Rush hour, loading it up with kit and a spot of gentle off-roading: can the Mc720 cope?

We already know the 720bhp, 212mph, £208,600 McLaren 720S is a brilliant supercar, but there are so many unanswered questions: can you get a set of golf clubs in it? How does it handle a speed bump? Where can you put your wallet? Your five man tent? Your mountain bike? Is it noisy on motorways? What about some (gentle) off-roading in it?

These things clearly matter to those who might want to take their new McLaren camping. Or golfing. Or to somewhere they might want to spend some money. Of course we’re being daft, but with an ulterior motive – to show just how capable and user-friendly this modern supercar is.

So we spent a full day doing stuff with the 720S, battling morning rush hour, smashing out some motorway distance, loading it up with kit and finally just driving it on some great roads. The sort of stuff you might consider doing were you in the fortunate position to be considering this as your daily driver. Your town hack. Your family car. Your runabout.

And yes, I know the bike looks wobbly, but I promise it never let go. Turns out mounting a SeaSucker rack on a car with doors that cut into the roof leaves you a bit short of options…

Black’n’gold gets a rear wing daubed in Arabic script. Timeless, or tasteless?

This will split opinion. The car in question is a McLaren 720S, which we’re already sold on: it’s an insanely fast, incredibly approachable, beautifully executed supercar. A supercar which, thanks to McLaren Special Operations, you can configure in any way your heart (or naff taste) desires.

Here’s MSO’s latest piece of work, revealed at the 2017 Dubai motor show. What looks to be, on first glance, a Zenith Black 720S on gold-painted wheels is in fact something a tad more… bespoke.

For a start, 24-carat gold coats the engine bay, just like the McLaren F1’s heatshield. Pity the 720S doesn’t have an openable engine cover, so most of the gold is hidden… That’s probably why the owner has specced yet more golden finish in the carbon and suede-swathed cabin.

Mainly though, it’s the 720S’s airbrake that sets this 1 of 1 commission apart. Picked out in gold paint across the wing’s surface is the Bruce McLaren quote ‘Life is measured in achievement, not in years alone’. It’s written in Arabic script, and stylised to evoke Dubai’s record-breaking skyline.

McLaren says 120 hours were spent personalising this car, with 30 hours being spent on the wing’s unique finish alone. Meanwhile, every carbon option box has been ticked, and the weave has also been applied to the steering wheel, in an MSO-exclusive finish.

A worthy tribute to the company’s founder, or too much bling? Is bling even still a thing? Hmm. We told you it’d split opinion.

Angry looking 720S racecar starts testing soon. Like it?

It was probably inevitable, but that makes it no less exciting. McLaren is making a GT3 version of its 720S supercar, and this is a hint of how it will look.

We’ve just got sketches to go from for now, and the car won’t race until 2019. Next year has been set aside for an “intense development programme”, before customer teams can race them the following season.

It will replace the 650S GT3, which gives us a good clue as to what to expect; a road-going McLaren supercar with all the usual race car flourishes (roll cage, harnessed bucket seat, much safety) but a road-based engine.

Expect the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from the regular 720S to transplant over, only with its power tweaked to match the regulations of whichever series it’s being raced in. The 710bhp you get from a showroom car isn’t a given, then.

There’ll also be heaps of additional aero; these sketches reveal a splitter that could plough snow (if it wasn’t made of expensive carbon) and some tasty little dive planes at the front, while round the back there’s an almighty diffuser, a different exhaust setup and a humongous fixed spoiler rather than an active wing.

More details will follow as the car’s development progresses. Like what you see so far?

A unique McLaren 720S supercar designed by McLaren Operations (MSO) is the centrepiece of the McLaren display at the 2017 Dubai International Motor Show, which takes place November 14 – 18.

Created as an MSO Bespoke commission, the service from McLaren Special Operations that allows almost limitless enhancement and personalisation of McLaren cars, the 720S is in Zenith Black paint with a satin finish. Gold-coloured alloy wheels, a 24-carat gold engine heatshield and gold-coloured interior components complement the exterior colour.

