McLaren 600LT is faster than 488 GTB, plus exclusive pictures

The £185,500 limited-edition model will be followed by a Spider version in 2019, McLaren has confirmed, in a similar vein to the 675LT and 675LT Spider. Goddard said the Spider variant is “well into development”.

He added: “In fact, it’s very close to where we are with the standard 600LT. The majority of its components are in common with the 600LT — other than the roof, obviously. It’s testing on track right now.”

The 600LT is a final hoorah to the current generation of Sports Series models before it is replaced in 2020. It is the fourth McLaren car to get the ‘Longtail’ name following the F1 GTR Longtail race car, 675LT coupé and Spider. It is described by McLaren as the “fastest, most powerful and most track-focused — yet road legal — Sports Series” made yet.

McLaren boss Mike Flewitt said: “The McLaren F1 GTR Longtail was one of the purest race cars in modern motorsport history. The 675LT resurrected the revered name, creating the purest distillation of the sheer driving pleasure embodied by all McLaren cars.

“Now, we are further extending our very special LT family — albeit in limited numbers — and once again showcasing the ethos of optimised aerodynamics, increased power, reduced weight, track-focused dynamics and enhanced driver engagement that are hallmarks of a McLaren Longtail.”

Weight saving

At its lightest, the 600LT has a dry weight of 1247kg and is 100kg lighter than the 570S when optional super-lightweight seats — carried down from the Senna hypercar — are fitted.

Weight was saved with the top-exit exhaust, extensive carbonfibre, lightweight wheel design, lightweight glazing and suspension components, as well as seats.

The 600LT’s biggest weight savings over the 570S are: standard seats (-21kg), wheels including Trofeo tyres (-17kg) and air conditioning removal (-12.6kg). Goddard said: “The car loses some practicality to lose weight. For example, there’s no glovebox. But the model can still be used every day.” Another example is the door bins, which have been removed and replaced by netting, ensuring the space is still usable.

Nearly a quarter of the parts (23%) are changed from the 570S. At its lightest dry weight, the power-to-weight ratio is 481ps/tonne.

Bodywork

Staying true to the Longtail name, the 600LT is longer and lower than the standard 570S Coupé. It is 74mm longer than the 570S, taking it to 4604mm — 47mm longer at the rear and 27mm longer at the front.

Aerodynamics are aided by a new front splitter and side splitter, extended rear diffuser, fixed rear wing, plus a carbonfibre floor with integrated brake ducts.

The suspension is lowered by 8mm and there is a widened track.

The result is increased downforce, with the 600LT producing 100kg of downforce at 155mph with a 40/60 front/rear split.

The other major aesthetic and engineering difference is top-exit exhausts, which deliver “substantial” weight saving while creating a more raucous sound.

Dynamics and driver engagement

McLaren said that the remit of the 600LT is “to engage and excite drivers to the highest levels imaginable”.

To get the most out of the 600LT on track, McLaren has made some adjustments to the standard Sports Series models’ suspension. The 600LT uses forged aluminium double wishbones, stiffer hollow anti-roll bars and recalibrated dual-valve dampers. Goddard said the focus was “on low speed agility and high-speed stability”.

McLaren also claims “phenomenal stopping power and precise pedal feel” from the 600LT. It uses lightweight calipers and carbonfibre brake discs from the 720S, along with a Senna-inspired brake booster.

The bespoke Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo R tyres play a role, helping to achieve "cornering speeds exceeding those of the 675LT".

Goddard commented: “So we could have high agility and increase the steering ratio, the rear end is very strong. The tyres are important, too.

“The 600LT has the same effect — and more — as the 675LT on track. You come out of the first corner smiling. But in normal mode, you can comfortably drive on UK roads. It feels like something special.”

Limited numbers

McLaren has not yet confirmed production numbers, stating only that it will be “strictly limited” and that the specialist carbonfibre body panels will “ensure it is significantly rarer than its Sports Series brethren”. It is expected to be similar to the 675LT coupé, of which only 500 were built.

Built at McLaren’s facility in Woking, production will begin in October and last no more than 12 months.

Pricing is from £185,500, which includes a track day experience with driver training.

Typical buyers of the 600LT, said Goddard, are people who “want one of every McLaren ever built”.

He explained: “There are existing customers that have a Super Series and a Sports Series already and now want one of these. And, of course, conquest customers. It’s region-specific, though. In the Middle East, buyers would probably deem the 600LT to be too cheap.”