McLaren launches 600LT Spider DRIVENEWS

MCLAREN Automotive has released the first images and details of the third new model in its £1.2 billion Track25 business plan: the McLaren 600LT Spider.

The fifth car to carry the Longtail name, the new convertible fully embodies the McLaren Longtail philosophy of increased power, reduced weight, optimised aerodynamics, track-focused dynamics and limited availability.

In addition, it aims to bring a new dimension of excitement over the 600LT Coupé, without compromise to the dynamic purity of the most performance-focused car in the Sports Series line-up – a retractable hardtop to give the choice of open-air driving.

The 600LT Spider benefits from the same portfolio of performance enhancements welcomed by 600LT Coupé buyers. The electronic control systems of the twinturbocharged, 3.8-litre V8 engine have been revised, the cooling system uprated and the shorter exhausts tuned to liberate more

power. The engine produces the same 600PS (592bhp) and 620Nm (457lb ft) in the Spider as it does in the Coupé.

The uprated powertrain enables the driver to exploit the 600LT Spider’s carbon fibre monocoque chassis to the full, aided by a dual-clutch, Seamless Shift seven-speed Gearbox (SSG) that features Ignition Cut in Sport mode to facilitate faster changes HYUNDAI has announced the pricing and specification details for the second model in its ‘N’ family of performance cars, the i30 Fastback

N. The new model shares the majority of its components with the regular i30 N, but hides them under a coupe-saloon body with a lengthened rear aspect and sleeker profile. The four-door features a large ducktail spoiler but is only 1cm longer than its hatchback cousin. The roofline, meanwhile, is 3cm lower.

There’s only one grade of i30 Fastback N to choose with a £29,995 starting price. Standard kit includes 19-inch alloy wheels clad in N-specific Pirelli P-Zero tyres, plus an electronic limited-slip differential and adjustable suspension. Torque vectoring aids while delivering a dramatic crack from the top-exit exhausts, plus Inertia Push in Track mode to optimise acceleration. The 600LT Spider will reach 62mph from a standstill in 2.9 seconds, with 124mph achieved in just 8.4 seconds – a near-indistinguishable 0.2 seconds slower than the Coupé.

The maximum speed is 201mph with the roof raised or 196mph with it lowered.

Performance is further enhanced by the lightweight carbon fibre bodywork that creates the Longtail silhouette and the same design of fixed rear wing as the Coupé which – despite the aerodynamic challenges posed by a convertible body – generates the same 100kg of downforce at 155mph.

Like the Coupé, availability of the 600LT Spider will be limited, with build slots scheduled around other Sports and Super Series models – it will be priced from £201,500 with taxes.

tidier cornering, and buyers can choose between driving modes via a switch on the steering wheel.

A manual handbrake and six-speed manual gearbox help to up the driver involvement, while clever tech such as launch control and rev-matching make for smoother progress.

All i30 Fastback Ns feature LED headlights and taillights, cruise control, keyless entry and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. There’s also N-specific sports seats, performance gauges and a selection of six colours including Shadow Grey, specific to the Fastback N.

Hyundai supplies the Fastback N with the same five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.