The rise and rise of McLaren Automotive have to be the sassiest comeback for an automaker in the 21st century. Before 2010, they were known as "McLaren Cars" and gave us iconic and mind-bending entities like the McLaren F1 and the Mercedes-Benz SLR-McLaren. But other than these two offerings, the word 'McLaren' was seldom reciprocated in the automotive world despite their fame that could easily stand tall to the likes of Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
But after 2010, it was comeback-time for this British marque. While their first offering - the McLaren MP4-12C was riddled with problems, they were quick to rectify it. And thereon, McLaren has been providing us with some of the most involving performance machines out there. And their distinctive design language coupled with vibrant colors makes the world know of the rise of a driver's paradise.
McLaren is at it again, with their latest 'alien' - the 2022 765LT Spider. While convertibles are not a new thing for the marque, the 765LT Spider stands out as the most powerful top-down McLaren ever made. Combining McLaren's alienated looks, the 765LT Spider flaunts the convertible look like a boss. This ought to be one of the coolest 2022 convertibles available.
2022 McLaren 765LT Spider is the fastest new 'alien' in town that nails the top-down look.
Thought The McLaren 765LT Was Magical? Meet Its Roofless Evolution
McLaren has been pumping out insanely good cars in the past decade. Among its supercar line-up, the 720S was the pinnacle of madness with explosive performance and killer looks to die for. And we thought that McLaren had reached its prime! They proved us wrong with the even-madder 765LT that was basically a more aggressive 720S with a Long Tail! The 765LT weighed in under 3000 pounds and packed a V8 that screamed with 754 horses at its disposal.
Now, with the 2022 McLaren 765LT, they have done it again! Pushing the threshold ever further, McLaren has given us their most powerful convertible yet. It is not just a roof-chop job but has meticulously made tweaks to keep the performance and curb weight in line with its coupe counterpart, despite the added motors for the roof down mechanism.
McLaren 765LT Spider Pumps Out 755 Horses From A Known V8
The McLaren 765LT used the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 motor from the 720S. This feat continues in the 765LT Spider as well. Generally, with a convertible iteration, the performance figures go down because of added weight and aerodynamic restrictions. But surprisingly, the 2022 765LT Spider retains the performance figures (even has 1 extra HP!).
It churns out 755 HP and 590 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. The Spider does 0-60 MPH in 2.7 seconds and has a top speed of 205 MPH, unchanged from that of the Coupe. The handling characteristics are heavenly and the top-down layout adds more drama to the whole experience.
It Takes 11 Seconds To Transform; Adds Just 108 Pounds In Weight
McLaren uses a single-piece carbon-fiber retractable hardtop that is extremely light and compensates marginally for the added motorized setup. The electrically operated roof lowers or raises in just 11 seconds and up to speeds of 31 MPH. So, it can take a bit of 'wind blast'. The more interesting part is the weight gains. Generally, gaining weight is not a good sign for a supercar. But the weight difference between a generic coupe and its convertible counterpart has been quite wide and disrupting for the performance.
McLaren has narrowed this down to the bare minimum and gains only 108 pounds. For perspective, the 720S Spider which also had aggressive weight-saving perks is 176 pounds heavier than the 765LT Spider! McLaren has also opted for a titanium exhaust system that saves more weight as compared to a steel setup. The result? A glorious symphony of V8 orchestra from the coolest quad-exhaust layout among supercars.
Interior Gets Weight-Saving Bits, And You Get Infinite Headroom
The 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider sees minimal changes in terms of technology and interior layout, apart from the infinite headroom that comes in with the roof down! Moreover, McLaren has managed to save a few extra pounds on the inside, to compensate for the added 11-second topless drama. It gets carbon-fiber racing seats, carbon fiber center tunnel, exposed carbon fiber floor, and lightweight Alcantara all around. Even air-conditioning and an audio system are not included as standard, all for the love of weight savings!
Clever Aerodynamics And Killer Looks Combined With No Roof
765LT Spider gets the same carbon fiber aerodynamic package as the coupe that includes front flitter, side skirts, rear splitter, and diffusers on both ends. The front track width has been widened which provides for a lower ride height, and in turn, better aerodynamic efficiency.
McLaren has also given it standard 10-spoke ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels wrapped in bespoke Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires. Even the active rear wing has been calibrated differently for both the roof-up and roof-down layouts. About the looks, well, McLarens have always been sexy-looking aliens that slay the pop colors very well. And this alien is no different.
Limited To 765 Units, The 2022 765LT Spider Starts From $382,500
The 2022 McLaren 765LT Spider will be limited to just 765 units and only one-third of it will be offered to The US. It starts with an MSRP of $382,500 but we all know that a decently specced one will easily brace the $500,000 mark, thanks to the unlimited customization options from the McLaren Special Operations division. MSP Clubsport Pack and MSP LT Black Pack are two of the pre-defined packs on offer. If you plan on getting one, better move fast; cos this thing ain't gonna last for long!
Sources: Cars.mclaren.press, Motorauthority.com, Motortrend.com, Autoevolution.com