Used 2018 McLaren 720S

When it comes to flat-out performance and top speed, purists put aside concerns over luggage space, livability and advanced safety features and look directly to one car: the 2018 McLaren 720S. The British supercar pumps out an astounding 710 horsepower from its mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged V8, a number made all the more formidable when one considers the 720S’s 3,100-pound weight. Zero-to-60 takes less than three seconds, zero-to-100 takes two seconds more, and the car’s speed tops out around 212 mph. There are a handful of other cars that can claim these same numbers and for less money, but none look, ride or handle like the 720S.

Our own Karl Brauer spent time with the 2018 McLaren 720S and came away with these impressions. On the 720S’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and its 710 horsepower, Karl wrote, “The wail of the McLaren 720S’s 4.0-liter V8 is accompanied by relentless acceleration as its twin turbos hit full boost. Experience it once, and you quickly learn to respect the McLaren’s throttle pedal. Conversely, the small-displacement V8 tends to lag, literally and figuratively, if engine RPM drop below 3,500. The solution comes via the 720S’s carbon-fiber shift paddles and light-speed dual-clutch transmission.” He was equally impressed with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, which responds with such speed some gear shifts are imperceptible. The McLaren’s advanced electronic suspension features settings for Sport, Track and Comfort, and all three actually work as promised. The Comfort mode makes this lightweight demon quite heavenly on all but the worst pavement, far better than in the Ferrari GTC4Lusso and 812 Superfast.

Unlike many exotic sports cars, the McLaren doesn’t torture its occupants with cramped accommodations and ridiculously tight seats. There’s a surprising amount of room inside the 720S, and the interior is lovely to view and touch. There’s a simplicity to the dash and door panels, lacking the visual pop of some rivals without feeling or looking cheap. The large center infotainment screen is as modern as the car it resides in, but it’s not as quick to respond as in a Tesla or Porsche. Slim A-pillars create an unobstructed forward view, and even rear visibility is good, an impressive feat for a mid-engine sports car. The trunk is located up front and offers a generous 13 cubic feet of storage space.

The 720S’s stunning body is made possible by the extensive use of high-strength, lightweight carbon-fiber composite. It’s used to form the passenger cell, as well as the thin A-pillars so they can support the scissor-style doors. The standard McLaren 720S weighs about 3,100 pounds, but with every weight-reducing option box checked, the car’s weight drops to just under 2,830 pounds. The 720S’s body is smoother than the previous 650, with more sculpting and a brighter color palette.

CARBON-FIBER CORE STRUCTURE
You can’t see it, but the secret to the 720S’s success is its carbon-fiber core structure that provides impressive strength in a car weighing 3,100 pounds. The “MonoCage II” structure makes up the chassis and passenger cell, strong enough to withstand high-speed crashes despite weighing a mere 225 pounds.

FOLDING GAUGE CLUSTER
The McLaren 720S’s gauge cluster is what you’d expect from a high-performance supercar, complete with every necessary gauge, meter and screen to keep the driver informed. Switch to Track mode, and the digital cluster folds away, revealing a smaller cluster outfitted only with tachometer and speedometer.

The 720S comes pretty nicely equipped, as it should considering its price. There are three trim levels: base, Luxury and Performance. The most basic 720S includes twin stainless-steel exhausts, launch control, staggered 19- and 20-inch wheels, active rear spoiler with air brake, carbon-ceramic brakes (6-piston up front, 4-piston in the rear), variable drift control, adaptive damping and McLaren’s Proactive Chassis Control II. On the creature comfort side, there are cruise control, adaptive LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, rear defroster, sport seats in black Alcantara with driver’s-side power-height adjustment, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touch screen with voice control and an AM/FM 4-speaker stereo.

There are lots of options that both add and subtract weight. The seats can be upgraded with premium leather, and there are a number of interior decor packages adding carbon fiber, colored seatbelts and other interior upgrades, as well as carbon fiber and other accent treatments for the 720S’s exterior. Among the more notable big-ticket options: a Bowers & Wilkins 12-speaker audio system ($4,290), Vehicle Lift suspension ($2,510), McLaren Track Telemetry (app and camera, $4,220), 10-spoke super-lightweight forged wheels ($5,330), power heated seats ($3,310), power tilt wheel ($1,680) and 360-degree Park Assist ($3,010).

The 2018 McLaren 720S derives its muscle from a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. Track features include launch control and McLaren Brake Steer, along with numerous electronic traction and stability controls specifically designed for high speed. A dual-clutch 7-speed automatic sends power to an open rear differential, where a sophisticated braking setup acts as a torque-vectoring system, sending power to the wheel that needs it most. The 720S can reach 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 212 mph.

4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8
710 horsepower @ 7,250 rpm
568 lb-ft of torque @ 5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 mpg