It was inevitable that McLaren would eventually offer up an open top version of the mad 600LT supercar, itself a more hardcore ‘Longtail’ variant of the venerable 570S, just as it had for the 675LT. Like its fixed hard top twin, the Spider still features the same extended rear end and a revised aero package - just sans roof.
Also carried over from the coupe are all the mechanicals and suspension components, as McLaren has yet to make mention of any alterations to the contrary despite being deprived of a permanent roof. Typically, a car would have to undergo some structural beefing up to compensate, but given that the car’s carbon fibre mono cell is already insanely rigid, there wasn’t much need.
Access to what are hopefully blue skies and sunny breezes does cost the Spider an additional 50kg penalty over the standard 600LT, though. But that surely is a minuscule price to pay for an even more immersive soundtrack from its 447kW/620Nm 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, especially since McLaren have managed to maintain its unique upward exiting exhausts.
The three-piece folding hard top tucks in a very compact area just behind the wind deflector, retractable at speeds of up to 40km/h. When extended, the car looks nearly identical to the fixed roof 600LT when viewed in profile.
As such, the Spider doesn’t seem to suffer any aerodynamic drawbacks for being a convertible as both variants share near identical top speeds, managing 324km/h flat out (or 315km/h with the roof down). The 0-100km/h sprint, however, is dealt with in 2.9 seconds thanks to its bespoke set of Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo R tyres, quick-shifting Graziano dual-clutch transmission, and its savage engine.
Inside, the simple layout from the 570S is carried over, but uses the lightweight carbon fibre racing seats from the P1 with the even lighter set from the Senna offered as an option. Elsewhere, nearly every surface that hasn’t been left as exposed carbon fibre weave has been wrapped in Alcantara. For those terribly concerned about weight, they’ll even let you get rid of the climate control and infotainment system, among other measures.
McLaren has not yet disclosed how many examples of the 600LT Spider will be produced nor to what ratio they plan to offer it alongside the 600LT coupe, only that customers are welcome to put their order down now and that UK prices start from £201,500 with taxes (roughly $362,000 in AUD).
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