McLaren 765LT Spider, the most brutal model from the brand now also as a convertible

A little over a year ago McLaren outdid itself with the presentation of the 765LT, a supercar based on the 720S, which already stood among the elite of this vehicle segment. With the 765LT McLaren gave it another turn of the screw, also accompanied by the designation LT or Long Tail, initials that, when they appear on a model from the English brand, let you know you are looking at a radical creation.

Now the 765LT family expands with the arrival of the Spider version, a model that keeps intact the characteristics of the coupé version but adds the ability to enjoy it without a roof over our heads. It will also arrive as a limited edition of 765 units, and since its designation is the same worldwide, it will undoubtedly become a collector’s piece.

Overall, the new McLaren 765LT Spider keeps practically the same styling as its coupé sibling, but logically we must account for its new hard top. In this way, on the same carbon fibre chassis we continue to find a genuine engineering masterpiece in which aerodynamics plays a major role, as seen in the elaborate front end with huge air intakes, the integrated splitter and the side fins; as well as a rear that features an active rear wing that also plays an important role in engine cooling, along with the rear diffuser.

The big news, obviously, is in its roof, which now features a retractable hard top that, according to the brand, is the fastest and quietest on the market. Including this hard top has meant the doors have grown in size, but this simply translates into easier access and egress from the cabin, since the A-pillars have been moved 80 mm. The roof is fully electric, and with just one button we can open and close it from the inside, an operation that takes 11 seconds and can be performed on the move, although we cannot exceed 50 km/h to do so.

The interior of the McLaren 765LT Spider, dominated by carbon fibre and Alcántara leather, makes no concessions: the priority in both the coupé and the convertible is driving and weight saving. That is why elements such as the sound system and air conditioning have been eliminated, and others contribute to reducing weight, such as the sports seats which, thanks to their carbon fibre shell, shave 18 kg off the weight of those fitted to the 720S Spider. Other elements remain, such as the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, though the real entertainment is right behind us, where a double-glazed panel lets us admire its imposing V8.

Mechanically the recipe for the McLaren 765LT Spider remains the same as the coupé: a 4,000 cc twin-turbo V8 producing 765 CV together with 800 Nm of torque, linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that sends power to the rear axle. Thanks to these figures it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in an impressive 2.8 seconds that will literally press you into your seat, while top speed reaches 330 km/h.