2015 McLaren 650S
2015 McLaren 650S
I think somebody owes me 5 dollars. McLaren 
has dropped the official details on its upcoming 650S reveal at Geneva , and just as I predicted, it is essentially a hotted up version of the McLaren 12C not the upcoming P15. Just as expected, that 650 in the name stands for the amount of power produced by the engine. Since McLaren is a UK company, they have the power rating of the new 650S rated in Pferdestärke (PS) so the actual U.S. horsepower rating is 640.
has dropped the official details on its upcoming 650S reveal at Geneva , and just as I predicted, it is essentially a hotted up version of the McLaren 12C not the upcoming P15. Just as expected, that 650 in the name stands for the amount of power produced by the engine. Since McLaren is a UK company, they have the power rating of the new 650S rated in Pferdestärke (PS) so the actual U.S. horsepower rating is 640.
The new car features a pretty solid collection of visual upgrades and aerodynamic changes that increase downforce and handling at speed. This isn’t a pure power bump either, as the 650S is designed with several bespoke parts and pieces.
Add to that a nearly 210 mph top speed and a 0-to-60mph time of under three seconds, and the 650S is ready to crush the competition.
Updated 04/02/2014: The new McLaren 650S Coupe will be making its North American debut later this month at the 2014 New York Auto Show, but with just days its U.S. debut, McLaren announced prices for the supercar. The new 650S Coupe will be priced from $265,500 and will be offered through 13 U.S. dealers.
Continue to get all the details on the new
Update History
Update 2/17/2014: McLaren has released a ton of information about the 650S, and you can see it all after the jump.
Updated 02/27/2014: McLaren released performance figures for the new 650S sports car before its official debut in Geneva. Find them out after the jump.
Updated 03/17/2014: McLaren unveiled a new video in which product manager Jamie Corstorphine talks about how great the 650S is. Enjoy!
Exterior
The exterior of the 650S is a combination of P1 and 12C. The car itself is instantly recognizable as a 12C, but the front end has been modeled after the new P1 supercar. McLaren claims the new body shape is just as aerodynamically efficient as the 12C, but at 150 mph, downforce has been increased by 24 percent.
The large intakes behind the doors are a sharp contrasting black in the photos, and they feed air to the radiators required to keep the turbo V-8 cool. The new split-spoke wheels are forged and are bespoke to the 650. The tires are also exclusive to the 650S and are branded MC1. They were developed by Pirelli specifically for the 650S.
We don’t have any photos of it yet, but the new 650S will also be unveiled in a Spider version at Geneva. Hard top styling or open roof motoring; the choice is yours.
| Length | 4512 MM (177.63 inches) |
|---|---|
| Width | 2093 MM (82.40 inches) |
| Height | 1199 MM (47.20 inches) |
| Wheelbase | 2670 MM (105.11 inches) |
| Track, F/R | 1656 MM / 1583 MM (65.2 Inches / 62.3 Inches) |
| Curb Weight | 1,330 KG (2,932 Pounds) |
GalleryMcLaren 650S
Interior
Don’t expect the interior to change too drastically from the cockpit of the 12C. McLaren hasn’t given us many details about the cabin, but it assures everyone that it won’t be a stripped out box with hard seats and metal floors. It says that the major amenities are intact, so Bluetooth, satellite radio and navigation are all standard equipment.
If you want to save some extra weight, you can choose fixed back racing seats made from carbon fiber. A rear backup camera and carbon-fiber trim work round out the current options list.
Drivetrain And Chassis
The engine of the new 650S is the same M838T turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 that is found in the 12C and the P1. Power had been bumped from the 600PS (591 horsepower) of the 12C to 650PS (640 horsepower). Likewise, the only transmission option is the seven-speed dual clutch found in the rest of the McLaren lineup.
The 0-to-62 mph time takes just three seconds, hitting 124 mph takes 8.4 seconds and 186 mph comes in just 25.4 seconds. The 650S runs the quarter-mile in just 10.5 seconds at 139 mph, and the top speed checks in at 207 mph. McLaren has promised that all performance statistics will be revealed at Geneva.
At the corners, McLaren installed carbon-ceramic discs measuring 394 mm (15.5 inches) up front and 380 mm (15 inches) on the rear. Thanks to these awesome brakes, the 650S takes only 100 feet to stop from 62 mph, 404 feet to stop from 124 mph and 889 feet to stop from 189 mph.
