Mclaren 720sEdit
The McLaren 720S is a mid‑engine, two‑seat sports car from the British manufacturer McLaren. Debuted in 2017 as the successor to the McLaren 650S within the firm’s Super Series, the 720S marked a clear step in performance, aerodynamics, and lightweight engineering. Built around the firm’s carbon‑fiber Monocage II chassis, it was designed to deliver not only blistering speed but also a degree of everyday usability that had sometimes eluded previous generations of ultra‑high‑performance cars. The model’s name signals its fascia of horsepower—roughly 720 PS in standard form—while its handling and chassis architecture are meant to blend track credibility with roadgoing refinement.
From a broader economic and industrial standpoint, the 720S exemplifies a certain approach to national manufacturing and high‑end engineering. It is produced at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, and it draws on a long tradition of British automotive prowess linked to racing heritage and precision manufacturing. The drivetrain is a 4.0‑litre, twin‑turbocharged V8 designed to balance high specific output with tractable street manners, reflecting a philosophy that combines racing technology with road usability. The result is a car that has appealed to enthusiasts who value raw performance as well as the technical sophistication that comes from a company with deep ties to both Formula One engineering and civilian road cars. The 720S has thus contributed to the country’s engine‑building export base and to the broader story of a high‑tech manufacturing sector focused on specialization, craftsmanship, and global reach.
Design and engineering
Chassis and materials
A key advance of the 720S is its architecture. The Monocage II carbon‑fiber chassis provides a lightweight but exceptionally stiff foundation, enabling precise handling and strong torsional rigidity without excessive weight. This approach reflects a broader trend in modern performance cars toward advanced composites and modular construction, allowing for improved aero efficiency, safety, and dynamic feel. The lightweight philosophy extends to components across the car, from suspension mounts to aero elements, all aimed at maximizing grip and responsiveness.
Powertrain
The heart of the 720S is a 4.0‑litre twin‑turbocharged V8 configured to deliver high specific output with broad, usable torque. In standard specification, the engine produces around 720 PS (710 hp) and approximately 568 lb‑ft of torque, with peak output attained at high revs to suit the character of a high‑revolution, performance‑centric powertrain. The engine is paired with a seven‑speed dual‑clutch transmission that channels drive to the rear wheels, a setup that emphasizes both rapid shifts and driver engagement. This combination is part of a broader industry trend toward combining turbocharged power with advanced electronic controls to maximize both straight‑line speed and cornering composure.
Aerodynamics and cooling
Aerodynamics play a central role in the 720S’ performance envelope. The design emphasizes high downforce with relatively low drag for a car of its class, aided by a front splitter, venting, and carefully sculpted bodywork. A sophisticated rear end and integrated rear aero elements help maintain stability at speed, while active components and cooling airflow management contribute to sustained performance on both road and track. A notable feature in McLaren’s approach is the balance between downforce and weight, a factor that often distinguishes rival high‑end sports cars in this segment.
Interior and human factors
Inside, the 720S focuses on driver engagement and control. The cockpit is intentionally driver‑centric, with a digital instrument cluster and a central touchscreen that manages vehicle settings, navigation, and media. Materials emphasize lightweight performance without sacrificing everyday usability, and seating is designed to provide support during aggressive driving while remaining comfortable over longer road journeys. The interior embodies a practical blend of high‑tech displays, supportive seating, and tactile controls that reflect McLaren’s emphasis on driver experience.
Performance, technology, and market position
The 720S is widely recognized for its explosive acceleration and precise handling, aided by a chassis that can feel both taut and forgiving in the right conditions. Official and independent testing typically records 0–60 mph times in the mid‑to‑low 2.0‑second range and a top speed around 210–212 mph, depending on variant and equipment. The car’s handling is often described as communicative and eager, with predictable corner behavior that rewards precise inputs and confident cornering lines. Braking performance is typically strong, aided by carbon‑ceramic options on many configurations and a brake balance tuned to harmonize with the car’s mid‑engine balance.
From a technological perspective, the 720S benefits from McLaren’s racing heritage, including chassis tuning that borrows from the company’s experience in Formula One and high‑end road cars. The result is a vehicle that emphasizes electrical and mechanical integration to deliver rapid responses, precise steering feel, and a stable yet lively ride. In the marketplace, the 720S has been positioned as a bridge between pure track machines and road‑going supercars, appealing to buyers who want extreme performance without compromising daily usability to an excessive degree.
Variants and special editions
The 720S family includes the convertible 720S Spider, which retains the core drivetrain and performance character while adding a retractable roof for open‑air driving. There have also been operations through McLaren Special Operations that tailor exterior finishes, interior details, and performance refinements to individual buyers. Over time, the 720S platform has competed with the best from other marques in the sector—most notably the Ferrari 488 GTB, the Lamborghini Huracan, and the Porsche 911 (992)—as well as earlier McLaren models like the McLaren 570S and the influential McLaren F1 in a longer historical arc.
Reception, politics of the market, and debates
The 720S received praise for its balance of speed, handling, and daily drivability, with reviewers highlighting its chassis rigidity, aero efficiency, and the immediacy of its throttle response. Price positioning and the prestige attached to owning a McLaren have driven a strong, opinionated market niche: customers who seek exclusive engineering and competition‑level performance in a street‑legal package. Critics, however, point to the conspicuous consumption associated with ultra‑premium performance cars and the environmental implications of large, high‑power engines. From a right‑of‑center vantage, the defense often centers on consumer sovereignty, private sector innovation, and the idea that such products reflect the rewards of risk and capital investment in high‑skill manufacturing.
Supporters of the market approach argue that cars like the 720S stimulate technological advancement that can yield broader benefits, including lighter materials, more efficient powertrains, and manufacturing techniques that spread to other industries. The export economy and high‑end automotive jobs—particularly in the United Kingdom’s British automotive industry—are cited as tangible benefits of specialized manufacturing ecosystems. Critics who stress costs and environmental impact tend to emphasize stricter emissions and fuel‑economy standards; in response, proponents assert that modern performance cars increasingly rely on advanced materials and engineering to deliver higher performance with improving efficiency, and that public policy should reward innovation and proven technological progress rather than impose blanket restrictions that could depress competitiveness.
In this frame, controversy around the 720S and its peers tends to revolve less around a single product than around broader debates about public policy, energy use, and the role of private enterprise in funding high‑risk, high‑reward research. Proponents argue that a vibrant market for premium performance vehicles reflects successful IP development, skilled labor, and a culture of engineering excellence that has spillover effects across industries. Critics may frame the same dynamics as symbols of unequal wealth or as distractions from other policy priorities; supporters counter that consumer choice and competitive pressures in a free market are the most effective mechanisms to spur innovation and sustain a national technology base.