With its 675 PS and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft), McLaren’s 675LT Spider looks ready to keep supercar customers away from the Ferrari 488 Spider.
Just like the Coupe version, the 675LT Spider is limited to 500 examples worldwide, which isn’t a whole lot considering how strong customer demand has been for this model since the British supercar manufacturer launched the 675LT Coupe early this year.
McLaren is calling the 675LT Spider the “most focused, fastest and exhilarating open top model to ever wear a McLaren badge”, which is understandable considering how it shares the same key characteristics as the Coupe – light weight, enhanced aerodynamics, high power and track-focused dynamics.
So far, 2015 has been a terrific year for McLaren Automotive, with notable debuts such as the two Sports Series models and the P1 GTR. The 675LT Spider however is here to further strengthen the Super Series range, which is why prices for it will start at $372,600 (£285,450).
Under its exclusive Solis painted skin sits the same 3.8-liter twin turbocharged V8 powertrain found in the Coupe, which means performance is certainly not going to be an issue. We’re talking about 675 PS (666 BHP) at 7,100 rpm and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque available between 5,000 and 6,500 rpm, resulting in a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of just 2.9 seconds.
On paper, this is now the fastest accelerating car in its class, beating out the 488 GTB Spider by 0.1 seconds. It’s actually not relevant in real world scenarios, but flashing these types of numbers can be a great way to win over both fans and potential customers.
Other performance figures include the 0-200 km/h (124 mph) sprint time which takes just 8.1 seconds, and the 326 km/h (203 mph) top speed, which also bests the Ferrari, though not the 2016 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. Of course you’ll need to go a “little slower” than that in order for the three-piece retractable folding hardtop roof to open (up to 30 km/h or 19 mph).
The suspension setup and geometry of the 675LT Spider is similar to that of the Coupe, though the front end sits on lightweight springs and the front track has been increased by 20 mm (0.7 in). Overall stiffness has increased by 27% at the front and 63% at the rear, allowing for 40% more downforce than you’d get on the slightly older 650S Spider.
In terms of weight, we’re looking at a power-to-weight ratio of 532 PS per tonne, while the dry weight of the vehicle holds steady at 1,270 kg (2,799 lbs) – with a 42/58 distribution. In fact, this car is a full 100 kg (220 lbs) lighter than the 650S Spider, which is part of the reason why it can return 24.2 mpg (11.6 l/100km) on the EU combined cycle. Compared to the 675LT Coupe, the Spider is only 40 kg (88 lbs) heavier, all because of the retractable roof system.
The 675LT Spider is fitted with 10-spoke Ultra-Lightweight forged alloys measuring 19″ at the front and 20″ at the rear, wearing P Zero Trofeo R tires developed in collaboration with Pirelli (McLaren’s technical partner). By customer choice, two other wheel options are available – a new 20-spoke design which comes in both liquid metal and diamond cut finishes, as well as the 5-spoke design which we first saw on the Coupe.
As for exterior colors, the Spider gets the full paint palette offered on the Coupe, which now includes the new Silica White, Delta Red, Napier Green and Chicane Grey finishes, though this deep golden Solis color was developed only for the open-top Spider model.
First deliveries will take place in the summer of 2016, with the car expected to be on deck long before that, arriving at the 2016 Geneva Auto Show.
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