A plaque inside the car identifies it as a ‘1 of 1’ MSO commission, a fact also communicated by the unique rear wing that bears part of a famous quote* by McLaren founder, Bruce McLaren: ‘Life is measured in achievement, not in years alone’, is painted across the upper surface of the wing in gold Arabic lettering, stylised to echo the Dubai city skyline.

The theme of ‘achievement’ was a key sentiment behind the commission, as Andreas Bareis, Managing Director Middle East, Africa & Latin America for McLaren Automotive, explained: “The quote from Bruce McLaren rings true not only of the history of McLaren, but also the achievements of the UAE and the Gulf states over the last four decades. The UAE and the region are very important to McLaren, not only in terms of our client base, but also because of the support from our shareholders. This car pays tribute to that.”

To personalise the car added more than 120 hours to the production process. The rear wing alone took 30 hours to complete, using stencils produced by the MSO design visualisation team to achieve the desired dramatic visual impact of the gold lettering.

With McLaren 720S Performance specification as the starting point – and in addition to the MSO Bespoke elements – the commission added carbon fibre exterior upgrade packs that together encompass the front splitter and air intakes, rear bumper and roof panel. The rear diffuser is also a carbon fibre option, while the door mirror arms, rear aero bridge and deck and engine covers are all from the MSO Defined range of carbon fibre components.

The interior of the car is equally special: black Alcantara® and black leather trim are complemented by MSO Defined carbon fibre sill panels, fascia vents and steering wheel, in addition to a regular carbon fibre interior upgrade pack. The MSO Bespoke team added satin gold-painted extended gearshift paddles, a satin gold-coloured centre band to the steering wheel and pinstriping in the same hue to the spokes. A gold-coloured applique on each door inner completes the visual treatment.

The new owner of the MSO Bespoke McLaren 720S on display at the 2017 Dubai International Motor Show will take delivery of the car from McLaren Dubai when the Show finishes. They will enjoy a McLaren supercar powered by a 4.0 V8 twin-turbocharged engine and capable of accelerating from 0 – 200km/h (0 – 124mph) in just 7.8 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 341km/h (212mph).

McLaren Special Ops red and brown 720S makes big money at charity auction

We’re rather used to one-off special McLarens these days. A month can’t pass by without something cool being wheeled out by McLaren Special Operations. Only last week we saw the new MSO X.

Not that we’re complaining, for MSO’s produce is usually pretty exciting. The latest is this, a 720S supercar trimmed in red and brown. Perhaps not the most obvious of cool combinations, given the two colours are probably most commonly seen together when you open a Kit Kat.

This 720S really gets it right, though. At least to our eyes. The red is a dark metallic ‘Nerello Red’, while the interior is dubbed Saddle Brown, but is probably a bit closer to tan. There’s also carbon trim galore.

The paint is named after a specific grape, while the car is adorned with various grape motifs, which gives a big clue as to why it exists: it’s been specced by the Naples Winter Wine Festival in the US, then auctioned for its childrens’ charity, where it raised a quite staggering $650,000. That’s just shy of £500k at current exchange rates, making this a 720S with a near £300k mark-up.

Mind, its hypercar-like performance can live with just about any half-million quid car you’d dare put the 720S against. It has 710bhp, a 2.8sec 0-62mph time and a 212mph top speed.

“Probably the single most accomplished supercar we’ve ever driven,” said this very website in our McLaren 720S review last year. Cheap at twice the price, then…

One-off McLaren 720S personalised by McLaren Special Operations raises $650,000 for NCEF children’s charity at Naples Winter Wine Festival Auction

• Unique McLaren 720S auctioned at the Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), raising $650,000 to benefit the Naples Children & Education Foundation
• Enhancements by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) include Nerello Red exterior paint, Saddle Brown leather interior with Nerello stitching and a bespoke grape motif throughout
• This is the second year that McLaren has participated in the annual Naples Winter Wine Festival, raising to date $1,130,000 for at-risk children

A one-of-a-kind McLaren 720S created by the British luxury sportscar and supercar manufacturer has been auctioned for charity at the Naples Winter Wine Festival, raising $650,000 for the Naples Children & Education Foundation.