Wrapped around the standard 19-by-8.5-inch wheels up front and 20-by-11-inch wheels out back are Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires.
2014 McLaren 650S - Drivetrain Specifications
| Engine | 3.8-Liter Turbo V-8 |
|---|---|
| Output (HP @ RPM) | 640 @ 7,250 |
| Torque (LB-FT @ RPM) | 500 @ 6,000 |
| Transmission | Seven-Speed Dual Clutch |
| 0-100 KM/H (62 MPH) | 3.0 s |
| 0-200 KM/H (124 MPH) | 8.4 s |
| 0-300 KM/H (186 MPH) | 25.4 s |
| 0-400 M / 1/4-mile | 10.5 @ 224 km/h (139 mph) |
| 100-0 KM/H | 30.5 m (100 ft) |
| 200-0 KM/H | 123 m (404 ft) |
| 300-0 KM/H | 271 m (889 ft) |
| Top Speed | 207 mph |
Prices
The new McLaren 650S Coupe is priced at $265,500.
Competitors
Ferrari 458 Speciale
In many ways, this lighter, faster, more powerful version of the 458 Italia is the whole reason the new McLaren 650S exists. McLaren is on a mission to prove at every step that the plucky Brits can dethrone the mighty Italians as the kings of the supercar game.
With almost 600 horsepower and a 0-to-60 time of less than three seconds, the 458 Speciale is going to be a tough act to beat.
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse
Just like the 458 Speciale, the Gallardo Squadra Corse is a lighter, more powerful version of its base car. The Squadra Corse is built with the experience gained from the Super Trofeo race car. With only 570 horsepower, the Squadra Corse is a bit of an underperformer in this company.
Conclusion
The McLaren 650S is far from a groundbreaking vehicle, especially in the shadow of the P1, but it does keep the company fresh in the minds of consumers. You can’t afford to sit still when you play in the supercar market, and we appreciate McLaren constantly improving, updating and expanding its vehicle offering. It may just be a horsepower bump and some revised styling, but that may be all McLaren needs to stay ahead of the competition.
Press Release
McLaren Automotive will return to the International Geneva Motor Show this year with its fastest, most engaging, best equipped and most beautiful series-production supercar yet.
The McLaren 650S joins the range as an additional model alongside the 12C and sold-out McLaren P1™, and learns from both models as well as 50 years of competing in the highest levels of motorsport. Available as a fixed-head coupé or as a Spider, with a retractable folding hard top, the McLaren 650S promises to redefine the high performance supercar segment, and has been designed and developed to provide the ultimate in driver engagement on the road and on the race track.
The 650S badge designation refers to the power output – 650PS (641 bhp) – of the unique British-built McLaren M838T twin turbo V8 engine. ‘S’ stands for ‘Sport’, underlining the focus and developments made to handling, transmission, drivability and engagement. Performance figures will be confirmed ahead of the Geneva Show but will improve on the already rapid 12C which continues on sale.
The design is inspired by the McLaren P1™, previewing a new family design language. The front bumper gives the McLaren 650S a dramatic, yet clean appearance and sits below new LED headlamps which reflect a similar look to the McLaren P1™. The more integrated front splitter contributes to increased levels of downforce, giving a greater level of steering feeling and confidence to the driver on turn-in, while also adding to the agility and the car’s handling balance. Unique door blades behind the front wheels direct air from the trailing edges of the front splitter, further benefiting front-end grip and vehicle balance.
The aerodynamic performance of the McLaren 650S is as efficient as the 12C, boasting the same drag coefficient figure, yet the air is being worked harder and more efficiently as it flows over, and through, the functional bodywork. At 150 mph, downforce levels are increased by 24 percent.
‘As always with McLaren, the new design is there for good engineering reasons,’ says McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt. ‘The newly designed front bumper improves downforce and steering turn-in. The high speed handling balance is now even better. The LED lights use less power and last longer.’
Unique side intakes behind the dihedral doors feed large, efficiently packaged, radiators which help provide the cooling requirements of the mid-mounted, compact engine. A new design five-spoke lightweight forged ‘650S’ alloy wheel is unique to the model, and are fitted with Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyres to offer optimised roadholding, handling and driver feedback – the bespoke ‘MC1’ branded tyres have been developed alongside the McLaren 650S by McLaren technology partner Pirelli, and offer strong performance in normal road conditions and on track.
