McLaren has revealed the 788HS, the latest in a lineage of mid-engine V-8-powered supercars stretching back to the 720S that arrived in 2017. If McLaren's alphanumeric names leave you confused, allow us to explain: the 720S spawned the high-performance 765LT in 2021, before being succeeded by the 750S. Now, it's time for the 750S to receive its own hardcore upgrade, and the new limited-production 788HS takes the formula to the extreme with more power and track-ready aerodynamics.
This is only the third McLaren to bear the HS name, which stands for "High Sport," and the power output has certainly risen, with the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 now tuned to crank out 777 horsepower. That's 37 more ponies than the 750S, and it's also equivalent to 788 PS, hence the first half of the car's name. Torque is unchanged at 590 pound-feet, and McLaren says the dry weight has been reduced to 2789 pounds, versus a claimed 2815 pounds for the 750S.
The engine revs to 8500 rpm, with power peaking at 7500 rpm, and McLaren claims it will zip to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and reach 124 mph in 7.0 seconds flat. The top speed is a claimed 205 mph, and McLaren says a new engine-mount calibration brings "heightened engagement and connection between powertrain and driver." A new quad-exit titanium exhaust should also contribute to a more visceral experience.
McLaren continues to employ its trick suspension setup that uses diagonal hydraulic connections between the dampers instead of anti-roll bars, and the system has been retuned for duty in the 788HS. The car also rides 0.2 inch lower up front than the 750S, and the brakes have been beefed up with carbon-ceramic discs derived from the McLaren Senna. These are clamped by six-piston forged aluminum monoblock front calipers, and, for the first time in the lineage of the 720S, there are center-lock wheels.
Along with more oomph, the 788HS is adorned with more extreme aerodynamic elements, all fashioned from carbon fiber. A new S-duct in the hood directs air over the cabin to the huge raised active rear wing. A new sharper front splitter, meanwhile, works in conjunction with a redesigned diffuser that takes inspiration from McLaren's experience in Formula 1. All told, these upgrades bring 10 percent more downforce than the 765LT.
The cabin is mostly unchanged, but McLaren has fitted a new carbon-fiber center console, and the seats wear a unique perforation pattern. There are also HS badges, 788HS logos stitched into the headrests, and a plaque signifying the car's limited-production status and lineage within the McLaren lineup.
Production of the 788HS will be extremely limited, with just 200 built. There will be 100 coupes and 100 Spider convertibles, with every unit customized by McLaren Special Operations. There's no word on price, but it will likely cost a significant amount more than the $365,100 that's required to buy a 750S.
McLaren says this is the "definitive and final evolution" and "concludes the multi-award-winning supercar lineage that began with 720S." A successor to the 750S is reportedly due in 2028 and could bring substantial changes now that McLaren has been merged with British startup Forseven following its acquisition by Abu Dhabi investment firm CYVN Holdings.
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
此内容由惯性聚合(RSS阅读器)自动聚合整理，仅供阅读参考。 原文来自 — 版权归原作者所有。