Developed by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), the bespoke 720S in Luxury specification features a range of additional options including extensive use of carbon fibre on both the exterior and interior of the car. Additional MSO-specific content includes a Nerello Red exterior paint finish (named after the Nerello Mascalese grape from the Mascali area of Castaia, Sicily); a Saddle Brown with Nerello stitching leather interior; and a custom steering wheel featuring leather and Carbon Black leather grips. A grape motif is featured throughout the vehicle and a bespoke dedication plate marks the specialty commission.

“The McLaren 720S is an extraordinary vehicle - in fact demand exceeds supply, which makes it even more exciting for us to be able to offer this MSO 720S to the winning bidder, who will be able to take delivery immediately,” said Tony Joseph, President, McLaren North America. “The work done by the Naples Children & Education Foundation to help transform the lives of children is so important and we are honored to donate a vehicle to this cause.”

The McLaren 720S debuted at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show as McLaren’s first-ever replacement of a model family – in this case, the Super Series. The Monocage II central structure at the heart of the 720S is key to the light weight of the carbon fibre chassis and as a result the vehicle overall, as well as allowing for unparalleled interior space and visibility.

With a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 that produces 720PS/710hp and 770NM/568 lb ft of torque, 0-60mph takes only 2.8 seconds in the McLaren 720S, while 0-124mph is reached in a blistering 7.8 seconds. In addition to its rapid acceleration and top speed of 212mph, the 720S delivers outstanding driver engagement, with double the aerodynamic efficiency of its predecessor and a new generation of McLaren’s active chassis system, Proactive Chassis Control II.

The McLaren 720S has a starting MRSP of $284,745 in the United States (£208,600 in the UK).

An award-filled year on from its world premiere at the 87th Geneva International Motor Show, the McLaren 720S is again taking the Geneva spotlight with a breathtaking-in-blue bespoke creation from McLaren Special Operations (MSO).

Combining the deepest of deep blue paint finishes specially formulated for the car with a classic Saddle Tan leather interior, the McLaren 720S in Atlantic Blue by MSO presents the dynamism of the McLaren Super Series wrapped up in a timeless, luxury-accented allure.

McLaren Special Operations’ latest creation comes a year after MSO’s first bespoke project on the second-generation Super Series, the 720S Velocity by MSO, which was shown in Geneva in 2017. With a fusion of Volcano Red and Nerello Red paint colours, its explosive looks more than matched its performance. In the 12 months since – during which time the 720S has garnered five-star road test verdicts as well as awards including the world’s most beautiful supercar – few of the nearly 1,500 McLaren 720S delivered since launch have not borne at least some MSO influence. The earliest build allocation for a ‘standard’ car is currently July of this year.

The Atlantic Blue body provides a fresh interpretation of the ‘shrink-wrapped’ design language introduced for the 720S, which features innovative aerodynamics, smoothly sculpted surfaces and iconic double-hinged dihedral doors. Commissioned for the 88th Geneva Motor Show, this latest MSO project showcases both the boundless extent of MSO’s bespoke craftsmanship and the MSO Defined range of personalisation choices – options that have allowed 720S buyers such creative expression in realising their own perfect Super Series model.

“Every 720S produced by MSO is elegant and distinctive and a large part of that is because they are different in some way from all the others, with each car a unique expression of the owner’s taste,” commented Ansar Ali, Managing Director of McLaren Special Operations, “At MSO, we celebrate that difference by showing cars like the Atlantic Blue 720S – a world of McLaren possibilities made stunningly real.”

MSO’s hand-crafted artistry is able to fulfil McLaren clients’ most demanding expectations. Its capabilities range from crafting entire one-off cars to providing specific aerodynamic and lightweight componentry, adding functionality and developing the special materials, finishes, colour and trim that are used to such stunning effect by the Atlantic Blue 720S making its debut in Geneva.

The second-generation Super Series marries McLaren’s most extreme take yet on supercar performance, with a plethora of luxury and convenience features in the glass teardrop cockpit that further reinforce the acclamation of the 720S as a supercar with the broadest range of abilities.

Providing the most focused driving experience thanks to innovations in aerodynamics, proactive suspension control, carbon-fibre construction and one of the world’s most potent 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engines, the 720PS (710bhp) 720S can deliver a top speed of 212mph and despatch 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds. None of this is at the expense of comfort: heated electric seats, keyless entry, soft-close doors, cruise control, electrically adjustable steering column and advanced climate and connectivity systems are among the standard features.

