McLaren 765LT sold out

McLaren says its answer to the Porsche 911 GT2 RS has exceeded its own performance targets and that the entire McLaren 765LT production run is already sold out.

First revealed in March and now in production at the British supercar brand’s Woking HQ in Surrey, the McLaren 765LT is being presented to selected automotive media this week at Silverstone (watch this space for our first review on September 29!) ahead of first customer deliveries at the end of this month.

Even before the first 765LT is delivered, however, McLaren has announced that the total global production run of 765 individually-numbered cars is already spoken for, with 2020 production already fully allocated and expressions of interest for 2021 now far exceeding total production.

It’s not yet clear how many cars will come to Australia or when, but the new McLaren ‘Longtail’ – described as the most extreme McLaren Super Series model to date – is expected to cost around $600,000 when it arrives here, or about $110K more than the 720S on which it’s based.

McLaren today also announced that its most powerful LT model ever (thanks to a 563kW/800Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that’s 29kW up on the 720S, which weighs 80kg more than the 765LT’s 1339kg DIN kerb weight) has exceeded it key performance targets.

These include 0-200km/h acceleration in just seven seconds (McLaren previously targeted 7.2sec) and a quarter-mile (400m) time of just 9.9sec (previously “less than 10 seconds”).

Also listed in the full specs issued today is an unchanged 0-100km/h claim of just 2.8sec, 0-300km/h in only 18.0sec and a 330km/h top speed.

For context, the Porsche 911 GT2 RS claims the same 0-100km/h and top speed, thanks to a 515kW/750Nm twin-turbo 3.8-litre flat six and 1470kg kerb weight – 50kg less than the old 911 Turbo S on which it was based.

The current Turbo S is claimed to hit 100km/h in 2.7sec on its way to 200km/h in 8.9sec and a 330km/h top speed, while the discontinued 918 Spyder special-edition was the quickest Porsche road car ever at 2.6sec with the Weissach pack.

That’s around the same mark as the R36 Nissan GT-R and therefore the McLaren 765LT is about as quick as it gets for a non-electric supercar (Tesla is claiming the new 820kW triple-motor ‘Plaid’ powertrain for its Model S will hit 100km/h in just 2.1sec).

Also announced today was the addition of a new 'Stata' colour theme for the 765LT, which combines shades of Azores Orange with Memphis Red and Cherry Black paint scheme.

As we’ve reported, the McLaren 765LT strips weight and adds more power and better aerodynamics to the class-leading 720S formula to create a supercar with road and track performance closer to that of the McLaren Senna.

Claimed dry weight without air-conditioning shrinks to just 1229kg and the revised body’s longer nose and active rear wing are claimed to generate 25 per cent more downforce.

The V8’s power boost comes from forged aluminium pistons, a higher-fuel flow system and ECU tweaks. A drop-top 765LT Spider roadster will follow the coupe next year.

When the 765LT arrives Down Under, it will be backed by the new McLaren Extended Service Contract Programme now available in Australia.

Available for all new, existing and approved McLaren Qualified Sports, Super Series and GT vehicles with less than 120,000km on their clocks, the service program allows owners to increase their cover beyond the standard three years up to the vehicle turning 12 years old.