The McLaren 750S Is a Final Sendoff For the Pure-Internal-Combustion Supercar

The McLaren 720S is an era-defining supercar, a car that when launched in 2017, set new benchmarks for performance, usability, and engagement. But, the supercar world moves quickly, so McLaren has thoroughly reworked the 720S into this, the 750S. As the name implies, it's like a 720S but more.

This is, of course, not an all-new car—McLaren says 30 percent is all new. But that's no bad thing. The 750S draws a nice contrast with hybrid supercars like the Ferrari 296 and McLaren's own Artura. McLaren says that at 3062 pounds in its lightest form, the 750S coupe weighs up to 66 pounds less than the 720S. That's the advantage of a carbon-fiber chassis and a conventional non-hybrid powertrain.

Claimed acceleration figures are extraordinary. McLaren says the 750S coupe does 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds and 0-124 mph in 7.2 seconds. The 750S Spider, which is 108 pounds heavier, is behind by just a 10th in both metrics. The extra acceleration is a result of both the weight savings, plus tweaks to the engine and gearbox. Output from the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 is up to 740 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque thanks to increased boost pressure, new twin fuel pumps, and a triple-layer head gasket. Like the wild 765LT, the 750S gets a 15-percent shorter final drive in its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to increase acceleration compared with the 720S.

McLaren says shift speeds are up by 10 percent over the 720S, and it also has a new "limit downshift" feature. If while on track, the driver pulls the downshift paddle too soon, the computer waits until it can deliver a downshift without over-revving the engine. But, it'll bounce the engine off the rev-limiter for a few moments, before engaging the next gear. The 750S also comes standard with a new sports exhaust that's lighter than the unit in the 720S, and tweaked to provide a unique sound.