- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 2 seats
- Engine
4.0TT, 8 cyl.
- Engine Power
527kW, 770Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (98) 10.7L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2018 McLaren 720S new car review
What is it?
One of the quickest cars on the planet, and, as the replacement for the MP4-12C that morphed into the 650S, it is the first of a new generation of machines from McLaren Automotive, the road car division of the championship-winning Formula One team.
How much does it cost and what do you get?
The 720S is all about staggering numbers. The price alone is fairly eye-watering, starting at $489,000 and elevating to $515,080 for the Performance variant we’re testing, which was fitted with more than $180,000 worth of optional extras.
Beyond the sticker, and apart from the oily bits (which we’ll explain next), the 720S has a cabin trimmed in a mixture of leather, Alcantara and carbon fibre and features a unique infotainment system with sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity and track telemetry which allows owners to record and review data from race tracks around the world.
There’s also a fully digital instrument cluster, a reverse camera, heated and electrically-adjustable seats and it rides on 20-inch alloy wheels.
What's under the bonnet?
Well there’s nothing up front other than a decent (by supercar standards) front trunk that can accommodate a couple of soft bags.
However, behind the two-seater cockpit is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that produces a staggering 527kW of power and 770Nm of torque, making the 720S the third most-powerful car on-sale in Australia behind the Ferrari 812 Superfast and the Lamborghini Aventador S, both of which use large capacity naturally-aspirated V12 engines instead of a smaller, force-fed motor like the McLaren.
The engine has a racecar-like flat-plane crankshaft configuration, turbochargers that can spin up to 160,000rpm, a redline of 8200rpm and drives the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The end result is phenomenal performance figures; it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.9 seconds, covers 400m in 10.3 seconds and tops out at 341km/h.
What's it like to drive?
Those numbers only tell half of the story with the 720S. As incredible as they are, what's more impressive is how they are achieved because the Macca is not only stupendously quick it can also be completely docile.
Generally, supercars of this calibre are as fearsome as they are fast, compromised by their focus on speed and, in some instances, downright intimidating to drive. Not this one…and, ironically, all thanks to technologies designed to make Formula One cars quicker. So quick, some of the gizmos were banned from Grand Prix racing.
For starters, the interlinked suspension – which eliminates conventional anti-roll bars in favour of hydraulic lines between diagonally opposing shock absorbers – allows each wheel to act independently for a much more composed ride around town while sitting incredibly flat when pushed through the corners.
It also lacks a limited slip differential and uses the brakes to distribute torque across the rear wheels, ensuring it is easy to navigate tight streets at low speeds and yet still harnesses the phenomenal power from the engine to generate maximum traction under acceleration.
And then there’s the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which is ultra-smooth and shifts into tall gears quickly when left to its own devices, but whip cracks through the cogs without any interruption to forward thrust when you’re up for it the rent.
The end result is a car that, quite literally, transforms from the sublime to the ridiculous in an instant. It is easily one of the fastest machines I’ve ever driven, but beautifully balanced with steering that is perfectly weighted and telepathic in its response, an engine that is amazingly elastic and sounds fantastic as it soars towards its 7200rpm redline and handling that is simply other-worldly.
The 720S is a car that resets your perception of speed, but one that never feels as though it is going to rip your head off if you’re not up to the task.
What's it like inside?
Similarly, the 720S challenges convention for two-seater supercars. Usually, a mid-engined layout brings compromises in terms of cabin space and vision, but the McLaren’s carbon fibre construction changes that.
Sure, it’s dihedral-opening doors require you to duck underneath and the wide side sills need to be clambered over for you to slide into the snug-fitting seats, but once inside there is a sense of space unlike any other supercar.
Thanks to a wide view out of the windscreen, see-through panels in the roof section of each door and lots of glass in the rear engine cover, there are no blind spots around the car, which also contributes to making it easier to drive in everyday traffic.
The dash layout itself is more dramatic than the 650S it replaces and more practical too, with enough hidey holes to keep small items like your phone and wallet secure, as well as two cupholders. There’s also a parcel shelf with elastic tie-down straps big enough to house a soft day bag or two.
Then there’s its party trick; a fully digital instrument cluster that folds away and displays basic information like revs, speed and gear when you select the Track modes for Performance and Handling in the Active Panel.
Is it safe?
McLaren was the first Formula One team to build a race car from carbon fibre more than 30 years ago, and the company’s first street-legal car, the iconic F1, introduced the technology to road cars.
With that much experience, the 720S’ second-generation Carbon Monocell provides an ultra-solid cage around its occupants.
Beyond that, and its immense road holding capabilities, the 720S has four air bags and a basic suite of electronic driver aids like stability control and anti-skid brakes.
Would I buy it?
In a heartbeat. The 720S is a supercar anyone could easily live with – even your Grandma could get it, press the starter button and drive to Bingo without any trouble – yet it is also one that challenges the greatest drivers on the planet and rewards them with the thrills and performance of a ground-bound fighter jet.
What else should I consider?
The Ferrari 488GTB is the most obvious competitor for the 720S, and an equally incredible piece of machinery that comes with the prestige and instant recognition of the Prancing Horse.
Then there’s the Lamborghini Huracan Performante and the closely related Audi R8 or the Porsche 911 Turbo S – each of which are genuine supercars in their own right. Really, it’s a luxury of riches…
2018 McLaren 570S Performance Price and Specifications
Price: From $515,080 (driveaway)
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol
Power: 527kW at 7500rpm
Torque: 770Nm at 5500rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, rear-wheel drive
Fuel use: 10.7L/100km