BBC_Top_Gear_South_Africa_June_2017

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MC720S DRIVE MCLAREN720S Engine: 3944cc, twin-turbo V8, 530kW, 770Nm Transmission: 7-spd dual-clutch auto, RWD Performance: 0–100km/h in 2.9secs, 341km/h Economy: 10.7l/100km, 249g/km CO 2 Weight: 1419kg 62 JUNE <strong>2017</strong>
“Asalwayswiththiscar,itsendsoutthe town criergoodandearlytotell you what’s happening” Andthentothetrack.TimetoswitchtoTrackmode.Thisone reallylocksthecartothetarmac.Thechassis-controlsystem’sjob description now becomes keeping the tyres upright and consistently pressing down. The active aero does its bit, securing you to the ground with vehement intensity through fast curves. The renewed rear suspension geometry is supposed to make things more stable under brakes, though I never noticed that was a problem before.Anyway,astheairbrakerises,itpushesdownonthereartyres sotheycancarrymorebrakingload,againkeepingthingsstraight. That’swhyyoustandupandleanbackwardonyourpushbikewhen you’re braking hard over bumps. The brakes themselves have epic power,whichisamightyfineachievementconsideringhowvelvetyprogressivetheyareatroadspeed.Whetherinthepositiveornegative longitudinal direction, this car has properly sewn up the business of thesecondderivativeofdistanceovertime. Asyou’dexpect,ifyoucomeintoacornertoosuddenlyit’ll understeeralittle.Onlyalittle,becausethebrake-steergadgetis retardingtheinnerrearwheelandpivotingthecartoyouradvantage. Liftoffandthetailbeginstomoveout.Butasalwayswiththiscar,it sendsoutthetowncriergoodandearlytotellyouwhat’shappening. Onalongcorneryougettimetofeelthisbalance,becauseyou mustn’tgetonthepowertooearly.There’sjusttoomuchofit.They’re grippy,thosebacktyres,butgivethemachance.It’sliketryingtofilla papercupwithafirehose.You’vegottogetagoodgriponthecup beforeyouturnonthewaterorit’llbejettedoutofsight.So,get a goodviewoftheexitbeforesummoningtheturbochargers. With that comes a departure down the straight with almost ridiculoushaste.Or,totaste,abitofaslide.Theslideybusinessisn’t controlledjustbyhowyou’redriving.It’salsoaffectedbythe positions of a few controls. Touch the ESP button and it’ll let the car movearoundmore.Orgetintothetouchscreenandsummon variabledriftcontrol.Thisisbasicallyasetofcalibrationsforthe traction-controlpartofESP.Movethesliderdownandit’llcutthe powerearlyandyoucan’tspin.Movethesliderupandyougo towardsastatewhereinterventionismorelax,andattheextreme setting, absent. In the upper portions of the scale, if you don’t actuallyaddsomeoppositelockorreducethethrottleyourself,you canspin.It’snotaherobuttonthen.Getitwrongandyoucouldstill landup,dependingonyourluck,embarrassed,poor,orhurt. McLarenpeoplenowwonderifthedriftcontrolpartofthename waswiseafterall.It’satracktrainer.Well,fairenoughtohavethis sortofthingonthiscar.It’snotacarforcar-parkburnouts.It’sat home on a track, and not just awesomely competent like a racer, but ready to give immense fun as it goes. Even when, as in my case, it’s manifestly better than its driver. After a day encompassing all these conditions, we need to sum up the720S.Butthat’satroublingjob.Becauseit’salmostallpeakand no trough,itdoesn’tlenditselftocaricature.Ifnot,doesithavea character?Thefirstnew-generationMcLaren,the12C,wasalsoa dramaticallycompetentcarforitstime,yetitwascalledsoulless.Now wehavethesecondfullgenerationandagainit’sacarwithimmense speed but a surprisingly subtle nature. But this time, don’t pigeonhole itthesameway. Somepeople,whenyoufirstmeetthem,dazzleyouwiththeir creativityandenthralyouwiththeirhumour.Andtheirdominant nature slowly starts to drive you mad. Others reveal themselves to youmoreslowlyyetendup,becauseofthemutualunderstanding,as theonesyoureallywanttospendyourlifewith.That’showthe720S is. It’s not about telling you how great it is. It’s brilliant, but it brings you along. JUNE <strong>2017</strong> 63
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BBC_Top_Gear_South_Africa_June_2017

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