Official: 2016 McLaren 675LT Spider

Despite denying its existence, McLaren has just unveiled the brand new 2016 McLaren 675LT Spider. As the name implies, the new model is a droptop variation of the track-focused 675LT and promises to outperform even the Ferrari 488 Spider.

The 675LT Spider is the fastest open top ever created by McLaren and just like the coupe, will be restricted to 500 units globally and has been produced due to significant customer demand for a 675LT convertible. In creating the car, the automaker has followed the exact same philosophy as with the coupe; more power, less weight and most importantly, a far superior driving experience.

Powering the McLaren 675LT Spider is the same modified 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 as the hardtop. Figures remain unchanged meaning it delivers 666 hp at 7100 rpm and 516 lb-ft of torque between 5000 and 6500 rpm. Importantly, the engine of the 675LT Spider, just like the coupe, isn’t simply a tuned version of the 650S powerplant. In fact, it has new exhaust manifolds, custom turbochargers, a bespoke fuel pump and delivery system, lightweight connecting rods and a new camshaft.

As with the coupe, the 675LT Spider manages to shed 100 kg over the ‘standard’ 650S Spider, meaning it tips the scales at a featherweight 1270 kg, easily making it the lightest car in its class. When it is all said and done, it will accelerate to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds, 200 km/h in 8.1 seconds, just 0.2 seconds slower than the hardtop. The top speed sits at a blistering 326 km/h.

Visually, the car remains identical to the coupe albeit with its inclusion of a folding hardtop. As such, it is available in the same colours as the coupe including the Silica White, Delta Red, Napier Green and Chicane Grey shades introduced for the 675LT. The Spider variant is also available in a new golden colour (pictured here) dubbed Solis. A bespoke set of tightly-spoked wheels are also offered for the 675LT Spider.

Elsewhere across the exterior one will find a selection of matte carbon fibre aerodynamic elements from the bold front splitter, through to the new side skirts and enlarged air intakes and right back to the overhauled rear fascia.

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“675PS and 700Nm provide breathtaking performance, while a retractable roof

adds further exhilaration

 100kg weight saving delivers a dry weight of 1,270kg, delivering a power-to-
weight figure of 532PS per tonne

 Second model to wear the 675LT badge in direct response to significant

customer demand

 Exclusive Solis paintwork and 20-spoke Super-Lightweight forged alloy wheels

offered for the first time

 Priced at £285,450, the most focused, fastest and exhilarating open top

McLaren model ever built will be strictly limited to 500 units globally

McLaren Automotive has revealed the latest chapter in the history of the iconic ‘Longtail’

name with confirmation of the 675LT Spider. Strictly limited to only 500 examples

worldwide, it is only the second model to wear the LT badge. This latest model comes

less than a year since the first model in nearly 20 years resurrected the name, in

response to significant customer demand. The 675LT Coupé focused on light weight,

enhanced aerodynamics, increased power and track-focused dynamics, and this

limited-run model quickly sold out before the first deliveries commenced. Sharing these

key characteristics, McLaren Automotive now presents the most focused, fastest and

exhilarating open top model to ever wear a McLaren badge.

The 675LT Spider, priced at £285,450, is the fifth new model debuted by McLaren

Automotive in 2015 in what has become a defining year for the British brand. This latest

model joins the McLaren P1TM GTR, 570S Coupé and 540C Coupé, and the fixed-head

675LT Coupé as new to the line-up, and further strengthens the Super Series range.

Under the skin of the 675LT Spider sits the heavily revised 3.8-litre twin turbo V8

powertrain from the coupé sibling, ensuring performance figures are worthy of the LT –

or ‘Longtail’ – badge. The power output and torque figures remain unchanged, with

675PS (666bhp) delivered at 7,100rpm and 700Nm (516lb ft) available between 5,000-

6,500rpm. The changes to the powertrain saw more than 50 percent of the components

replaced to ensure optimised levels of power, torque and drivability. These include new,

more efficient turbos, detail design changes to the cylinder heads and exhaust

manifolds, new camshaft and lightweight connecting rods, and a faster-flowing fuel

pump and delivery system.

Acceleration from 0-100kmh (0-62mph) takes just 2.9 seconds, and 200kmh (124mph)

is achieved in 8.1 seconds – giving away only 0.2 seconds to the more aerodynamically

optimised and lighter coupé. Controlled torque delivery in first gear manages torque to

600Nm (443lb ft) to ensure maximum acceleration, and minimising wheel slip. Top

speed is 326km/h (203mph). Despite these blistering performance figures, the 675LT

Spider returns 24.1mpg on the EU combined cycle, while CO2 emissions remain at

275g/km – the same as the coupé. A three-piece retractable folding hardtop can be

opened at speeds up to 30km/h (19mph) to allow for a new level of open-air

exhilaration.

Staying true to the ‘Longtail’ ethos, established by the McLaren F1 in the late 1990s, the

675LT Spider has been developed with a focus on light weight and optimised

aerodynamic performance. The special nature of the model is supported by the

extensive use of carbon fibre for the bodywork. As with the 675LT Coupé, the front

bumper with larger splitter and end plates, front under body, side skirts, side intakes,

lower side intakes, rear bodyside lower, rear fenders, rear deck, rear bumper, diffuser

and ‘Longtail’ Airbrake are all carbon fibre. Lightweight components are also found

throughout the powertrain and chassis, all contributing to a dry weight of just 1,270kg.

This weight is a full 100kg lighter than the already lightweight 650S Spider, and gives a

power-to-weight figure of 532PS per tonne. Due to the inherent strength of the carbon

fibre MonoCell chassis, no further strengthening – and associated weight increase –

has been added through the removal of the roof, and the 675LT Spider is only 40kg

heavier than the Coupé, all due to the retractable roof system.

