After a month of teasers, McLaren has finally lifted the lid on the fourth 'Longtail' model ever built at the company's Production Centre in Woking, England; the 600LT.
Following in the footsteps of the F1 GTR, 675LT Coupe and 675LT Spider, the 600LT is the most performance-focused Sports Series model McLaren has produced and features all the hallmarks of the LT lineage with updated aerodynamics and powertrain.
The McLaren 600LT's silhouett is 74mm longer than the 570S Coupe on which it's based. It also has an extended front splitter, lengthened rear diffuser and fixed rear wing. The new carbon-fibre bodywork and diffuser deliver 'substantially increased' downforce to enhance dynamic performance, especially on a track.
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All in all, McLaren say over 23 per cent of the components fitted to a standard McLaren 600LT are new and re-engineered to deliver the best possible performance compared to a 570S.
“The McLaren 600LT is only the fourth ‘Longtail’ McLaren in more than two decades. The McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ that began the lineage was one of the purest race cars in modern motorsport history," said McLaren CEO, Mike Flewitt.
"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 the hallmarks of a McLaren ‘Longtail’.”
'Extreme' weight-saving measures were at the heart of the McLaren 600LT programme from its outset, with a reduction in total mass of 96kg against a 570S Coupe. Built are McLarens' carbon fibre monocoque chassis, the 600LT benefits from new carbon fibre bodywork that lowers vehicle weight as well as optimising aerodynamic performance. 'Substantial weight savings' were also found with a unique top-exit exhausts.
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The 600LT's track-focused interior has also been stripped of unneeded materials with lightweight Alcantara trim materials used extensive throughout. As standard the new Longtail model will be fitted with the same carbon fibre racing seats used on the McLaren P1, and the super-lightweight carbon seats developed for the McLaren Senna are availible as an option.
If you wanted to shave even more weight, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has a range of options including a carbon fibre roof, cantrails and vented carbon fibre front fenders. The lightest dry weight of the new McLaren 600LT is as low as 1,247kg.
The McLaren 600LT is powered by the same twin-turbocharged, 3.8-litre V8 engine used in other Sports Series models, but in LT trim the powerunit benefits from an uprated cooling system and reduced back pressure in the exhaust system, which is shorter than that of the McLaren Senna.
Peak power has been bumped from 419kW to 441kW and 620Nm of torque, giving the 600LT a power-to-weight ratio of 353kW(481hp)/tonne in it's lightest form.
McLaren won't mention any other specific performance figures ahead of the 600LT's public debut at Goodwood next month. But considering weight savings, expect a significant improvement the 570S’s 0-100km/h time of 3.2 seconds.
For better handling on track, the 600LT features the forged aluminium double-wishbone suspension and lightweight braking system from the second-generation Super Series McLaren 720S.
McLaren won't say how many 600LT models will be built but confirm it will be 'strictly limited.' Production is scheduled to begin in October 2018 and last for around 12 months, with build slots scheduled around existing Sports and Super Series models, including the Senna, Senna GTR and upcoming three-seat BP23 hyper GT. The specialist carbon fibre body panels of the 600LT will also ensure that it is significantly rarer than its Sports Series brethren.
Like its 675LT, each 600LT will be hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey.
Available to order now from McLaren retailers, the McLaren 600LT Coupe is priced from £185,500 in the UK, which includes a Pure McLaren Road Owner Track Day at a race circuit, with driving tuition.
But don't expect the 600LT build slots to last. The last time a new McLaren Longtail hit the supercar market, all 500 were sold within two week.
