McLaren 765 LT 2022 - Wild sports car!

McLaren 765LT 2021: Reasonable SennaShow more

Think of the new 765LT as a budget Senna offering almost all the speed of a perfect McLaren race car for less than half the price.

It can be difficult to keep up with the pace and complexity of the McLaren model program. Many of us struggle to list the subtle differences that distinguish between what should be a sports series fighting Porsche and a super series chasing Ferrari, especially since all McLaren road cars share the same basic architecture. And since the carbon fiber tank located in the middle of the twin-turbo V-8 and the dual-clutch transmission are almost identical in each variant, it's easy to assume that cars and driving experiences are equally interchangeable.

However, this categorically does not correspond to reality, which is confirmed by the new 765LT. This car is based on the existing 720S model, which in itself is the lightest and fastest car in its light and fast segment. But the LT received an increase in both thrust and aerodynamic downforce, and also lost the claimed 176 pounds compared to the already slim 720S. The result is a car that is almost as fast and exciting as the Senna with excellent range, despite the fact that it costs half as much. It is also a much more attractive offer from all sides.

LT stands for Long Tail, a name that dates back to the 1997 McLaren F1 GT racing and has become McLaren's modern way of designating models that are track-oriented but remain viable on the road. The 765LT is the successor to the 2015 model 675LT and last year's model 600LT. Like both previous machines, it will eventually spawn a spider version. But after complaints from some 600LT buyers that their cars were not part of the limited edition - a strategy that helps protect the residual value - the production of the 765LT coupe is limited, quite appropriately, to no more than 765 copies. About a third of them are expected to arrive in the United States. Starting at $358,000, it's not much more expensive than it was 675LT five years ago.

We have already provided you with a technical overview of the new car with highlights, including an increase in engine power to 755 horsepower thanks to a higher-power fuel pump, forged aluminum pistons and a more powerful cylinder head gasket. The titanium exhaust system with four free-flow exhaust pipes reduces weight by 8.3 pounds compared to the system on the 720S. The extra weight was also saved by lightweight racing seats, ultralight alloy wheels, polycarbonate rear side glazing and even the removal of carpeting in the cabin. The lightest configuration requires buyers to choose to live without air conditioning or infotainment systems, but we assume that most buyers will keep both (as free options) and will live with a 25.3 pound weight penalty. McLaren claims that even with air conditioning and a stereo system, the 765LT weighs, but when fully refueled, it is 2,988 pounds.

We suspect that many buyers will prefer to make their 765LT a little more luxurious than the company's Spartan ideal, especially since many of the additional comfort options are provided for free. Plusher sports seats, power adjustment for them and steering column, parking sensors, front axle lift and even a Bower audio system & Wilkins with 12 speakers - all this is offered at no additional cost in the USA. I'll be able to save ounces by paying even more, the list of options even includes a "lightweight front MSO Defined badge for $1,520". More significant upgrades for an additional fee include Senna's frame ultralight carbon seats ($7,580) and a reinforced brake package that replaces standard carbon wheels with more thermally efficient carbon-ceramic hypercar rotors. It's an expensive $18,030 box, but having tested the upgraded brakes on the track, we can confirm the benefits.

We tested the 765LT exclusively on the 1.8-mile international circuit at the Silverstone Circuit in England. (The original plan was supposed to have a traffic element, but not COVID-19.) While the truncated program made it impossible to evaluate the capabilities of a new car in the real world - a shame considering how diverse the talents of the 600LT are - he confirmed that the 765LT is incredibly fast and surprisingly easy to drive with a high percentage of its capabilities.