Hardcore 2019 McLaren 600LT Spider unleashed
Latest track-suited LT family member up to 100kg lighter than regular 570S drop-topMcLaren Automotive has unveiled images and full details of the 600LT Spider, a lighter and more powerful version of the 570S Spider.
On sale in Europe this March, the McLaren 600LT Spider has been priced £16,000 ($A29,000) more than the 600LT coupe it's based on, meaning the hardcore convertible is likely to cost a cool $485,000 when sales begin later this year in Australia.
For that, the McLaren 600LT Spider comes with the same twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 as the coupe that produces 441kW and 600Nm of torque.
Feeding its power to the road using a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, McLaren claims the 600LT Spider can reach 100km/h in just 2.9 seconds -- exactly the same as its tin-top sibling.
Top speed, meanwhile, is 323km/h roof up (5km/h slower than the 600LT coupe) or 315km/h roof stowed.
Key to the 600LT Spider's explosive coupe-matching acceleration is its carbon-fibre monocoque construction, which meant the British supercar-maker didn't need to beef up the convertible's structure with extra supports.
That explains why it weighs in just 50kg heavier, with most of the extra mass attributed to the electric folding roof that can operate at speeds of up to 40km/h.
Helping slash weight even further is a special Clubsport Pack developed by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) that takes the total weight saving, compared to a 570S Spider, to 100kg -- but it's far from cheap.
Tick the box for the MSO and prepare to part with a hefty £18,200 ($A33,000). For that the 600LT Spider swaps its sport seats for the sublime ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre seats from the Senna hypercar; there's also titanium wheel bolts and plenty of carbon-fibre interior and exterior parts.
If that's not enough, for those who plan to track their 600LT Spider, further mass can be ditched by deleting both the air conditioning and the in-car audio.
Like the 600LT coupe, the 600LT Spider’s production will be limited, although there’s unlikely to be a volume restriction.
Instead, McLaren will only manufacture the convertible Longtail at its Woking plant in the UK for just 12 months.
The new 600LT Spider is the third new model introduced as part of McLaren’s $2 billion Track25 business plan that was announced last year.
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