The dramatic styling and purposeful stance of the 675LT is retained with the Spider

variant, with the extended front splitter flanked by front wing end plates, each working

the airflow harder and increasing downforce. Sculpted carbon fibre door sills run along

the lower edge of the bodywork, flowing in to a smaller air intake ahead of the rear

wheels. This sits below the more pronounced side intake, with both feeding clean, cool

air into the side radiators which are more prominent to offer increased cooling. The

retractable hard top stows below a colour-coded tonneau cover, and the engine remains

visible through a lightweight vented polycarbonate engine cover. At the rear, the

lightweight titanium crossover twin exhausts exit below the active ‘Longtail’ Airbrake

which is 50 percent larger than other Super Series models. This is integrated in to the

design of the flowing rear wings and despite the larger size, carbon fibre construction

ensures weight is actually reduced. Exposed bodywork across the rear deck and below

the rear wing aids engine cooling, while louvres in the flared rear bumper optimise

pressure levels.

The 675LT Spider shares the suspension set up and geometry of the Coupé, with the

front end sitting on new lightweight springs and a wider track – increased by 20mm.

Spring rates are the most track-focused of the Super Series models, with stiffness

increased 27 percent at the front and 63 percent at the rear, providing a more rearward

balance and allowing for a 40 percent increase in downforce over the 650S Spider.

As standard, the 675LT Spider is fitted with 10-spoke Ultra-Lightweight forged alloy

wheels – 19-inch at the front, 20-inch at the rear – and P ZeroTM Trofeo R tyres,

developed for the 675LT models in collaboration with technical partner Pirelli. These are

the lightest wheel and tyre set ever offered by McLaren. Two Super-Lightweight wheel

options are optionally available; a new 20-spoke design, offered in liquid metal or

diamond cut finishes, and the five-spoke Super-Lightweight design which debuted on

the Coupé.

The lightweight theme continues throughout the interior with Alcantara® and bare

carbon fibre used extensively. A pair of lightweight carbon fibre-shelled racing seats,

modelled on those fitted to the McLaren P1TM, save a combined 15kg, and feature

‘675LT’ embossed leather to provide enhanced levels of support and grip. As seen in

the McLaren P1TM and 675LT, heating and ventilation controls are located within the

portrait-orientated, centrally-mounted touchscreen, which also operates the four-
speaker Meridian audio system, while air conditioning has been removed. The 16kg

system can be specified as a no-cost-option.

The ‘By McLaren’ interior themes were first introduced on the 675LT Coupé, and are

again available for the Spider model. The range is extended for the 675LT Spider, with

the addition of exclusive Xenon Yellow contrast stitch. Simialrly, the full exterior paint

palette offered on the 675LT Coupé is available for the Spider model, which includes

the new Silica White, Delta Red, Napier Green and Chicane Grey paint finishes. In

addition, the newly developed deep golden colour, Solis – which derives its name from

the Latin for sun – is a bespoke colour only available on the open-top 675LT Spider.

Further enhancements can be made through the Club Sport Professional Pack, which

adds further visual carbon fibre and stealth detailing. Available in Titanium Silver, Storm

Grey, Onyx Black and Chicane Grey, the Ultra-Lightweight wheels are stealth finished,

while a satin carbon fibre finish is applied to the front wing end plates, lower side air

intake and the centre of the rear bumper, along with the side intakes, wheelarches, wing

mirrors and ‘Longtail’ Airbrake. McLaren Orange detailing is then applied both externally

and internally, with brake callipers, embossed leather and stitching all in the heritage

colour made famous by the Formula 1TM and Can-Am racers of Bruce McLaren,

While retaining much of the track-focus and capability of the Coupé, the Club Sport

Pack – comprising titanium rollhoop, four point harnesses and fire extinguisher – is not

available as an option for the 675LT Spider.

Another key characteristic of any Longtail is exclusivity, and the 675LT Spider is no

exception. As with the Coupé, production of the 675LT Spider will be strictly limited to

only 500 examples, with first deliveries in summer 2016.

THE STORY OF LT

The story of the McLaren F1 is one of the most famous in automotive history, with the

all conquering GTR moving the game on further, worthy of a place in the motorsport hall

of fame. After a successful season in 1995 and 1996, McLaren set about raising the bar

once more in order to stay ahead of the competition.

While the name and basic architecture remained the same, the 1997 McLaren F1 GTR

‘Longtail’ – or LT – was completely re-engineered from the ground up, and was the

ultimate version of the iconic McLaren F1. With enhanced levels of downforce through

extended bodywork, and dramatic weight savings, the end result was the most track-
focused derivative of all 106 models to wear the McLaren F1 badge.

The McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ raced successfully during the 1997 sports car racing

season, including most prominently in the FIA GT championship against specially

developed racing ‘prototypes’, and went within a whisker of winning the world title.

Notable achievements included victory in the Silverstone 4 hours, the Hockenheim 4

hours, the Spa 4 hours and a 1-2 class finish – 2-3 overall – at the 1997 24 Hours of Le

Mans. Despite racing against the much quicker LMP cars, only one lap separated the

#41 McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ from outright victory. The nearest opposition in the GT1

class finished nearly 30 laps behind.

And so, McLaren has done it again. ‘LT’ is now the ultra high-performance brand, re-
establishing the McLaren ‘Longtail’ heritage. With two models now wearing the iconic

badge, the 675LT Coupé and 675LT Spider embody the ‘Longtail’ ethos, with a focus

on light weight, enhanced aerodynamics, increased power, track-focused dynamics and

driver engagement.”
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