Almost every top supercar coupe has a cabriolet variant. During the Geneva Auto Show held a few months ago, McLaren unveiled the McLaren 675 Longtail coupe whose production was limited to only 500 units. Two months after the debut, all 500 units were sold out.
Following up hot on the heels of the coupe is a drop-top version of the sports car dubbed the “2017 McLaren 675LT Spider”. The new convertible is based on the 650S Spider and will be almost identical to its 675LT coupe sister. So if you missed the chance to buy the coupe, hurry up and place your order early as the cabriolet will fly out of dealer showrooms just like its coupe sister.
Except for a few tweaks, the Spider is identical to the coupe. The vehicle still comes with the active Longtail airbrake, enlarged door sills and a small air intake under the main air intake which made the coupe design unique. It measures 178.97 inches long, 82.48 inches wide and stands at 46.92 inches.
However, unlike its sibling’s large window, the cabriolet has a smaller window between the roof and the deck. At the rear, the convertible features new circular-shaped twin exhaust pipes made from titanium. The rear also features an open fascia which improves heat extraction; it also features air intakes at each edge of the bumper and a carbon-fiber diffuser. The C-pillars of the convertible have also been revised and moved slightly forward.
The top roof stows below a color-coded cover which leaves an elegant flying buttresses look. The vehicle will ride on 10-spoke, 19-inch alloy wheels at the front and 20-inch wheels at the rear. There is also an option for 20-spoke wheels in diamond Cut or Liquid Metal finish. The wheels are wrapped in P-Zero Trofeo R tires.
The interior of the 2017 McLaren 675LT Spider is identical to that of the coupe except for the additional button that is used to operate the retractable roof and modified rear windscreen. The cabin will feature racing seats upholstered in Alcantara and leather. Other features will include a race-inspired center stack, a flat-bottomed steering wheel wrapped in leather and featuring carbon-fiber spokes.
The cabin will also feature contrast stitching and a huge dose of carbon-fiber trimming. The cabin will also feature a top-of-the-art infotainment system. The vehicle will also feature up-to-date technologies like Bluetooth connectivity, Smartphone integration and a USB port among others.
The 2017 McLaren 675LT Spider cabriolet features the same drive-train as the coupe. It is a 3.8 L, twin-turbocharged V-8 engine that pumps out 666 hp at 7,100 rpm and 516 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. This represents a 25 hp and 16 lb-ft of torque increase from the 650S on which it is based. All the power is channeled to the rear wheels via a 7-speed, dual-clutch transmission system.
The 2017 McLaren 675LT Spider cabriolet runs from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds which is identical to the coupe even though the cabriolet is 88 pounds heavier. However, its maximum speed is slightly lower at 203 mph than the coupe’s 205 mph. The engine fuel economy is rated at 18 mpg according to the automaker. It also has a 275 g/km CO2 emission rating.
McLaren is yet to release pricing details for the American markets. However, in Europe, the Spider will retail at £285,450. The coupe MSRP starts at $ 349,500 in the U.S. and given the convertible will have a 10% premium over the coupe; it is safe to assume that the Spider will have a starting price of around $ 384,450. The vehicle will likely be released in the second half of 2016.
Top rivals of 2017 McLaren 675LT Spider will be the likes of Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder, Ferrari 484 Spider, Porsche 918 Spyder and Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse.