McLaren has had quite a busy year in terms of new releases taking into consideration the roofless Elva, the practical GT, 600LT Spider, track-only Senna GTR, and several special-edition models. 2019 is not over yet as the folks from Woking have a new special car to showcase. Get ready to meet the most powerful model in the McLaren Sports Series – the new 620R serving as a hardcore 570S derived from the 570S GT4 race car.

The limited-run coupe will be built in only 350 examples and will utilize the familiar twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine dialed to 611 horsepower and 620 Newton-meters (457 pound-feet) of torque or 49 hp and 20 Nm (14 lb-ft) more than the standard 570S after tweaking the ECU and turbocharger management. The extra oomph has allowed McLaren to shave off three tenths of a second from the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint, which now takes only 2.9 seconds.

Gallery: 2020 McLaren 620R

The time needed to hit 124 mph (200 km/h) from a standstill has dramatically dropped, from 9.5 seconds to 8.1 seconds. Due to the updated aero focusing on acceleration rather than top speed, the maximum velocity has slightly decreased from 204 mph (328 km/h) to 200 mph (322 km/h).

The extra performance was unlocked not just by massaging the V8 engine as McLaren’s skilled engineers also managed to shave off a significant amount of weight by taking inspiration from the 570S GT4 racer. It has a dry weight of just 1,282 kilograms (2,826 pounds) or 31 kg (69 lbs) less than the standard 570S.

For ultimate performance, owners of the 620R can replace the standard Pirelli P Zero R semi-slick tires with a set of full-slick motorsport-spec tires reserved to the track offering a contact patch 8% larger compared to the road-legal set of rubber. According to McLaren, it’s the first time a car equipped with 19-inch front / 20-inch rear wheels has been developed to use slick tires without having to go through additional mechanical adjustments.

The revised aero package highlighted by a giant adjustable rear wing helps the car develop 185 kilograms of downforce at 155 mph (250 km/h). The stopping power is provided by McLaren’s latest-generation lightweight brakes with carbon-ceramic 390-mm discs up front and 380-mm discs at the rear working with forged aluminum calipers at both axles.

Some changes have also occurred inside the cabin compared to the regular 570S as there are now carbon fiber racing seats with six-point harnesses as standard, along with door pull straps and carbon fiber shift paddles. Several race car-inspired accents have been added, including a red 12 o’clock mark on the steering wheel, while a McLaren Track Telemetry system comes standard. Go for the optional roof scoop and the MTT can be specified with a three-camera system.

McLaren will sell the 620R in three different exterior finishes: Onyx Black with orange stripes, Silica White with orange stripes, and McLaren Orange with white racing stripes. If you’d rather have something else, MSO has a vast color palette at your disposal, along with a special livery derived from the aforementioned Senna GTR. On top of these finishes, decals are optionally available.

Production of the McLaren 620R will commence in January for those willing to pay the $299,000 starting price in the U.S.

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New McLaren 620R sets the pace as road-legal version of McLaren GT4 race car

  • Limited-edition, competition-inspired coupé joins McLaren Sports Series
  • Road-legal version of a race car, born from successful McLaren 570S GT4; maximises deployment of motorsport technology free from restriction of racing regulations
  • Ultra-desirable and ultra-rare: just 350 will be made, all hand-assembled in Woking, UK
  • The most powerful car in the McLaren Sports Series, with 620PS and 620Nm from 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine
  • Shares aerodynamic hardware and chassis components of 570S GT4 – offering race car performance and feel, and fastest lap time of any Sports Series model
  • Develops total of 185kg of downforce across the aerodynamic bodywork at 250km/h
  • Optional track-only, bespoke Pirelli slick tyres available to optimise mechanical grip – standard tyre is road-legal Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyre
  • Carbon ceramic brakes, centre locking wheels and low-exit stainless steel sports exhaust
  • Lowered suspension with wider track; manually adjustable GT4 dampers
  • Lightweight interior with carbon fibre racing seats, 6-point racing harnesses and road seat belts
  • Choice of three McLaren racing colours – McLaren Orange, Silica White and Onyx Black – all with GT4 race livery as standard; McLaren Senna GTR-inspired livery also available
  • Other body colours and bespoke detailing available through McLaren Special Operations (MSO)
  • First deliveries from February 2020

McLaren today announces the 620R, the first car in its class to offer true motorsport credentials in a fully road-legal package. The limited-edition coupé – just 350 will be built – evolves the competition specification of the McLaren 570S GT4 to deliver a race-car experience on either track or road.

