch gearbox, it does 0-60mph in less than three seconds and onwards to 341km/h (212mph). Even though the performance is rather extreme, it's still a high-tech supercar that is 91% new inside out. Instead of massive gaping intakes, the 720S uses channels along the bodywork to feed air into the engine bay. All of the bodywork is mostly carbon fiber, resulting to a much lighter weight compared to the 650S and lower center of gravity. Coupled with an improved computer-controlled suspension and the result is a much better handling car compared to its predecessor.
With its form and functionality combined as well as its extreme performance and racing know-how, the 720S marks a fresh new chapter in McLaren's history and it will give its Italian foes a run for its money.
In BBC Top Gear Season 25 Episode 2, Chris Harris tries out the 720S at Portimao, Portugal, and it even had a shootout against the P1 as well.
Although completely different than the old 12C and the 650S, the 720S still drives like a McLaren due to its high-tech wizardry surrounding beneath its striking looks and when you get your hands onto this beauty, its raw firepower makes it a real beast. It maybe razor sharp but it's somewhat enjoyable to drive when you take your time on this car and this car won't let you go until you are fully satisfied. Sounds reasonable? I think so because having exercise most of its ups and downs, the 720S is a challenging but enjoyable McLaren that wants to be taken seriously but light-hearted for the fun of it.
Seeing that the 720S is an evolution of the Super Series, I'm going to the Top Gear Test Track to see what is all about.
While enjoying my drive with the 720S at the Top Gear Track, I had a little thinking that will put McLaren's newest supercar to the test. You see, the fastest production car to lap round the Top Gear Track is the old 675LT with a lap time of 1:13.7. So the challenge was to see if I can match that lap time using the new 720S. This is time where I'm going to put this new generation McLaren to the test.
After my run with this car at the track, I posted a 1:16.424 lap time round the track, which means I failed this challenge. I know, I find the steering to be quite tricky to handle and quite tricky to brake and because of having so much power, it's hard to get away from its wheelspin. Wheelspin kills lap times and everybody knows that.
Despite my flawed attempt, I'm glad that I'm driving McLaren's newest supercar full stop. Although only a selected drivers can master its full potential, there are some drivers who can appreciate how much of a McLaren this new 720S is doing. Either way, I am more than welcome to drive the 720S anytime when needed.
For my first session with PROJECT CARS 2, which is now available on the Playstation4 and PC via STEAM, it's time to take a sample with the newest McLaren supercar ever built, which became one of the cover cars of the game, round one of Japan's technical racetrack that was notably used for Super GT races.
Made its world premiere at this year's Geneva Motor Show, the McLaren 720S marks the next chapter of McLaren's Super Series range, which started it all with the MP4-12C, the first supercar since McLaren's separation from Mercedes-Benz after the discontinuation of the SLR.
Served as the replacement for the 650S, the 720S is powered by McLaren's brand new 4.0L V8 twin turbo engine which produces a titular 720ps of power output and 770Nm of torque. With the the double clutch gearbox, it does 0-60mph in less than three seconds and onwards to 341km/h (212mph).
Apart from the performance it delivers, the 720S features a newly improved Proactive Chassis Control, as well as its new suspension, power-assisted electro-hydraulic steering, and carbon fiber Monocage II structure enveloped by its lightweight aluminium and composite bodywork, which makes it lighter than the previous Super Series lineup.
I've selected Japan's Fuji Speedway to demonstrate the 720S full capabilities as a supercar born for both road and track and of course, being a Bandai Namco game, this track deserves a privilege to give it a go as well as the game's hero car. Since this is PROJECT CARS, this is a racing simulation game that probably separates the guys from the lads, and driving a road-going supercar is no easy task as you have to understand its capabilities before setting off. The same thing goes to the other cars featured in the game because not all cars are made equally because depending on the track they set foot, they behave differently and every skilled driver should know that before setting off.
Anyway, no time for chat because for my first session with this game, time to see how the 720S fares in Fuji Speedway.
Not the best that I hoped for but this is a clear demonstration how does McLaren's newest masterpiece stack up in Fuji Speedway and the very tight corner that served as the challenge for the 720S' handling dynamics.
To see more of the 720S and Fuji Speedway, play PROJECT CARS 2 now.
