McLaren's latest supercar: the 720S with 'Magic Carpet Ride' suspension

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McLaren's latest supercar: the 720S with 'Magic Carpet Ride' suspension

 

 

 

The 212mph successor to the 650S comes with an adaptive instrument cluster that lifts out of the dashboard on entering the vehicle

 

McLaren has never replaced an existing car, until now. The 720S mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive supercar is the successor to the 650S Coupé. At 1,283kg it is 18kg lighter than its predecessor, but by borrowing construction notes from the P1 hypercar, the 720S integrates the upper part of its chassis with the monoqoue carbon-fibre “tub” (and given the moniker “Monocage II”), which results in extreme strength and rigidity and incredibly thin pillars (subsequently, McLaren claims it has the best visibility of any supercar in world).

 

Requisite supercar performance is supplied by a new, twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine that puts out 770Nm, with a power-to-weight ratio of up to 561PS per tonne, taking the car from 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds and on to 200kmh in 7.8 seconds - topping out at a maximum speed of 212mph.

 

The 720S also sports a new generation of McLaren’s active chassis system, Proactive Chassis Control II. The previous system relied on driver input to trigger suspension adjustments, however, Proactive Chassis Control II goes further by also using a set of algorithms to adapt to undulations in the road and changes in ambient temperature. The result is a novel drive mode called 'Magic Carpet Ride.'

 

The reason ambient temperature is monitored is because it can affect the speed at which the oil in the Chassis Control system flows through pipes. McLaren has also placed accelerometers on each wheel of the 720S,

 

so the algorithm, which was developed at Cambridge University over a period of six years, processes the data and determines where to send the fluid. This, in turn, means the 720S decides on the fly if it should load up the system one side or one corner, or the front or back.

 

Specifications

• Engine: M840T engine, 4.0-litre twin turbo V8, 3,994cc
• Power: 720PS @ 7,500rpm
• Torque: 770Nm @ 5,500rpm
• Transmission: 7 Speed SSG
• Suspension: Independent adaptive dampers, dual wishbones, Proactive Chassis Control II 
• Brakes: Carbon Ceramic Discs (F: 390mm R: 380mm)
• Length: 4,543mm 
• Wheelbase: 2,670mm 
• Height: 1,196mm 
• Width, with mirrors: 2,161mm
• Lightest dry weight: 1,283kg 
• Luggage capacity: 150ltr (front); 210ltr (rear)

Performance

• 0-60mph: 2.8 seconds
• 0-200km/h: 7.8 seconds
• 0-300km/h: 21.4 seconds
• 0-400 m (¼ mile): 10.3 seconds
• Maximum Speed: 212 mph

https://youtu.be/xm-55hn5Jr8