The fastest open-top from McLaren, ever.
Other than the big-time, ultra-exclusive P1, the McLaren 675LT has been grabbing headlines and accolades as one of the best vehicles to come from the British automaker. It’s lightweight, track-focused nature is a thing of beauty, so much so that it quickly sold out after making its debut. Thanks to customer demand, McLaren has decided to chop the popular coupe’s top off to create the 675LT Spider.
The new McLaren 675LT Spider continues the ‘Longtail’ legacy with its aerodynamic bodywork and dedication to keeping weight to a minimum. The newest model also becomes the fastest and most focused open-top model ever built by the British automaker.
Just like its coupe sibling, the McLaren 675LT Spider is all about keeping the weight down. A 2,799.8-lb. dry weight makes it 220 lbs. lighter than the 650S Spider and just 88 lbs. heavier than the 675LT Coupe. This comes thanks to a generous use of carbon fiber throughout the body, interior, and chassis. The carbon fiber MonoCell chassis is so strong that the convertible design didn’t require and additional reinforcement. The aforementioned three-piece retractable hard top can be operated at speeds up to 19 mph into the color-matched tonneau cover while still allowing the engine to be visible through a polycarbonate cover.
The same aggressive visual and aerodynamic design of the 675LT Coupe was carried over to the 675LT Spider from the prominent air intakes to the massive adjustable ‘Longtail’ airbrake at the rear. The same suspension setup with the 20 mm wider front track and stiffer suspension compared to the Super Series models carries over to the 675LT Spider as well, allowing for a 40-percent increase in downforce.
Hitting the pavement on the McLaren 657LT Spider are standard 10-spoke ultra-lightweight forged wheels measuring 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear, shod in specially-designed Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires. In addition, optional 20-spoke and five-spoke lightweight wheels are also available in a range of different finishes.
The McLaren 675LT Spider is powered by the same upgraded 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 engine as the 675LT Coupe. Over 50-percent of the components are new compared to the 650S models, which helps it to produce 666 bhp at 7,100 RPM and 516 lb-ft. of torque from 5,000 to 6,500 RPM. Thanks to the low overall weight and tremendous amount of power, the 675LT Spider can reach 62 mph in 2.9 seconds and 124 mph in just 8.1 ticks of the clock – the latter being just 0.2 seconds slower than the 675LT Coupe. Top speed is all the way back at 203 mph.
Inside, the McLaren 675LT Spider is still all about keeping weight to a minimum. The carbon fiber shell seats are covered in alcantara with ‘675LT’ logos embroidered in the headrest. Alcantara and carbon fiber dominate the cockpit with a touchscreen is mounted in the center of the dashboard and controls the climate and Meridian audio system. As an option, customers can choose to have an air conditioning system installed at the cost of 35 lbs.
Customers can opt for the brand’s exclusive interior and exterior options with the 675LT Spider as well. The ‘By McLaren’ theme with an array of interior and exterior color combos is available along with the 675LT Spider-exclusive deep gold Solis paint. The McLaren Club Sport pack is also available with various paint colors, carbon finishes, and more for the super car.
The McLaren 675LT Spider will be limited to just 500 units globally with prices starting at £285,450. Deliveries will begin in the summer of 2016.
McLaren 675LT Spider Specifications
Engine and Powertrain:
Engine Configuration: V8 Twin Turbo / 3799cc
Power: 675PS (666 bhp) at 7,100 rpm
Torque: 700Nm (516 lb-ft.) at 5,000-6,500 rpm
Transmission: 7 Speed SSG
CO2: 275g/km
Performance:
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 2.9 seconds
Acceleration 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph): 8.1 seconds
Top speed: 326 km/h (203 mph)
Power-to-weight: 532PS per ton
Dimensions and Weight:
Dry weight: 1,270kg
Weight distribution: 42 / 58
Length: 4,546 mm
Width: 2,095 mm
Height: 1,192 mm
McLaren 675LT Spider Gallery
Source: McLaren
Is the McLaren 675LT Spider the ultimate drop-top on the market today?
