2015 McLaren 675LT - new video shows off track ability

The 675LT is a homage to the original 'Long Tail' F1 GTR

Hardcore 650S-based supercar gets 666bhp twin-turbo V8 engine and can reach 0-62mph in 2.9sec

McLaren has released a new video showcasing its 675LT 'LongTail' on track. The new supercar - which is designed to be a harder, lighter and more powerful version of the 650S - made its debut at the Geneva motor show in March.

Already on sale, the 675LT is priced at £259,500 - around £64,000 more than the 650S on which it is based. Just 500 examples will be made - but all planned models are already sold.

Many of the 675 LTs will have gone to existing McLaren owners, including many who buy every model from the company that is offered to them.

The coupé-only 675LT - ‘LT’ refers to its long-tail aerodynamic design, something first used on the 1997 F1 Longtail - sits above the 650S coupé and Spider in McLaren’s range of so-called ‘Super’ models. The P1 is in the ‘Ultimate’ range and the recently-unveiled 570S and 540C sit in the newly-created Sports Series.

The 675LT features a more powerful and significantly modified 666bhp version of the 650S’s twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8.

McLaren says 50% of the parts in the V8 engine are new, including new turbos, new camshafts and connecting rods, a faster-flowing fuel pump and delivery system, and detail changes to the cylinder heads and exhaust manifolds.

So extensive are the engine changes that the unit has a 
new codename: M838TL. Power rises 25bhp over the 650S to 666bhp, with peak power arriving at 7100rpm. Torque is up from 500lb ft in the 650S, to 516lb ft at 5500-6500rpm in the 675LT. 

As 
with the 650S, the engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, although it has had subtle changes to speed up shifts.

Extensive use of carbonfibre for the bodywork, and aerodynamic features and other lightweight elements in the engine, chassis and body, give the 675LT a dry weight of 1230kg, which is 100kg less than the 650S. As a result, the power-to-weight ratio is improved from the 650S’s 493bhp per tonne to 541bhp per tonne in the 675LT.

The combination of lighter weight and prodigious new engine outputs result in a 0-62mph time for the rear-drive 675LT of 2.9sec, some 0.1sec faster than the 650S. However, a greater improvement is had in the 0-124mph time, which is cut from 8.4sec to 7.9sec. The 675LT’s 205mph top speed is 2mph less than the 650S’s due to the extra drag of the aerodynamic set-up.

The 675LT’s look is significantly altered and reprofiled compared with the 650S. It features many aerodynamic features and an altogether more aggressive style. The Longtail Airbrake is a key part of the new design, being 50% larger than on the 650S. 

The polycarbonate rear screen is another new feature, complete with more louvres.

Also new at the rear are the carbonfibre wings and twin circular exhaust pipes made from titanium, which are exposed at the rear deck to improve cooling. They sit above a new bumper and rear diffuser that are both made from carbonfibre.

At the front, there is a larger carbonfibre splitter and new front bumper design aimed at improving cooling and downforce, channelling the air to the rear of the car through several aerodynamic features.

The 675LT is more track focused than the 650S, with a more aggressive set-up than the existing car. It has a 20mm wider track front and rear, while the springs are 27% stiffer at the front and 63% stiffer at the rear to compensate for the increased downforce and to improve body control. The steering has been tweaked as well, with a faster response time than the 650S.

Inside, it bears a striking similarity to the 650S, but with a high level of specification. The cabin features a large amount of Alcantara, while P1-inspired bucket seats and individually numbered plaques set the 675LT apart.

An optional package, called the Club Sport pack, is available in the UK for £5090. This brings more equipment for the track-bound driver, and adds a titanium roll hoop, four-point harnesses and a fire extinguisher.

The 675LT is offered 
in what McLaren calls five 
‘By McLaren’ specifications, inspired by famous colours and liveries from its past. The five colours and themes on offer are mirrored inside and out. 

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