Geneva show: McLaren set to unveil track star

MCLAREN has previewed a new variant of its mid-range 650 series coupe ahead of a planned unveiling at the Geneva motor show in March.

To be known as the 675LT, the car will be lighter, more powerful and more aerodynamic than the 650S on which it’s based.

The initials are short for ‘Long Tail’, a reference not only to a longer, sleeker body-style, but also to the company’s famous F1 GTR longtail road racers of the mid-1990s.

While most of the F1 GTRs built were destined for racetracks around the world, five GTRs were turned into road-going machines – known as F1 LMs – at the McLaren factory after the GTR claimed four of the top five spots in the 1995 running of Le Mans.

One more LM resides in the McLaren factory. These cars are now among the most prized and collectible F1s in existence.

In fact, the 675LT’s camouflage sticker-work is actually compromised of images of McLaren F1 LMs.

The 675LT is set to be a more powerful, stripped-down version of the already-potent 650S, itself an upgrade over the now-discontinued MP4-12C.

Power levels from its 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 will be raised to 496kW, up 18kW on the 650S, while a statement from McLaren references “increased downforce, driver engagement, power and reduced weight”.

With the track-only P1 GTR also under development in McLaren’s Woking factory – and also making its debut at the Geneva show – the 675LT will no doubt inherit some of the $1.5 million ubercar’s weight-saving techniques.

The 675LT will tackle Ferrari’s 458 Speciale and the upcoming Lamborghini Huracan Superleggera head-on. Audi’s all-new second-generation R8 will also be in the McLaren’s sights, as will Porsche’s 911 GT3.

It’s not yet confirmed whether the 675 will be road-legal in Australia.