The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2021 - Issue 30

bitecars removes mass from the upper section of the car as well as reducing the volume of unwanted noise inside the cabin. The one-piece component also creates more headroom for occupants by removing the central seal that previously ran side-to-side across the roof panel. Also created from carbon fibre are the front splitter, new front bumper, lower door blades and side skirts, wrapa- round rear bumper and active rear wing. Currently availa- ble in lightweight aluminium, as standard, the bonnet, front fenders, outer door panels and rear fenders are accessible in body-colour carbon fibre as MSO Defined options. This would reduce the weight of the front fenders by a total of 1.2 kg and both the rear fenders and door panels by 4.9 kg. Further weight-saving opportunities include the wind- screen and side windows which are thinner than the 720S, a next-generation lithium-ion battery that saves 3.0 kg and the full titanium exhaust system which weighs just 10.9 kg, making it 40% less than a stainless steel system. A full 22 kg has been saved in the development of the LT’s bespoke 10-spoke Ultra-Lightweight forged alloy wheels which are all fitted with Pirelli P Zero™ Trofeo R tyres specially devel- oped for the 765LT. You may notice that the nose of the 765LT Spider is 48 mm longer than that of the 720S and the active rear wing adds 9 mm, making the car 57 mm longer overall. Other changes include the front bumper and splitter - the latter is now closer to the ground because the ride height at the front is 5 mm lower than that of the 720S – which have been moved for- ward. The rear ride height remains the same and increases the vehicle rake to create more downforce. The Spider’s doors differ from the coupé as they do not have an upper carbon fibre frame and require a single hinge compared to the coupé’s double-hinge fitment. When opened, the Spider’s doors extend further than the coupé’s by 120 mm on each side. The doors employ the double-skin technique used in the legendary McLaren P1™, and have been modified to integrate an additional vertical blade that extends from the skirt of the vehicle and controls turbulent air as it exits the front wheel arch. Final Word Whilst the McLaren 765LT supercar bridges the gap be- tween the outgoing 720S and Senna, it appears to gear more toward the latter in terms of positioning, utilising 75-80 per cent of the Senna’s performance. The marque’s third LT is truly ferocious and shockingly fast on both the road and track providing a connection and successful feedback on driver engagement. With an intense ride, as the 675LT did, the latest model is more aggressive and demanding. McLaren enthusiasts may find the drive in the 765LT more comfortable than the Senna with enough room inside the cabin for phones and wallets to be tucked into the pock- ets provided. Thanks to its mind-blowing road performance, the marque’s latest phenomena rival the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini, making it a very close contender in terms of speed to the Ferrari F8 Tributo and SF90, or the Lamborghi- ni Aventador SVJ, through its lightweight capabilities. With a starting price of £280,000, an increase of £65,000 on the 720S, you can expect a faster and aerodynamic perfor- mance that surpasses the former 2-door sports car and the best pseudo-race car for the road that McLaren has made. https://cars.mclaren.com/gb-en/super-series/765lt