VIDEO: McLaren 675LT gets wild on track

McLaren has shown off its 497kW/700Nm twin-turbo V8 675LT in action to tempt buyers away from its Ferrari 488 GTB rival.

On sale now in Australia for a cool $616,250, McLaren’s new 650S-based supercar is said to offer "ultimate levels of driver engagement”.

Weighing in a significant 100kg lighter than the 650S, the coupe-only 675 Longtail (LT) hits 100km/h in 2.9 seconds and, despite its rear-wheel drive limitations, 200km/h in 7.9 seconds before running out of puff at 330km/h.

To achieve this level of performance half of its 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo engine is new, including new turbochargers, new cylinder -eads, new exhaust manifolds, new camshafts and new lighter forged connecting rods.

To help save weight and achieve a power-to-weight ratio of 404kW per tonne there’s now lightweight carbon-fibre seat shells and while the air-conditioning has been retained, its controls are now integrated into the multimedia display.

The entire rear of the car from the B-pillar back is in carbon-fibre, while the exhaust is now titanium and, cleverly, the right exhaust comes from the left bank of the 3.8-litre bi-turbo V8 and vice-versa. That's because the ideal length for the pipes would have had them sticking out by 300mm, McLaren says, so the left-field solution was to cross them over.

Finally, engineers have rethought the 650S’ suspension set-up and increased spring stiffness 27 per cent up front and an even more substantial 63 per cent jump at the rear. There’s also a 20mm wider track.

Sharing the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox the 675LT also benefits from even quicker shifts.

A new Club Sport package will also be offered to buyers. Expected to cost around $10,000 extra, the new options pack adds a titanium roll hoop, four-point harnesses and a fire extinguisher.

The 675LT will also be offered in five 'By McLaren' liveries that are said to take inspiration from the McLaren F1 team’s racing past.