“The McLaren 570S GT4 is a first-class GT race car that having won races in every championship it has competed in since its first appearance in 2017 is attracting an increasing number of customer racing teams. Now, in response to repeated customer requests, we have homologated that class-leading package for the road in the new McLaren 620R, a limited-edition, 620PS superlight coupé that is the perfect choice for an enthusiast wanting an authentic motorsport driving sensation – and performance to match – on both track and road.”
Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive.

McLaren has enjoyed significant GT race success with Customer Racing teams and in recent seasons the 570S GT4 has been instrumental in adding to that record of success. Since the customer debut in 2017, the car has become the most successful GT race car built by McLaren, achieving more race wins and podiums than any other to date; in 2019, the 570S GT4 has competed in championships on four continents. Now, as the ultimate track-focused, track-ready but roadgoing McLaren Sports Series model, the McLaren 620R – a car destined to be both rare and collectable, thanks to its strictly limited production run – celebrates the achievements of the 570S GT4.

The McLaren 620R is a unique proposition, delivering a pure motorsport experience in a road car with authenticity: it looks like a race car, handles like a race car, performs like a race car and feels like a race car. The result overall is a seamless transition from race to road – and vice versa. Exclusive and extreme in equal measure, the McLaren 620R retains the DNA of a fully homologated track car yet is free from the restrictions that race regulations apply.

A high level of commonality with a 570S GT4 race car has been integral to the development of the 620R from very outset. They have the same, single-piece carbon fibre Monocell II chassis providing the foundations for the strength and light weight of the car, with a targeted lightest dry weight of 1,282kg. This carbon fibre core – a McLaren signature that in different guises features in every car in the company’s range – also underpins the dynamic precision and composure for which McLarens are renowned. These characteristics have been enhanced in the 620R by the inclusion of the GT4’s adjustable aerodynamic elements, race-derived suspension components and powertrain recalibration to increase power and performance.

The 620R has the same M838TE 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine used in the GT4 car, but with a significant difference in power output; freedom from racing regulations has allowed the engine ECU and turbocharger management to be reconfigured to achieve 620PS (610bhp), making this the most powerful Sports Series car yet. The engine also develops torque of 620Nm (457lb ft) and even with lap times more important than sheer top speed, the combined outputs helps to deliver benchmark performance figures of 0-100km/h (62mph) in 2.9 seconds and 0-200km/h (124mph) in 8.1 seconds. Maximum speed is 322km/h (200mph).

The use of stiffer powertrain mounts reduces drivetrain forces under acceleration, minimising the effect of inertia under high load, while the 7-speed Seamless Shift Gearbox (SSG) delivers super-fast shift times, further aided in Track model by McLaren’s Inertia Push technology, which converts built-up flywheel energy into a momentary burst of torque on upshift. For added drama on the road the driver can select Sport mode and hear the upshift ‘crack’ created by a split-second cut of the ignition spark during a gearshift.

Fitment of the GT4’s two-way manually adjustable coilover motorsport dampers, which feature 32 clicks of adjustment per corner to allow a driver to tailor compression and rebound rates to suit their driving style and track conditions, adds to the 620R’s motorsport credentials. The dampers also help to bring weight down overall, being more than 6kg lighter than the regular Sports Series units.

The suspension which features lightweight aluminium wishbones and uprights and stiffer anti-roll bars and springs than fitted on a regular Sports Series model, is further enhanced by swapping rubber top mounts for solid stainless steel alternatives to provide noticeable improvements in steering control and feedback, above and beyond the very high standards enjoyed in all McLaren cars.

Stopping power comes from McLaren’s latest lightweight braking system, which in the track-focused set-up on the new 620R comprises carbon ceramic discs (390mm front, 380mm rear) and forged aluminium brake calipers all round, with improved pedal response, modularity and resistance to fade even after repeated hard-driven circuit laps.

The braking performance is unsurprisingly also extremely impressive on the road, where the 620R runs as standard with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tyres, but drivers who swap to the optional, full-slick motorsport tyres when they arrive on circuit will experience a whole new level of braking. Specially developed for McLaren by Pirelli’s Motorsport team, the slick tyres are optimised to complement the motorsport brakes and race-derived suspension of the 620R. They unlock a contact patch 8% larger than that of the road tyre, increasing lateral G-forces and enabling quicker lap times.

