We find McLaren’s signature carbonfibre monocoque,
similar to the 720S Coupe but with an additional rear carbon
well for the retracted hardtop, and a revised carbon rail across
the top of the windscreen. Unlike rival metal convertibles, no
additional strengthening is necessary to compensate for the
loss of the roof. Strength and rigidity are apparently unchanged
from the Coupe and are class best. Unsurprisingly, it is the light-
est car in class too, just 49kg more than the regular 720S (blame
the heavier folding roof and tonneau). It’s also lighter than its
predecessor (the 650S Spider), and lighter than any rival.
The 4.0-litre version of McLaren’s twin-turbo V8 is identical
to the 720S Coupe’s, which means 720PS – thus the name – or
710bhp. That’s 50bhp more than a 488, and 80bhp more than
the fastest Spyder version of the Lamborghini Huracan. Add the
lighter weight (88kg less than the 488 Spider), and you can see
where the McLaren gets its performance edge. Transmission
and suspension are both 720S Coupe carryover. Performance is
near-identical to the Coupe: just 0.1sec slower to 124mph. Top
speed, roof-up, is the same.
The main change over the Coupe is the retractable hardtop
roof, completely redesigned from the 650S Spider. It’s electrical-
ly rather than hydraulically driven and can be raised or lowered
in just 11 seconds, the fastest in the class, while driving at up to
31mph. The carbon roof panel is one piece and gives the same
silhouette and aerodynamics as the Coupe. It’s also quieter to
operate than any previous McLaren Spider.
As with the 720S Coupe, it’s a striking car, designed by scien-
tists more than stylists. McLarens are always engineering-led.
The discreet scoops and slats all aid aero or cooling, often
both. Those big eye sockets, for instance, don’t just provide
for a distinctive face and house the headlamps. They help cool
the charged air about to be ingested by the engine, and the
seven-speed transmission. ⊲First drives 300-mile test
133 miles
It’s not just the old trucks that dwarf the
McLaren. Arizonans love vast SUVs –
GMC Yukons, Chevy Suburbans, Ford
Expeditions – big pick-ups and even big
buggies, so we have to be wary of being
squashed by careless lane-changers.Mine’s bigger than yours!
Maybe. But this rancher
goes out of his way to say
how much he liked the
720S Spider.120 miles
Humbled, we gave
up on the game
‘Who’s got the
biggest V8?’Carbon tub means
Spider needs no
heavy stiffening38 CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK | APRIL 2019