2022 McLaren 765 LT - Wild Sports car

2021 McLaren 765LT: The Sensible Senna
Think of the new 765LT as the budget Senna, offering
almost all the speed of McLaren's ultimate track car for
less than half the price.
It can be hard to keep up with the pace and complexity
of McLaren's model program. Many of us find ourselves
struggling to list the subtle differences that distinguish
what is meant to be the Porsche-fighting Sports Series
and the Ferrari-baiting Super Series, especially as all
McLaren's roadgoing cars share the same core
architecture. And as the carbon-fiber tub, mid-mounted
twin-turbo V-8 and dual-clutch transmission are nearly
identical in each variant, it's easy to presume that the
cars and the driving experiences are equally
interchangeable.

Yet that categorically isn't true, as proven by the new
765LT. This car is based on the existing 720S, itself the
lightest and quickest machine in its light, quick segment.
But the LT has been given increases in both urge and
aerodynamic downforce, while also losing a claimed 176
pounds compared to the already svelte 720S. The result
is a car that is nearly as fast and exciting as the range.
topping Senna, despite costing less than half as much.
It's also a much more handsome proposition from every
angle.
LT stands for Long Tail, a name that harks back to the
race-evolved McLaren F1 GT of 1997 and that has
become modern McLaren's way of designating models
that are track biased while still being road viable. The
765LT is a successor to both the 2015 675LT and last
year's 600LT. Like both earlier cars, it will ultimately
spawn a spider version. But following complaints from
some 600LT buyers that their cars were not part of a
limited run-a strategy that helps protect residual values
-765LT coupe production is restricted to, appropriately
enough, no more than 765 examples. Around a third of
those are expected to come to the United States.
Starting at $358,000, it's only slightly more expensive
than the 675LT was five years ago.

We've already given you a tech rundown of the new car,
with highlights including an increase in engine output to
755 horsepower-enabled by a higher-capacity fuel
pump, forged aluminum pistons, and a beefier head
gasket. A free-flowing quad-tailpipe titanium exhaust
system shaves 8.3 pounds of weight compared to the
system on the 720S. Further mass has also been saved
with lightweight race seats, ultralight alloy wheels,
polycarbonate rear side glazing, and even the removal of
interior carpeting. The lightest possible configuration
requires buyers to opt to live without air conditioning or
infotainment systems, but we'd guess most buyers will
keep both (as no-cost options) and live with the 25.3-
pound weight penalty. Even with A/C and a stereo,
McLaren says the 765LT weighs but 2988 pounds fully
fueled.
We suspect many buyers will opt to make their 765LTs
fractionally more luxurious than the company's spartan
ideal, especially as many of the weight-adding comfort
options come free. Plusher sports seats, power
adjustment for those and the steering column, parking
sensors, a front-axle lift, and even the 12-speaker Bower
& Wilkins audio upgrade are all offered at no extra cost
in the U.S. Conversely-and perversely-you'll be able to
save ounces by paying even more, the option list even
including a $1520 "MSO Defined lightweight front
badge."