The McLaren 650S builds on experience from success on the track, and groundbreaking technologies fitted to other McLaren models. Active aerodynamics, which feature on both the 12C and McLaren P1™, have been further developed and honed to ensure the ultimate performance and ability for the McLaren 650S. The McLaren Airbrake, originally fitted to the 12C and 12C Spider and designed to offer optimised levels of downforce on the rear of the car, now operates with a greater level of functionality providing increased stability. The newly developed system means the Airbrake deploys whenever the car senses extra downforce is advisable – rather than simply under braking or when manually operated in ‘Aero’ mode. Below the Airbrake, a distinctive rear three-piece bumper, similar to the GT3 racing version of the 12C, compliments the aerodynamic shaping of the McLaren 650S.
The pioneering ProActive Chassis Control (PCC) suspension system, developed by McLaren, has been further enhanced for the McLaren 650S. A feature of the system is the ability to adjust the ride and handling modes – Normal / Sport / Track – in isolation from the drivetrain, which gives complete freedom in terms of ride and handling. These settings, for both powertrain and suspension, have been recalibrated to improve driver engagement. The updates are especially noticeable in Sport mode.
‘McLaren is a fast moving company, continually striving for improvements and technical advantages. We are always seeking to innovate, to be the class leaders, to bring new technologies and thinking to market. That’s our Formula 1 heritage shining through,’ explains Mike Flewitt. ‘Everything we’ve learnt from the 12C and the McLaren P1™ has gone into the design and development of the McLaren 650S.’
The McLaren 650S is designed to be the best and most engaging driver’s car in its class, yet it is not a stripped out road racer. Ride comfort and refinement are to executive saloon standards. The McLaren 650S models are equipped with IRIS satellite navigation with Bluetooth telephony, DAB digital radio (SIRIUS satellite radio in North America), wireless tethering, audio streaming and voice control as standard, while also offering enhanced levels of optional specification than previously offered. Options include fixed-back carbon racing seats, based on the lightweight design found in the McLaren P1™, an electric steering column adjustment assisting ingress and egress, a rear parking camera and extended carbon fibre throughout the interior.
The global reveal of the McLaren 650S Coupéand Spider will take place on Stand 1240, Hall 1 at 12.00CET (11.00GMT) on Tuesday, 4 March 2014 at the 84th International Geneva Motor Show.
Performance figures
As the first example of the McLaren 650S rolled off the line at the state-of-the-art McLaren Production Centre in Woking, McLaren Automotive has released performance numbers and confirmed pricing ahead of the global debut at the 84th International Geneva Motor Show.
The latest addition to the McLaren range accelerates to 100km/h (62mph) from rest in just 3.0 seconds, and can reach 200km/h (124mph) in just 8.4 seconds. The standing quarter mile (400m) takes 10.5 seconds, and top speed is 333 km/h (207 mph). This performance puts the latest model from McLaren a full second quicker than the iconic McLaren F1 road car to 200 km/h, and 0.6 sec faster over the standing quarter mile, underlining its performance focus. This represents a sprint time to 200 km/h more than half a second quicker than the rapid 12C, which continues in production. Pricing for the McLaren 650S Coupe starts at £195,250, with the 650S Spider starting at £215,250.
Optimised aerodynamics ensure that the performance of the McLaren 650S is accessible and increases driver engagement. Enhanced handling, high-speed balance and steering turn-in result from improved levels of downforce. ‘Driving excitement is at the absolute heart of the McLaren 650S,’ explains Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive. ‘Of course the performance figures are important, and they help boost excitement. But they’re only part of the story. This is a car that’s about feel as well as measurement.’
Despite these impressive performance figures, more akin to a stripped out road racer, the McLaren 650S boasts a high level of luxury specification. Carbon ceramic brakes sit behind unique ‘650’ lightweight alloy wheels shod with Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyres, IRIS satellite navigation with Bluetooth telephony, DAB digital radio in Europe (SIRIUS satellite radio in North America), wireless tethering, audio streaming and voice control are all fitted as standard, and the cabin is trimmed in Alcantara. Enhanced levels of optional specification are also offered, including fixed-back carbon racing seats, based on the lightweight design found in the McLaren P1™, an electric steering column adjustment assists ingress and egress, a rear parking camera and extended carbon fibre throughout the interior.
The ‘no compromise’ McLaren 650S also performs efficiently, returning 24.2 mpg (11.7 l/100 km) on the EU combined cycle, and a CO2 figure of 275 g/km making it one of the most efficient models in class. This is testament to the drive by McLaren for continued improvement and class-leading efficiency.
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