McLaren 720S production ends, successor coming soon – report
The final McLaren 720S supercar has been built, according to a new report – and the next-generation model could be two years away
Production of the McLaren 720S supercar has come to an end, according to overseas reports – and a new model could be unveiled within the next two years.
McLaren representatives reportedly told industry journal Automotive News – as well as US publication Car and Driver and The Drive – production of the 720S came to an end in December 2022 after a five-year run.
Automotive News reported production of the race track-oriented version of the 720S, the 765LT, has also ended in coupe form, and is “winding down” in convertible guise.
McLaren president for North and South America, Nicolas Brown, told Automotive News a replacement for the 720S is in development – and is due within the next 18 months to two years.
“We have not spoken about this [next-generation] vehicle, but customers, of course, they see that, ‘OK, well, you can’t order a 720 anymore.’ They realize that production is ending. So putting two and two together, something is coming,” Mr Brown told Automotive News.
“They’re anticipating that it will be a refinement of [the] 720[S]. They understand that it’s not a next-generation, all-new, ground-up vehicle. They have started to put deposits down with dealers, although we haven’t said anything.”
Mr Brown told the publication the new car – which is yet to be spied testing, nor confirmed for launch by McLaren head office in the UK – is “sold out through deep into 2024 without even having spoken about this.”
A representative for McLaren Australia said the surprise end of production applies to all global markets – including Australia.
Few details of the 720S replacement are known, however it is expected to follow the lead of the smaller twin-turbo V6-engined Artura in adopting hybrid power.
The outgoing 720S and 765LT are powered by 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V8s developing up to 563kW, with no hybrid assistance – while the Artura debuts a new 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 that claims 500kW with the aid of its hybrid system.
It’s not clear what engine McLaren would use for the 720S successor – a development of the 4.0-litre V8, an all-new V8, or an uprated version of the Artura’s V6.
However, Mr Brown’s reference to the new car as a development of the outgoing one suggests the current V8 engine will be upgraded – possibly augmented by a hybrid system borrowed from the Speedtail, which uses the same carbon-fibre chassis.
Also set to undergo a shake-up for the next-generation model is the name, as if the Artura is a guide, the alphanumeric designations of past McLarens, including the 720S, are being ditched in favour of ‘real’ names.
US website CarBuzz uncovered in 2021 the car maker has trademarked the Solus, Aeron and Aonic names – the first of which was applied to a track-only V10 supercar last year, but the other two are yet to be used on a McLaren vehicle.
McLaren has also confirmed the ‘Sports Series’ and ‘Super Series’ designations it previously used for its supercars – the Artura’s predecessor, the 570S, and the 720S respectively – will be phased out in favour of a general ‘Supercars’ category, which will include the Artura and the 720S replacement.
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