Those of you who’ve looked with partial longing at the 600LT and thought, “meh, bit tame” may have found automotive salvation with the brand new 620R, a McLaren that, essentially, is a road-going version of the 570S GT4 race car.
Built around McLaren’s now-standard MonoCell II tub and with a dry weight of just 1,282kg, the new 620R shares much of the GT4’s design, engineering and aerodynamic elements to boast “the DNA of a fully homologated track car.” Hence the adjustable carbon fibre rear wing borrowed directly from the 570S GT4, albeit raised by 32cm to further improve downforce and with a third brake light integrated to make it road legal. The 620R also features the largest front splitter McLaren can legally fit to a roadcar, lowered suspension stiffened to the brink of self-implosion, and a new carbon fibre bonnet with air intakes designed to better distribute airflow at speed.
A revamped ECU and tweaks to the turbochargers mean the mid-mounted 3.8-litre ‘M838TE’ twin-turbocharged V8 now produces 620hp – up 20hp on the 600LT, as you’ve probably guessed – and 620Nm (457lb ft), all of which is sent to the rear wheels via McLaren’s established seven-speed SSG automatic gearbox. As a result, Woking’s new top dog in the Sport Series tier is capable of 0-100kph in 2.9 seconds and a toupee-quivering 322kph. Understandably, the carbon ceramic discs (390mm front, 380mm rear) and McLaren’s lightweight braking system have also received additional oomph.
Inside, in-keeping with the track car ‘DNA’, the air conditioning and the main infotainment have been ripped out, though customers can request they stay put ‘at no additional cost’. They won’t be so lucky with the glovebox and floor carpets, however…
In terms of cost (gulp!), each of the 620R’s lucky 350 customers will need to part company with £250,000, or $330,000 USD plus change for their lightweight key fob. Steep, yes, but given that the 570S GT4 on which the newboy has been inspired is McLaren’s most successful GT racer to-date, we’re guessing the ‘ultimate track-focused, track-ready but road-going McLaren Sports Series model’ will be snapped up pretty quickly.
Deliveries are set to start in February.
*Images courtesy of McLaren Automotive