This is the first time that a road-legal car with 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels has been engineered to be able to run on slick tyres without the need for additional mechanical adjustment. This means that if weather conditions allow, owners can on arrival at a circuit either fit a second set of wheels or change tyres and go straight out on track without further delay.

High levels of mechanical grip are an essential part of the 620R’s track parentage, but it is the car’s aerodynamic performance that elevates it to the status of a road-legal GT4 racer. The adjustable carbon fibre rear wing is the same component fitted to the 570S GT4. Raised 32cm (12.5in) into the cleaner airflow above the vehicle to increase downforce while minimising drag, the wing is road legal thanks to its newly incorporated third brake light. Customers will receive their cars with the wing set to the least aggressive of its three available angles, optimising front/rear balance for road driving. The more aggressive angles – which can be set by a McLaren retailer – increase rear downforce still further, contributing to a maximum of 185kg (408lbs) and enabling even quicker circuit-running.

While the rear wing quite literally stands out as an obvious distinguishing feature on the 620R, it is not the only component adapted from the GT4’s aggressive track specification to meet road homologation standards. The front bumper, splitter and bonnet have been redesigned – the splitter retaining pronounced aero blades and cut-out – while the carbon fibre bonnet has twin nostrils to aid downforce and clean up the airflow over the top of the car. Downforce at the front of the car is further increased by dive planes that create vortices of low-pressure air at track level and help accelerate airflow along the car’s sides, as well as significantly aiding brake-cooling. The dive planes contribute up to 30kg (66lbs) of downforce as part of the 65kg (143lbs) delivered by the full frontal aero package.

The performance, feel, feedback and handling characteristics of the 620R will leave a driver in no doubt that it is a race car at heart, but there are other obvious clues that are apparent before the engine is even started. The interior clearly and immediately stands out as track-inspired - any GT4 race driver will feel instantly at home. As with any serious circuit car, it is as much about what has been stripped out as what has been included - the 620R does not have a floor carpet or a glovebox. Air-conditioning, IRIS Navigation and an audio system are also missing from the standard specification, although all can be selected at no additional cost. A lightweight Bowers & Wilkins upgraded audio system is also available, as a cost option.

Driver and passenger are secured in super-lightweight carbon fibre racing seats by six-point racing harnesses, fitted as standard. Key ‘track touchpoints’ include the red 12 o’clock mark on the steering wheel and door pull straps to aid door closure when a driver is held in place by the harnesses. Structural carbon fibre elements such as extended shift paddles, steering wheel spokes and centre console enhance the sense of being in the cabin of a race car.

A McLaren Track Telemetry (MTT) system is standard and is displayed on a centre-mounted 7-inch touchscreen. If buyers specify the optional MSO Roof Scoop Upgrade Pack, which features the striking scoop first seen on a Sports Series at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2018, the MTT system can be upgraded to include the three-camera system that is also available as a standalone option.

Each 620R features a dedication plaque on the centre console with numerical identification (1 of 350; 2 of 350, etc). As with every McLaren road car, each 620R can be configured to be distinctively individual. Single elements, for example the colour of the brake calipers, can be chosen as a solus specification; alternatively, buyers can opt for upgrade packs such as the Gloss Finish Visual Carbon Fibre Exterior Pack, which adds visual drama to everything from the side intakes to the door mirror casings. McLaren Special Operations (MSO) provides further personalisation choices, with a range of MSO Defined Exterior options that includes a titanium SuperSports Exhaust with Nano Black Exhaust Finisher and MSO Defined interior upgrades that incorporate a choice of harness colour.

All three exterior colours available as standard on the 620R are inspired by GT4 race cars – McLaren Orange (with white racing stripes), Silica White (orange stripes) or Onyx Black (orange stripes) – and each can be optioned with race number decals and/or partner decals. Further body colours are available in the MSO line-build palette. An even more exclusive decal livery inspired by the McLaren Senna GTR is also available.

620R production will be limited to just 350 customer orders, all hand-built at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey. Production will begin in January, with each car costing from £250,000 including taxes (UK); for buyers purchasing in Europe and the USA, the price includes a Pure McLaren Track Day, with expert driving tuition at a race circuit.

To discover more about the new McLaren 620R ‘road-legal GT4 race car’, customers can go to https://cars.mclaren.com/en/latest/post/mclaren-620R or contact a McLaren retailer.

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