(July 28, 2021) Renowned worldwide for the exclusive, luxury, high-performance supercars on which it has built its reputation over the past decade, McLaren Automotive has revealed another landmark model — the 765LT Spider. Complementing the 765LT "Longtail’" coupe unveiled last year — all of which are sold — the new Spider is McLaren’s most powerful-ever convertible supercar and brings highest-ever levels of driver engagement to the McLaren LT experience.
           
Engineered in addition with the other core attributes intrinsic to any McLaren Longtail — minimized weight, track-focused dynamics and optimized aerodynamics — the 765LT Spider has all of the class-leading abilities of the coupe and also meets the LT demand for exclusivity: just 765 cars will be available globally for customer order.

Carrying over the coupe’s dynamic and aerodynamic DNA with no structural compromise and only a minimal 108-pound weight increase — primarily from the retractable hard top and accompanying operating mechanism — the 765LT Spider weighs in at just 3,060 pounds, which is 176 pounds lighter than a 720S Spider and circa 220 pounds lighter than its closest comparable competitor.

Performance is ferocious, the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 755bhp — giving the 765LT Spider a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 590 bhp-per-ton at lightest dry weight — and 590lb ft of torque. Transmission gear ratios have been revised for even greater engagement and performance; in-gear acceleration is 15% quicker than a 720S Spider, helping the new Longtail to achieve the fastest lap times ever posted by a convertible LT model.

Zero-60 mph is 2.7 seconds, with 0-124 mph taking 7.2 seconds. The new LT Spider takes 10.0 seconds to cover ¼ mile) from standstill and the car’s maximum speed is 205 mph.
 
“A McLaren ‘Longtail’ is engineered to deliver not only incredible performance but also the highest levels of driver engagement. The 765LT coupe set new benchmarks in maximizing a driver’s connection with the car and the Spider builds on this, adding the additional engagement factor of open-air driving to give direct access to the scintillating sound of the titanium exhaust — a pleasure that thanks to the electrically operated rear window can also be enjoyed with the retractable roof in place,” said Jamie Corstorphine, director of Product Strategy, McLaren Automotive.

The electrically operated, one-piece carbon fibre Retractable Hard Top (RHT) enables open-top motoring in just 11 seconds and operates at speeds of up to 31mph, bringing the dramatic soundtrack of the quad-exit titanium exhaust system into the cabin to take driver engagement into another dimension.

“As we continue to build the LT sub-brand with the introduction of the new 765LT Spider, it’s clear that our customers are increasingly attracted to the Longtail supercar proposition of exhilarating, extreme performance and limited availability. With all 765 examples of the 765LT coupe sold, it’s no surprise that as we publicly announce our new LT Spider, production availability for 2021 is already oversubscribed,” said  Mike Flewitt, chief executive officer, McLaren Automotive

The immense performance and dynamic prowess of the new Spider — already proven in the 765LT coupe — are enhanced by three compelling factors: the stability of its MonoCage II-S structure, the game-changing design of its one-piece Retractable Hard Top roof, and the ongoing determination of McLaren engineers to pursue the company’s philosophy of super-lightweight engineering.



The Spider version of the carbon fibre MonoCage II — designated MonoCage II-S — was developed alongside the coupe monocoque and shares most of its structural elements, including the windscreen surround. Such is the strength and stiffness of the structure that no additional bracing is required over the coupe – another weight-optimizing factor. At the rear of the car, carbon fibre structural supports are fully bonded into the chassis to provide rollover protection.

The convertible roof design plays an integral role in the structure, featuring a carbon fibre frame within the Retractable Hard Top panel and creating a full carbon fibre shell when closed. There are also additional comfort benefits for occupants – because it is a single-piece panel with no central seal, headroom is improved, while the extended length of the roof panel allows the tops of the A-pillars to be further forward, enhancing the sense of space and easing ingress and egress.

The most powerful McLaren convertible ever and the latest and most engaging addition to the brand’s Longtail lineage can be ordered now from McLaren retailers. Pricing is from $382,500 and availability is limited to just 765 cars for customer order worldwide, with 2021 production already all sold.