Devonshire January February 18

150 litres, a decent-sized parcel shelf behind
the seats and an optional nose-lift system
that takes the terror out of speed bumps.
Visibility is startlingly good for a mid-engined
supercar. As if to demonstrate this, we stop
mid-way through the test drive so I can swap
seats with a fellow journo. Helpfully, he parks
the McLaren nose-in to a parking space just
off a busy main road. You would take your
life in your hands reversing out in any other
720S
supercar, but the McLaren takes it all in its
stride. We then shuffle off down the road with
the seven-speed dual clutch gearbox quietly
doing its own thing and the 720S proving no
more taxing than a family saloon.
There are still a few drawbacks, though. While
the 720S is undoubtedly a more engaging car
to drive than its predecessors, the soundtrack
is still curiously industrial. Only when you get
to the upper echelons of the rev range does
the twin turbo 4-litre V8 really start to make
itself known, with a hard-edged mechanical
growl, underscored by the whoosh of the
turbos. It’s a purposeful noise, but not an
especially melodic one.
So the Italians (and the Germans) still hold
the upper hand when it comes to operatic
prowess. In all other respects, though, the
McLaren 720S sets a new supercar benchmark.
So much so that it starts to look like a bit
of a bargain. To go any faster you’d need
to step up to £1+ million hypercar territory
inhabited by the likes of the Bugatti Chiron
and McLaren’s own P1. The 720S is so good
you might even question the need to do so.
Chris Pickering
Back in Britain just outside the Goodwood motor circuit - the McLaren 720S - a tour-de-force of British technology
The body has neat detailing touches
This car brings us a full warp-speed experience
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