MCLAREN 600LT: ONE RARE BIRD

(source: Automoblog.net )

MCLAREN 600LT

The new McLaren 600LT is here. The LT stands for “Longtail” and McLaren is making a bit of a fetish of what it means. What it all comes down to though is that the new 600LT is the fastest, most powerful and most track-focused, but still road legal, Sports Series McLaren yet.

The McLaren 600LT is longer than the 570S by 73mm and adds a large carbonfibre rear wing in order to add downforce. The front bumper and the rear bumper have been completely reworked in order to get better air flow and more importantly – better downforce and even the exhaust outlets have been repositioned. Where the standard 570S has the exhaust openings in the bumper, the 600LT now has a top mounted exhaust right next to the engine compartment – very similar to the ones found on the Porsche 918 Spyder. The exhaust gas flow will also be directed towards the carbon spoiler to add to the airflow.

POWER

Motive force for the 600LT is supplied by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-liter V8 with an uprated cooling system for 592 horsepower and a maximum torque output of 457 lb-ft. The power-to-weight ratio of the McLaren 600LT is an inspiring 474 horsepower per ton.

The McLaren 600LT rides on the forged aluminum double-wishbone suspension and the braking system from the second-generation McLaren Super Series. The tires are (what else?) Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires; the steering is quicker, and the throttle and brake pedal responses have been sharpened. And along with mounting the exhausts virtually behind the driver’s shoulder, the significantly firmer engine mounts should bring incredible sounds from the powertrain into the cabin.

OVERVIEW

McLaren says that 23 per cent of the car is new as compared to the 570S. McLaren Special Operations or MSO has also developed a range of new parts for the 600LT including vented front fenders that help decrease pressure under the front wheels and a carbon fibre roof. The McLaren 600LT with all the lightweight parts added in is just 1247 kg (dry weight) making it one of the lightest track focused supercars out there.

The weight saving continues on the interior with a set of lightweight carbonfibre racing seats that were originally fitted to the McLaren P1 or alternatively, an even lighter fixed racing seat that is currently available in the McLaren Senna. The engine stays the same – a 3.8-litre V8 motor that now makes 592 bhp of peak power and 620 Nm of peak torque. Although official 0-100 kmph timings have not been revealed, it is likely to be under the 3-second mark as the standard 570S does the same run in just 3.2 seconds. The McLaren 600LT will only be available for one year and will have a very limited production run.