MSO bespoke elements that take this formula to another level comprise the newly-developed Atlantic Blue paint and an interior swathed in Saddle Tan leather with contrasting Slate Grey stitching. The cockpit is further distinguished by Carbon Black leather and Grey Alcantara accents. Even the floor mats are bespoke.

Setting off the Atlantic Blue paint are Dark Palladium exterior finishes, gloss finish Visual Carbon Fibre, and Zircon window surrounds. The stainless-steel sports exhaust has Titanium finishers and the twin-spoke lightweight wheels feature a bespoke Graphite Grey finish. The brakes – as on all McLaren 720Ss – are carbon-ceramic and for this special model feature black calipers with McLaren branding.

MSO Defined features inside the cockpit characterise the demands of a typical McLaren 720S owner, with priorities for both track driving and everyday usability. The McLaren 720S in Atlantic Blue by MSO comes with both the McLaren Track Telemetry and camera system for circuit enjoyment and a 360-degree Park Assist system of sensors and cameras to ease city driving. The car is also equipped with a vehicle lift to avoid damage over ramps and speed humps, and to while away motorway miles there is a Bowers & Wilkins 12-speaker audio system.

Two new McLaren 720S designs have been brought to life as bespoke commissions by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), after being previewed earlier this year in Geneva.

The 720S Pacific Theme and 720S Track Theme are said to be from the same porfolio as the McLaren 720S Velocity Theme, the latter also a visitor of the 2017 Geneva Motor Show and future attendee of the Salon Privé at the end of this month.

“The 720S is an exceptional car in every respect in standard form but there is always the potential to make it even more special with additional, individual, creative input, which is where McLaren Special Operations comes in,” stated MSO exec, Ansar Ali. “We were overwhelmed by the reaction to the 720S Velocity at its unveiling and to bring to life two more versions of the MSO 720S Themes portfolio further demonstrates that MSO can fulfill any request to ensure that a car perfectly meets and customer’s vision.”

The first 720S Track Theme has been commissioned by McLaren Manchester and is finished in Anniversary White, which is an MSO Bespoke exterior paint inspired by the McLaren Formula One cars of the 80’s. The exterior of the car features hand-painted detailing on the bonnet, doors, rear quarter panels and carbon black airbrake, as well as McLaren’s F1 color from 2017 (Tarroco Orange), which can also be found on the outer rim of the gloss black wheels.

All exterior and interior carbon fiber bits have a satin finish, while the cabin is trimmed in Jet Black Alcantara with McLaren Orange contrast stitching.

The 720S Pacific Theme came out of McLaren Glasgow and draws its inspiration from the world’s largest and deepest ocean. Its exterior is painted in Cerulean Blue (also featured on today’s McLaren F1 car), while the door intakes are finished in a darker Estoril Blue.

Other features include the tinting of carbon fiber components, as Cobalt Blue-tinted carbon is used on the roof, front splitter, air intakes, mirror casings, rear diffuser, rear deck, rear bumper and engine cover.

Inside the 720S Pacific Theme there are bespoke blue inserts and contrast stitching, and a discreet blue center band on the steering wheel.

A new Track Pack specification for the McLaren 720S is now available, taking the British supercar to the next level for owners who want to exploit its formidable dynamic abilities on a circuit. With the wide breadth of 720S capability extended even further, the McLaren 720S Track Pack establishes a new pinnacle of track focus within McLaren's core Super Series line-up. The introduction follows the availability of a Track Pack for McLaren's Sports Series, which one in ten 570S buyers specify.

The introduction of the Track Pack for 720S comes as McLaren's new 720S GT3 race car moves into the next stage of its development programme. Further rigorous testing has been taking place throughout Europe, including earlier this week at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic where the two cars came together to share track time. To date, the McLaren Automotive Customer Racing division has tested extensively at six European circuits, with ten different drivers experiencing the car. The majority of track mileage has been covered by McLaren Automotive Factory Drivers, but the programme has also seen a number of Amateur racers providing further important feedback during the development process. A combination of multiple rig tests and track time has allowed completion of engine performance evaluation for the GT3 car.

