McLaren 650S

At a glance: McLaren 650S

The 650S stands between the McLaren MP4-12C and the McLaren 720S, and it was the base of the lighter McLaren 675LT. All models are in the McLaren catalogue.

From the 12C to the 650S

McLaren announced the 650S in February 2014 and showed it at the Geneva motor show. The car was a deep update of the MP4-12C: about 25% of its parts were new. The number in the name is the power output in PS. The design work was led by Frank Stephenson, and Wikipedia notes the influence of the P1 hypercar.

Production ran until 2017, and the 720S succeeded it.

Design and aerodynamics

The most visible change from the 12C is the new front end, influenced by the P1. A new front splitter and new blades on the wings increase downforce by 24% compared with the 12C. The rear diffuser was taken from the 12C GT3 racing car.

At the rear, the 650S has an active air brake. It is computer-controlled and uses data from accelerometers. The car also has a drag reduction system (DRS).

Engine and performance

The engine is the M838T, a 3,799 cc twin-turbo V8 mounted behind the cabin. In the 650S it produces 478 kW (650 PS) at 7,250 rpm and 678 Nm at 6,000 rpm, and it revs to 8,500 rpm. A seven-speed Graziano dual-clutch gearbox, called SSG by McLaren, drives the rear wheels.

Chassis and cabin

The structure is a carbon-fibre MonoCell weighing about 75 kg, made by Carbo Tech using resin transfer moulding, with aluminium subframes front and rear. The suspension uses McLaren's ProActive Chassis Control, a system of hydraulically linked dampers developed from the active suspension McLaren used in Formula 1. Carbon-ceramic brakes by Akebono are standard.

The cabin is trimmed in Alcantara, and the dihedral doors open upwards as on the 12C. Optional carbon-fibre seats save 15 kg.

The 650S Spider

The 650S Spider was announced at the same time as the coupé, in February 2014, so both bodies were available from the start of production. Its roof is a three-piece retractable hard top made of carbon fibre that opens or closes in 17 seconds. The Spider weighs 1,469 kg, about 40 kg more than the coupé, and reaches 100 km/h in 3 seconds; its top speed is 328 km/h. Compared with the 12C Spider, up to 25% of its parts are new.

Special editions and 625C

• 625C (September 2014): a version for Asia-Pacific markets with 460 kW (625 PS), cast-iron brakes and softer springs; 0–100 km/h in 3.1 seconds. It was offered as a coupé and a Spider.
• MSO 650S (2014): 50 cars by McLaren Special Operations, with matt carbon finishes, lighter wheels and titanium wheel bolts.
• 650S Le Mans (2015): 50 coupés celebrating McLaren's victory at Le Mans in 1995, in Sarthe Grey with a roof snorkel and louvres on the front wings.
• 650S Can-Am (2015): 50 Spiders marking 50 years of the Can-Am series, with a carbon-fibre bonnet, roof, air brake, door blades and splitter.

Racing: 650S GT3

McLaren announced the 650S GT3 in June 2014. It has about 368 kW (500 PS), a six-speed sequential gearbox, 380 mm brake discs and a track 52 mm wider than the road car. Its biggest success was overall victory at the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2016.

Legacy

The 650S bridged the first generation of McLaren road cars and the more radical 720S. It also led directly to the 675LT, announced in February 2015 and shown at that year's Geneva motor show. The name "LT" recalls the "Long Tail" McLaren F1 GT of 1997. With 496 kW (675 PS) at 7,100 rpm, 700 Nm and a dry weight of 1,230 kg — 100 kg less than the 650S on a comparable basis — it reached 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and 200 km/h in 7.9 seconds. Its rear wing and air brake were 50% larger and its front splitter 80% larger, for 40% more downforce in total. McLaren built 500 coupés and 500 Spiders, plus 25 Carbon Series Spiders in 2016.

The last derivatives came from McLaren Special Operations: the MSO HS of 2016, with 506 kW (688 PS), 220 kg of downforce at 241 km/h and 25 cars built, and two one-off MSO R cars in 2017. More about the company is in our history of McLaren.