McLaren has just revealed the 620R which is currently the most powerful car in the Sports Series tier and is essentially a road-going version of the 570S GT4 racer which “delivers a race-car experience on either the road or track” says the brand.
“The McLaren 570S GT4 is a first-class GT race car that having won races in every championship it has competed in since its first appearance in 2017 is attracting an increasing number of customer racing teams. Now, in response to repeated customer requests, we have homologated that class-leading package for the road in the new McLaren 620R, a limited-edition, 620PS superlight coupé that is the perfect choice for an enthusiast wanting an authentic motorsport driving sensation – and performance to match – on both track and road” said Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive.
Lightness is a commonality that’s shared between the GT4 racer and the 620R. Both cars have the same single-piece carbon fibre Monocell II chassis which is not only feather-light but also immensely strong, as result the 620R tips the scale at just 1,282kg dry. The carbon core is a signature that in different guises is featured in every car in the brand’s line up.
In terms of aerodynamics, the 620R starts things off with a massive adjustable rear spoiler mounted 32cm off the body and lifted from the GT4 car, it can be set to three angles depending on which setting you need most. At its most aggressive angle it can generate up to 185kg of downforce. Additionally, the 620R sports a front bumper, splitter and bonnet which contributes 65kg of downforce all on their own.
The interior is rather Spartan and done so in the pursuit of saving weight. Much of the interior has been left on the shelves at the factory in Woking like the glovebox and floor carpets. The air-conditioning system, satellite navigation and sound system are also missing but can be added back at no additional cost. The McLaren Track Telemetry system is standard and displayed via the centre-mounted seven-inch touchscreen. The driver and passenger are held in place by super-lightweight carbon composite racing seats and secured by a six-point racing harness.
The 620R has the same M838TE 3.8-litre turbocharged V8 engine used in the GT4 car but makes more power in this application as it’s free from racing regulations which means its ECU and turbocharger management software is tuned to produce 456kW of power – or 620ps, hence its name – and 620Nm of torque. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch Seamless Shift Gearbox.
As result of its diet and immense power output, the 620R is able to sprint from rest to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds and reach an eventual top speed of 322km/h.
Stopping power comes from a lightweight set of carbon ceramic rotors measuring 390mm up front and 380 mm at the back. Lightweight 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloys are fitted as standard and delivered from the factory wrapped with Pirelli Trofeo R semi-slick tyres. However, the 620R has been engineered to run on slick tyres without adjustments. Owners can simply drive up to any circuit and swap out the road-legal rubber for slicks.
The 620R rides on the GT4 car’s two-way manually adjustable coilover system, which features 32 clicks of adjustment for rebound and compression rate. The dampers are 6kg lighter than the ones found on regular Sports Series cars. Further, it gets lighter aluminium wishbones, solid stainless-steel top mounts and firmer springs as compared to Sports Series cars.
The 620R will be available in three colour combinations. McLaren Orange with white racing stripes, Silica White with orange racing stripes and Onyx Black with orange racing stripes. As mentioned, only 350-units will be built with production commencing in January 2020. Each car will cost £250,000 in the United Kingdom or $480,000 when converted to Australian dollars.
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