I
t was only a matter of time
before McLaren Long-Tailed
the 720S, and the result is
the 765LT.
These days, though, Long
Tail is more a brand name
than a literal descriptor, as the
765LT’s butt is only 0.4 inch
longer than in a 720S. Have
no doubt, the 765LT is longer
than the 720S, but most of it
is in the 1.6-inch-longer nose.W
e’ve been pining
for the E-Class All-
Terrain lifted wagon
in the U.S., but it’s come at the
price of the standard E-Class
wagon. The rest of the world
gets both, but in America,
there can only be one.
From here on out, it’ll be
an E-Class wagon that’s been2021 Mercedes-Benz
E-Class All-Terrain
lifted a little bit, fitted with a
bit of underbody armor and
some plastic fender flares, and
specced with standard 4Matic
all-wheel drive. It won’t take
you nearly as far as a G-Wagen,
but it should sell better than
the wagon in this market.
Coming at the same time
that the E-Class in general getsa refresh, the All-Terrain also
receives a new front bumper,
grille, taillights, and LED
headlights. More substantially,
the new mild hybrid turbo-
charged I-6 replaces the old
twin-turbo V-6 with the same
362 hp in the E 450 model.
Other across-the-board
enhancements for 2021
include making the big dual
12.3-inch infotainment andBlame McLaren’s devotion to
aerodynamics above all else.
The bodywork is new at both
ends, with the front getting a
new splitter, floor, and bumper
and the rear getting a new
bumper and active spoiler,
not to mention a quad-barrel
center-mounted exhaust.
Producing that exhaust is an
enhanced 4.0-liter twin-turbo
V-8 making 755 hp and 590
lb-ft. Changes to the gearing
make for 15 percent better
in-gear acceleration and a
0–60 launch in less than 2.
seconds. We expect it’s actually
quicker, as we’ve clocked the
720S at 2.5 seconds to 60. We2021 McLaren 765LT
believe this because the 765LT
weighs 176 pounds less.
Getting the curb weight
under 3,000 pounds ( based on
the weight of a 720S) required
the Senna’s fixed carbon-fiber
seats, forged wheels clampedby titanium bolts, a titanium
exhaust system, and cutting-
edge carbon-fiber bodywork
that’s lighter than previous
formulations.
At the corners, specially
developed Pirelli P Zero Trofeo
R tires provide the grip; they’re
held down by new springs and
dampers. A wider track, new
hydraulic suspension software,
greater roll stiffness, and a
lower nose all contribute, while
the Senna’s carbon-ceramic
brakes handle the stopping.
As you might’ve guessed,
McLaren will build 765 copies
of the 765LT, which could
include the 765LT Spider due
next year. No pricing as of yet,
but figure $400,000 to be safe.instrument displays standard
and enhancing the various
electronic driver aids. These
include a new steering wheel
that can tell when you take
your hands off it, a blind-spot
monitoring system that’ll
warn you about on-ramps and
off-ramps, and an emergency
braking function that’ll try to
steer you around anything you
can’t stop short of.JUNE 2020 MOTORTREND.COM 17