McLaren 720S: The 'wonderfully ridiculous' supercar

McLaren reveals its P1-rivalling 720S supercar

7 March

Latest addition to the Super Series gets a bigger engine to do 0-62mph in 2.8secs

McLaren's all-new 720S supercar, unveiled today at the Geneva Motor Show, boasts a 0-62mph time to rival the company's million-pound P1 hypercar.

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Replacing the popular 650S in the company's Super Series, the 720S features a larger twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 710bhp and 568lb-ft of torque - 54bhp and 62lb-ft more than the outgoing model.

Power is channelled through a seven-speed automatic gearbox that takes the 720S from standing to 62mph in 2.8secs, the same figure as McLaren's flagship P1.

The 720S has been designed around McLaren's new "Monocage II carbon fibre tub" that houses the whole of the passenger cell, including the roof, Evo reports. This has enabled the company to lower the door sills for easier access, while the windscreen is "deeper and broader" to allow a better field of view.

It should also be a frugal car, too, with CarBuyer reporting it will be as fuel efficient as a Volkswagen Golf hatchback, "largely thanks to the carbon fibre chassis", which boasts a significantly lower weight compared to regular road cars.

There's also an updated version of the fully independent suspension system that debuted on the MP4-12C in 2011, says Autocar. The new layout has an additional 12 sensors that can sense and adapt to different terrain, resulting in "better contact between the tyres and the road surface".

Prices start at £208,600, £8,000 more than the 650S and around £75,000 more than the entry-level 540C. Orders are open now, with deliveries expected to reach buyers in May.