Available now for the road-legal 720S, the Track Pack's individual features comprise functional and visual upgrades and deliver a weight-saving of 24kg. Based on 720S Performance specification - which, with hood air intakes, rear fender air intakes and door mirror casings in carbon fibre and engine bay ambient lighting, already turns heads in any pit lane or paddock - the Track Pack exterior features are Super-Lightweight 10-Spoke Forged Alloy Wheels, an MSO Defined Gloss Finish Visual Carbon Fibre Active Rear Spoiler and a Sports Exhaust.

Inside the expansive teardrop cabin, with its welcoming spaciousness and track-perfect visibility, body-hugging Lightweight Carbon Fibre Racing Seats in either regular or touring size are complemented by MSO Defined Satin Visual Carbon Fibre Extended Gearshift Paddles and a steering wheel trimmed in black Alcantara®, ensuring a purposeful racecar environment as well as delivering an ergonomic benefit. A titanium bar mounted behind the seats supports 6-point harnesses for both driver and passenger.

The Track Pack adds even more motorsport intent to a car designed from the outset to excel on both road and circuit and having a bespoke Track setting among its drive modes and a lightweight but incredibly strong and stiff carbon fibre Monocage II body structure at its core. McLaren's acclaimed 720ps twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine delivers acceleration from standstill to 200km/h (124mph) in just 7.8 seconds, with Proactive Chassis Control II active suspension and carbon-ceramic disc brakes optimising dynamic performance and braking.

Owners can analyse their track driving using another element of the Track Pack, namely the McLaren Track Telemetry (MTT) system. Using three video cameras built into the car and advanced data-logging software, MTT allows a driver to monitor their performance and understand where opportunities to improve lie. A range of real-time data is displayed - such as lap times, sector splits and driver comparisons - as well as video footage to spot missed apexes and premature or delayed braking points.

The Track Pack adds £28,360 to the price of a McLaren 720S, which represents a saving over the cost of purchasing the individual Pack components separately. The 720S Coupe in Performance specification with Track Pack is available to order from McLaren Automotive retailers for 2019 delivery, priced from £224,700.

The McLaren 765LT arrives as the British brand's latest longtail offering. This one uses the already impressive 720S as a starting point, but the engineers overhaul the existing model to slice off weight and craft an even more nimble supercar. McLaren will build just 765 examples of these new longtail models, and deliveries will start in September.

The 765LT uses McLaren's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes 755 horsepower (563 kilowatts and 590 pound-feet (800 Newton-meters) of torque in this application. The power runs through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox with tweaks that make shifts 15-percent faster than a 720S. McLaren claims the 765LT can hit 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in 2.7 seconds, 62 mph (100 kph) in 2.8 seconds, and 124 mph (200 kph) in 7.2 seconds.

In addition to the extra power over a 720S, the 765LT weighs 176 pounds (80 kilograms) less than the existing coupe. In its lightest form, the new longtail has a dry weight of just 2,709 pounds (1,229 kilograms). The savings come from components like advanced forms of carbon fiber, a titanium exhaust with four outlets coming out of the back, and thinner glass. The new longtail rides on 10-spoke wheels with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires.

For improved handling, the 765LT wears revised, carbon fiber body components, including the front splitter, bumper, side skirts, rear bumper, diffuser, and active wing, which combine to increase the available downforce by 25 percent. At the front, the track is 0.24 inches (6 millimeters) wider, and the vehicle sits 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) lower. The engineers install updated springs with extra helper springs and install updated algorithms for the Proactive Chassis Control II suspension control system. There's also a quicker steering ratio.

The time eventually comes to slow down, and the 765LT has carbon-ceramic rotors and calipers from the Senna. As an option, a customer can specify the Senna's discs with a unique set of brake pads for the LT.

Inside, a 765LT occupant sees carbon fiber wherever he or she looks. The lightweight material makes up the seats, center tunnel, and even exposed parts of the floor. There is some Alcantara upholstery, too. As standard, the model lacks air conditioning and an audio system, but a customer can specify them as no-cost options. The lightweight seats from the Senna are also an option.