This car is not just a pretty exterior
This mega supercar packs a punch both inside and out
It takes just one look at the McLaren to understand that it’s special. This 720S Spider is not only focused on being the prettiest thing around, but it’s also designed to be the most engaging supercar out there.
That’s a rare combination in this world. Look at supercars like the Lamborghini Aventador S, which is obnoxiously large and difficult to see out of. It has a single clutch transmission that is full of character but janky to use. The Acura NSX is a delightfully fast and easy car to drive, but it lacks an emotional and engagement element. The Ford GT is a race car for the road with a weird sounding engine and the Ferrari 488 Pista Spider is quirky in its own way. The McLaren combines the best elements of all these supercars in its own way, and also offers the 720S as a droptop to boot.
Taking a performance car and chopping the roof off doesn’t typically bode well in terms of rigidity and stiffness, two things needed to maximize the potential of a supercar. Adding a power retractable hardtop mechanism is bound to bring weight to a spot that isn’t ideal, higher up on the body, which usually results in a change in the centre of gravity, which again impacts the performance. However, the “Monocage II-S” structure that McLaren uses with the 720S Coupe is so rigid, stiff and lightweight, the automaker didn’t have to do much additional bracing to ensure the supercar could still perform up to the high standards set for it. In fact, the Coupe and the Spider were essentially engineered in tandem, until a critical moment in the vehicle’s development required resources to be called for the coupe to be finished. So much of the vehicles are similar. Critically, that core, the central part is made from carbon fibre, and the automaker has lots of experience with the exotic lightweight material, using it since 1981 in Formula 1. With an overall weight gain of just over 49kgs, it’s safe to say the 720S Spider is very light.
Besides the rooflessness of the Spider, you’ll immediately note another special part of the car: the cantrails, or flying buttress of the 720S Spider. Those are weird words that may not resonate with everyone, so it’s best described as a C-Pillar behind the headrests that stretch down the rear deck of the supercar. Not only are they functional design elements that guide air over the rear deck to add downforce without introducing drag, but they’re see-through, allowing for maximum visibility, something that pretty much no supercar, convertible or not, is known for. The 720S Spider truly brings the driver closer to the world around them. Poke a button the dash and the roof disappears in 11-seconds flat, and with the roof up, you’re not completely in the dark either, since the roof can be outfitted with a trick electrochromic glass, which allows it to toggle between low and high tint. It’s like magic. The roof can be operated at up to 50 km/h, which is a huge improvement over the 29 km/h limitation of the 650S Spider that this car replaces.
The Spider also gets the driver closer to the sound of the engine. Sure the 4.0-litre twinturbo V8 doesn’t sound as interesting or exciting as other supercars, but it has a tune of its own that will still turn heads. That is if the heads can keep up with the car. The vehicle makes 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to hit 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, 200 km/h in less than eight seconds and an insane 300 km/h in 22.4 seconds. The top speed is 341km/h with the roof up and 325 with the roof down. The convertible will break through the quartermile mark in just 10.4 seconds. These numbers are absurd. But the feeling of this much power is fantastic. Imagine the joy and giggles you get from seeing whatever your favourite thing in the world is — a crush, a pet, an award or a bank account with lots of numbers — the 720S Spider will bring out the same emotions with a firm press of the throttle.
Driving at speed is easy, too. The Spider will happily cruise at the posted highway speed limit, without any uncomfortable bucking, egging you on to do more. Granted, you’ll go faster even without realizing it, which is the calling card of a very refined car. The transmission is solid, a seven-speed dual clutch with plenty of bite to let you feel each gear change, and not much to complain about .
There are three modes for the powertrain and chassis, the latter of which are far more interesting to talk about. Spend just a few minutes in each of the three settings (comfort, sport, and track) and you’ll quickly understand just how much variability the 720S Spider offers. Comfort is legitimately usable for longer trips, as the suspension and steering feedback is less invasive. Sport dials things up a bit, and you get much more feedback, especially through your fingertips on the steering wheel. I love this, and it's a huge departure from the cars found today, with its electro-hydraulic power assisted steering. The track mode turns things up, making the ride stiffer, so you cannot only feel the road and level of grip through the steering wheel but the chassis as well. This would be a huge help on the track, in addition to the proactive chassis control, which monitors the road conditions and the car constantly, will help the car lay down a fast lap on a smooth, wet or bumpy circuit. The only complaint I have about the 720S Spider is how the brakes behave. They require a very firm press to get any action, and it feels like most of the pedal is lifeless until you're practically standing on it. Obviously, the brakes work very well, but the modulation and energy required to work them is a curious contrast to other cars,
For those focused on the track, the car can accommodate that focus. Press a button and the digital gauge cluster folds and retracts into the dashboard showing you a slim tach and speedometer. The low weight of 1,468 kgs combined with the incredible power and high-tech suspension means that this car will be a blast in any situation.
The interior is focused but can be outfitted and upgraded in a number of ways. The tester we had featured a luxury package, and as such many of the surfaces were wrapped in a high grade stitched leather, which looks superb. Driver and passenger are treated to well bolstered and supportive thrones. They’re power adjustable, which is handy, since other, more focused vehicles in the McLaren lineup, like the 600LT, don’t have as many creature comforts. That said, there are a lot of awkward controls that seem so out of place in a car, which has made everything else so easy to live with. For example, the mirror controls are in a weird spot, practically under the dash, hiding behind the steering wheel.
The exterior is the most impressive part of the car. The sleek body is a complete work of art from front to end. Every shape is designed to deliver more performance, more aerodynamic downforce and less drag. The rear of the car features a full-width spoiler which integrates nicely into the bodywork. The spoiler even works with the roof too, operating in a different way than the Coupe would. The rear deck of the 720S Spider is lower than the 650, and visibility is a huge advantage in this car, and that comes without any compromise of the performance and design. It’s amazing, even the A-Pillars are slim. When you park, McLaren though about the entrance and exit: the door hinges have been redesigned with repositioned gas struts for better access. I’m not a huge fan of the headlight design, but it combines an intake into McLaren’s light signature, so it’s more functional over fashionable.
The verdict
For $350,000, you can get into one of the most complete supercar experiences available. It’s an uncompromised highperformance machine that is capable of achieving blistering lap times, but it’s also a comfortable, easy to use a car, that’s perfect for highway cruising or driving around town.