The Bite Magazine - Spring 2019 - Issue 24

bite cars Proactive Chassis Control II hydraulic suspension is comple- mented by an electro-hydraulic steering system that is widely acknowledged for providing exceptional pure precision and feedback. The driver can choose between three handling modes – Comfort, Sport or Track – each one focused on a different driving experience according to the driver’s personal preferences and road conditions. Only the finest grade leather is used in the upholstery inside the 720S Spider so comfort for McLaren drivers and their passengers is paramount. The switchgear is delicately crafted, with almost every piece made from machined aluminium, making it light as well as highly tactile. The carbon fibre trim is also of the finest quality and adds to a comfortable interior that defies expectations, coupled with a performance that is as refined or as ferocious as the driver would want. Exterior The strength, rigidity and lightweight of the Monocage II-S, an enhancement of the coupe’s Monocage II, is at the core of the 720S Spider’s carbon fibre structure. It doesn’t have the central ‘spine’ running front to rear above the cabin but the rearmost section of the upper structure is sufficient enough to accommodate the Retractable Hard Top. In addition, the header rail across the top of the windscreen has also been revised, to integrate the central latching mechanism. A completely new design, the Retractable Hard Top consisting of a one-piece carbon fibre roof panel as standard, maintains the distinctive silhouette and aerodynamic purity of the 720S Coupe and provides a full carbon fibre upper structure when the roof is closed. The new Retractable Hard Top is electrical- ly, rather than hydraulically, driven and is lowered or raised in just 11 seconds, six seconds quicker than the 650S Spider, making it the fastest operating convertible roof in the super- car class. Thanks to the canopy-like design in the 720S Coupe which gave sense of a 360-degree vision and allowed light to flood into the cabin, the 720S Spider now has unique, glazed flying buttresses that further aids driver visibility and adds visual drama to the car. The leading edge of the buttress features an aerodynamic carrier to guide airflow, before dramatically tapering off to expose darkened glazing. The design and the use of glass delivers a 12% improvement in over-the-shoulder visibility compared to the previous model. You will be pleased to know that the 720S Spider has the same dramatic ‘eye sockets’ cut deep into the front fenders and double-skinned dihedral doors as the 720S Coupe. The front splitter and contoured bonnet dictate and control the airflow that flows through, over, around and under the rest of the vehicle while behind the front splitter, the underfloor aerodynamics work in harmony with the new rear bodywork and full-width active rear spoiler. A new 10-spoke, lightweight forged alloy wheel design has been specially designed for the 720S Spider. This is accompanied by Pirelli P ZERO tyres, designed in conjunction with McLaren Technology Partner, Pirelli to provide the optimum balance of performance grip, handling and comfort over a wide range of road conditions. Other tyre options include the more track-focused Pirelli P ZERO CORSA, or the Pirelli SOTTOZERO winter tyres and Pirelli TROFEO R ultra-high performance tyres which are available from McLaren retailers. Verdict McLaren has certainly scored points with the increase in visi- bility and aerodynamics in the 720S Spider. The lines, scoops and curves on this model may add to the beauty of the car but each one of these parts has its own purpose, whether it is allowing air to flow through the vehicle or cooling down the engine or radiators. The slight increase of 49kg in weight may separate the Spider from the Coupe but at least the use of the carbon fibre rather than the aluminium for the core structure has kept weight gain to a minimum. Having a greater range of abilities than their contenders has set McLaren apart from their competition. By continuing to focus on usability such as the electro-chromatic roof and glass rear buttresses, the British marque has provided potential oc- cupants with a more thrilling driving experience. And indeed it gives you all of this and more. A smooth ride even with the roof down, you can still keep some of the elements out with the electro-chromatic glass panel that switches between trans- parent and tinted electronically. In conclusion, the new 720S Spider is indeed the most ac- complished convertible that McLaren has made in terms of the essential improvements made. Besides being an attractive car and fast, your hair will feel amazing blowing in the wind as the sun shines down on you with the roof down and even more exhilarating with the roof up as you cruise through the countryside at a comfortable speed. And with super comfort- able seats, you’ll never want to get out of them. https://cars.mclaren.com/super-series/720s-spider