Less than four months ago, McLaren unveiled a new Track Pack for the 720S, which is largely self-explanatory in that it aims to make it more capable for driving on a track.

To that end, it shaved 24 kg (52 pounds) from the 720S’ weight thanks to additions like lightweight, 10-spoke forged alloy wheels, a gloss carbon active rear spoiler, a sports exhaust, carbon-fiber racing seats, extended carbon gearshift paddles and an Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel.

In order to fully justify its name, the special package also features another mode, labeled Track, as well as a telemetry system, so you can view and compare the data from your time on the circuit and impress your friends with your progress and lap times.

The Orange Elephant In The Room

The thing is, unless you intend to use it purely as a track toy, 99 percent of the driving will be on public roads. So, that’s where it should be judged – and we’re sad to say that it fails in making the 720S a more immersing drive.

At least that’s what Carfection’s Henry Catchpole found out after taking it out to some empty twisty roads in the UK. The steering initially gives the driver an improved feeling, but once you apply some lock it evaporates and makes it very hard to know exactly what the front wheels are doing. A big no-no in a car with the 720S’ huge performance, especially since at speeds that we mere mortals can push the Macca on public roads without endangering ourselves and others, there’s little to no fun to be had. Catchpole surmised that the trick suspension has something to do with it, but the bottom line is that he felt more connected with the 570S – which, unlike the Super Series, makes do with a conventional dampers-and-springs set up.

Memories Of Future Past

In a way, that’s a step back for McLaren. Its first modern car, the MP4-12C, was criticized for being competent and very fast, but too detached. It might have given the Ferrari 458 a scare when it came to performance, but it lacked the latter’s charisma. And that send McLaren’s designers and engineers back to the drawing board and they came out with the much improved 650S.

With or without the Track Pack, McLaren’s current Super Series also lacks the depth of information a true hardcore driving machine should provide to its driver. Make no mistake; this is not an LT, but a nicely specced 720S that, like the regular model, will do the quarter mile in 9 seconds right out of the factory! You just can’t argue with that kind of performance that shames many a rival or even hypercars costing twice as much (or even more).

Keeping The Best For The LT, Are We?

Woking claims that, despite costing £28,360, the pack is cheaper than adding all the components individually on a ‘normal’ 720S. This is probably true, but nonetheless it can’t replicate what Porsche is doing with the GT3 versions of the 911, for example. Good thing, then, that we have an LT version to look forward to. If it’s anything like the 675, it will be a raw, mind-blowing experience.