The McLaren 765LT Is A Lightweight Heart-Throb With An Active Rear Wing And A 755 HP Twin-Turbo V8

The Geneva Motor Show might be cancelled, but that hasn’t stopped McLaren from unveiling the all-new 765LT.

Set to become the latest Longtail model, the 765LT is a lighter and more powerful take on the already impressive 720S.

In typical fashion, the car has been given a carbon fiber intensive aerodynamics package. It includes an extended front splitter, modified bumpers and revised skirt skirts. The model also has unique door blades, a larger diffuser and an active  Longtail rear wing.

The latter is the car’s most distinctive feature and it aids powertrain cooling by drawing hot air out of the engine bay. It also features an airbrake function and a variety of settings which either optimize downforce or reduce drag.

Besides the unique rear wing, the 765LT has ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels with titanium bolts. They’re wrapped in bespoke Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires.

The 10-spoke wheels are backed up by a carbon-ceramic braking system with calipers sourced from the Senna. If that’s not impressive enough, buyers can opt for a track brake package which features bespoke brake pads and carbon-ceramic discs from the Senna. The latter are roughly 60% stronger than the conventional carbon-ceramic discs and offer four times better thermal conductivity for reduced wear and fade.

Out back, there’s a ventilated rear fascia and a four-tailpipe titanium exhaust system which is 40% lighter than a comparable steel setup. Besides the weight savings, the system delivers a “searing LT soundtrack.”

A Race-Inspired Interior

The performance focus extends to the cabin as drivers will find carbon fiber-shelled racing seats that are a combined 39.7 lbs (18 kg) lighter than the sports seats used in the 720S. Speaking of weight saving, the air conditioning and audio systems have been removed and there’s lightweight nets instead of door storage pockets.  However, these items can be added upon request.

Other highlights Alcantara upholstery, a carbon fiber floor and an 8-inch infotainment system. There will also be a wealth of customization options and eight bespoke ‘By McLaren’ color themes.

One of the more interesting options is a double-glazed panel which provides a glimpse of the car’s V8 engine. It is integrated into the model’s carbon fiber structure and features 765LT badging as well as a carbon fiber surround.

Lighter, Faster And More Powerful

Power comes from a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine that has been equipped with forged aluminum pistons, an additional fuel pump, a revised oil pump and a recalibrated engine management system. Thanks to these modifications, the mill produces 755 hp (563 kW / 765 PS) and 590 lb-ft (799 Nm) of torque – 45 hp (33 kW / 45 PS) and 22 lb-ft (30 Nm) more than the 720S.

The powertrain upgrades don’t end there as the model has a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with optimized gearing. This change allows for “15% quicker in-gear acceleration than a 720S and the fastest lap times of any McLaren Super Series model.”

Speaking of the gearbox, it features a new “limit downshift” function. When a driver wants to downshift but the change would over-rev the engine, the request is remembered and then executed when the “engine speed and road speed can be harmonized.”

In terms of performance, the 765LT can accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 2.7 seconds and 0-124 mph (0-200 km/h) in 7.2 seconds. The model can also run the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds and hit a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h).

Those are some impressive numbers and the performance can be chalked up to a variety of factors including the model’s lighter weight. McLaren says the car weighs 176 lbs (79 kg) less than the 720S and has a dry weight of just 2,709 lbs (1,229 kg). This means the 765LT is more than 110 lbs (50 kg) lighter than its “closest competitor in comparable specification.”

McLaren’s obsession with weight savings went so far that they reduced the thickness of the side window glass for the first time on a modern-day LT. The front windscreen is also thinner, while the rear uses lightweight polycarbonate.

Elsewhere, the 765LT has a retuned suspension with new springs and dampers. The model also sports a wider front track, a lower front ride height and a Proactive Chassis Control II system with updated software that promises “even greater precision and control.” Furthermore, the steering system has been “further honed with a quicker ratio and a stiffer torsion bar for even purer driver feedback.”

According to McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt, “The 765LT is the most accomplished and exhilarating LT model ever from McLaren Automotive.” He added the car offers “incredible performance and astonishing levels of driver engagement” as well as a “wholly immersive driving experience.”

Production will be limited to 765 units and the first deliveries are slated to begin in September. There’s no word on how much the model costs, but pricing will be announced shortly.