Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins, www.AutomotiveRhythms.com
Seminal moments took precedence as my thoughts blended with the whistling winds blowing by my British supercar’s carbon fiber structure at accelerated rates during spirited driving through the Valley of Fire State Park outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. With a keen focus on ultra-lightweight performance and superior downforce, McLaren engineers made sure that the power emanating from the all-new 2024 750S’ twin-turbocharged 4-liter V8 would provide electrifying drives for brand loyalists.
With over 60 years of motorsports experience, McLaren is proud to state that it is a racing company that builds sports cars, not a sports car company that builds race cars. Yes, there is a finite difference, and that competitive edge stems from the technical aptitude, skillful driving, and courageous spirit of founder Bruce McLaren, who was the modern version of Michael Jordan behind the wheel. Rarely did he lose on circuits!
The goal of the McLaren 750S is to raise the bar with driver engagement while combining the best of the 720S and the mighty 765LT. Introduced in 2017, the 720S became renowned for its iconic styling while delivering incredible track capabilities. Yet, it was comfortable and refined. Met with critical acclaim, the supercar won a multitude of awards that gave McLaren product planners even more confidence for future builds. Thus, the 750S is an evolution of the 720S which the company will no longer produce. McLaren increased the vehicle’s power and aero and made it the lightest and most potent McLaren series to date.
“Full acceleration, maintain the race line, brake hard and downshift into the turn, hit the apex smoothly, now accelerate out of the exit and let it fly,” were my internal instructions while blazing through a series of laps around Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With assertive takeoffs and incredible body control from extensive suspension and chassis development, the 750S intensively engages with every task you throw at it.
The mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 4-liter V8 engine distributes 740-horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. It pairs with a faster 7-speed McLaren dual clutch “Seamless Shift” transmission (with Comfort, Sport, and Track modes) that allows the supercar to hit 0 to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds while tapping out at 206 mph. I felt this force immediately on the track. Essential factors in the development of the 750S include a carbon fiber active rear wing that rises for rear stability at higher speeds, electro-hydraulic power-assisted steering, a new centrally-located stainless steel sports exhaust system inspired by the McLaren P1, a new front bumper and splitter to balance the spoiler and feed air into the radiators for proper cooling, and staggered Pirelli P-ZERO tires. Racetrack-focused P-ZERO Trofeo R and Pirelli P-ZERO Corsa rubber are optional. Lastly, as we all know, what speeds up must slow down. Therefore, McLaren gave the 750S 15.4” front and 15” rear carbon ceramic discs and 6-piston front and 4-piston rear aluminum brake calipers.
A supercar weighing less than 3,000 pounds is impressive. It makes you wonder if the vehicle is too light to stay planted. No worries, as the 750S rides around with an S on its chest, which equates to added capabilities from downforce and stability to stopping power and cornering ability. The Spider tips the scale at 2,923 pounds while the 750S Coupe arrives to the match at an astounding 2,815 pounds. The active rear wing has 20% more surface area than the outgoing 720S but is 3.5 pounds lighter. McLaren additionally saved 30.4 pounds on the new 10-spoke ultra-lightweight “Turbine” forged 19” rims. For the Spider, its carbon fiber and composite retractable hard top is only 108 pounds heavier than the Coupe but maintains the same level of rigidity and lowers in 11 seconds. My only gripe with the Spider is that it lacks the Coupe’s engine window to observe the V8, which is as impressive to view as the performance it offers.
Walk up to your designer sportscar and gently lift the handle to raise the twin-hinge “dihedral” (scissor) doors, a traditional statement for the Woking, England-based automaker. Not only are they ergonomic for accessing the cockpit comfortably, but the doors also feed the radiator with air directed from the side intakes. Slide in and grip the exotic steering wheel while familiarizing yourself with the latest enhancements of the new driver-centric display. The 8″ infotainment touchscreen features Apple CarPlay and a 12-speaker Bowers and Wilkins audio system. However, it needs more power and bass. You can choose the TechLux or Performance interior theme with full Nappa leather or Alcantara. Super-lightweight carbon fiber racing seats (a bit narrow however), the Carbon Fiber Interior Pack, and titanium paddle shifters will have you feeling like McLaren’s F1 driver Lando Norris. The 750S interior also features the following:
Once I settled in with the updated technology features it was time to relax and enjoy the morning breeze as I let the top drop while on the move. I also rolled down the rear glass to drown my thoughts in the reverberation of the V8 before takeoff.
When I first rolled into the garage area of the track, instantly, a harmonious feeling transpired as a vibrant spectrum of McLarens grasped and held my attention. Eye-popping and intricate paint schemes include Lantana Purple, Saros, McLaren Orange, Mantis Green, Papaya Spark, Tanzanite Blue, Tokyo Cyan, Aurora Blue, and Ludus Blue. Moreover, McLaren loves experimenting with carbon fiber so the contrasting Exterior Carbon Fiber Pack is a must to accentuate the carbon fiber “Monocage II” chassis and rear aluminum subframe. Other implementations include LED headlamps and running lights, gloss carbon fiber headlight surround, new front deck vents and rear bumper to improve cooling, an orange ring around the Pirelli P-ZEROs on some models, and a variety of rim options such as the 10-spoke super-lightweight forged alloy “Strike” wheels or the 5-twin spoke ultra-lightweight forged alloy “Vortex” wheels finished in Silver, Dark Stealth, Gloss Black Diamond Cut, or Gloss Black.
What is a Las Vegas getaway without a stay or visit to the immaculate Wynn Las Vegas, where hospitality is at an all-time high for supreme clientele? The Wynn has everything from healthy, delectable gourmet foods to high-end shopping. And now you can immerse yourself in all things McLaren at the 2,500-square-foot McLaren Experience Center near the Wynn Plaza shops. Brought to you by O’GARA, pioneers in the luxury automotive space since 1976, the boutique provides brand advocates with the opportunity to purchase McLaren gear, commission a vehicle, select a TUMI McLaren luggage set, or try out the same racing simulator used by Lando Norris.
After my drive in the 750S it was time to jump in the passenger seat while precision, stunt, and performance driver Andre D’Cruz ripped around the track like a bat out of hell in the all-new McLaren Artura Trophy. Damn, every time I’m a guest of honor during a hot lap session, it never ceases to amaze me how articulate these vehicles are on asphalt at mind-bending speeds. The genesis of McLaren’s racing philosophy is its power to weight advantages. With a 60% motorsport formula, the specialized Artura Trophy race car is engineered exclusively for the track. A twin-turbocharged V6 engine distributing 577 horsepower propels the Artura Trophy and an advanced aerodynamics kit makes it remarkably agile.
The 2024 McLaren 750S has a starting MSRP of $324,000 for the Coupe and $345,000 for the Spider. Add $5,500 for the transportation and port processing fees and $2,240 for the America Accessories Pack. With over 30 options and packages to decipher, such as the $18,050 Track Brake Upgrade, $6,050 Double Glazed Engine Window, and $9,400 TechLux Interior, your 750S can easily exceed $400,000. A three-year service plan is included in the base MSRP and is transferable to new ownership. But keep in mind the current allocation is sold out, and McLaren is not taking new orders until spring 2025. What a problem to have from a sales perspective! McLaren will build roughly 1,400 to 1,500 units of the highly coveted 750S over its lifecycle.
McLaren is applying its historic motorsports achievements to usher in a brave new era of supercar performance with the scintillating 750S. With charisma defined by transcendent driver engagement, aerodynamic styling, athletic handling, and a racing pedigree, the latest prodigy by the British automaker is primed for industry success and more consumer reverence.
