McLaren 650S Launch


[Automobile]

 
Mention the name McLaren and many would instantly associate it with the highly successful Formula One team which was founded back in 1963 by Bruce McLaren. Many legendary F1 drivers including Aryton Senna, Alain Prost, and Niki Lauda, and more recently Mika Hakkinen, David Coultard, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikonnen, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton drove for the highly acclaimed team which is the second oldest active F1 team and one of the most successful teams in F1.
McLaren Automotive located at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, Surrey manufactures luxury, high-performance sports cars bringing the expertise and technology from 50 years of involvement in F1 to the road. Following the company’s global launch in 2010, McLaren Automotive launched the groundbreaking 12C and 12C Spider, followed by the McLaren P1™ keeping with their goal of launching a new model every year.
With that in mind, I eagerly headed over to the McLaren Kuala Lumpur flagship showroom in Mutiara Damansara for the media preview of their latest model – the McLaren 650S!
 

 
The McLaren 650S is McLaren Automotive’s fastest, best equipped, and most beautiful series-production supercar. The 650S was inspired by the design of the McLaren P1 and is specifically developed to give enthusiast drivers the ultimate in luxury, engagement and excitement, on both road and track.
 Commenting on the launch of the 650S in Kuala Lumpur, George Biggs, McLaren Head of Sales and Operations Asia-Pacific, said: “We are very excited to bring the McLaren 650S to Malaysia. This car really stands out on its own as no other series production sports car on sale today offers such a breadth of capabilities. Since launching McLaren in Malaysia last year we have been impressed with the passion and enthusiasm our customers have demonstrated for the brand and our products. We are pleased to continue to showcase the McLaren brand in Malaysia by bringing our latest edition of ground-breaking supercars to the region. There is a lot of potential in the market and we look forward to bringing more products to Malaysia.”
 
 The beautiful MC of the launch Patricia K with the McLaren 650S Spider
 McLaren 650S Spider
 
The 650S follows the McLaren design ethos of ‘form follows function’, with the front bumper providing a dramatic, yet clean, appearance while the integrated front splitter contributes to increased levels of down force. This offers a greater level of steering feeling and confidence to the driver on turn-in, while also adding to the agility and handling balance. Unique door blades behind the front wheels, on the leading edge of the dihedral doors, direct air from the trailing edges of the front splitter, further benefit front-end grip and vehicle balance.
The exterior styling includes full LED headlamps derived from the McLaren P1™, providing a distinctive illumination of the road ahead, and echoing the signature McLaren ‘speed marque’ logo in the design. The bonnet features the new McLaren badge, inspired by the badge fitted to the iconic McLaren F1. The rear of the McLaren 650S has been designed to optimize aerodynamics, with a 12C GT3- inspired three-piece bumper.
 
 McLaren 650S
 
The 650S badge designation refers to its engine output: 650PS (641 bhp). The British-built McLaren M838T twin turbo V8 engine produces 650PS (641 bhp) and 678 Nm of Torque, propelling the 650S Spider from zero to 100km/h in 3.0 seconds, reach 200km/h in 8.6 seconds and has a top speed of 329km/h.
Refinements to the engine include newly designed pistons and cylinder heads, and new exhaust valves while the cooling circuits have been optimised. The camshaft timings are unique to the McLaren 650S, to improve throttle response and help reduce CO2 emissions.
The car utilizes a unique single piece constructed carbon fibre tub as the chassis, which is better known as Mono-Cell, reducing the total dry weight to 1,330kg for Coupe and 1,370kg for Spider.
 

 
Even with the low weight and impressive performance more similar to a stripped out super car, the 650S still packs everyday convenience and luxury features on board; including Meridian high-end performance speakers, parking sensors, rear-view parking camera, electric and heated seats, dual climate control and more.
The pioneering ProActive Chassis Control (PCC) suspension system, developed by McLaren, has been further enhanced for the McLaren 650S. A feature of the system is the ability to adjust the ride and handling modes – Normal / Sport / Track – in isolation from the drivetrain, which gives complete freedom in terms of ride and handling. These settings, for both powertrain and suspension, have been recalibrated to improve driver engagement. The updates are especially noticeable in Sport mode.
 
 McLaren 12C
 
McLaren Automotive has partnered with world leading companies to provide specialist expertise and technology including Akebono, AkzoNobel, ExxonMobil, Pirelli, SAP and TAG Heuer. The company also pioneered the use of carbon fibre in vehicle production over the past 30 years, and since introducing a carbon chassis into racing and road cars with the 1981 McLaren MP4/1 and 1993 McLaren F1 respectively, McLaren has not built a car without a carbon fibre chassis.
Click on the individual photos below to open a larger version.
 
                                                                                
 
McLaren Kuala Lumpur is the sole distributor of the iconic British brand of high-performance sports cars in Malaysia, and is owned and operated by Sime Darby Auto Britannia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sime Darby Motors. The McLaren Kuala Lumpur’s flagship show gallery is located at the Ground Floor of Menara Mudajaya in Mutiara Damansara, while all McLarens in Malaysia have access to the McLaren Kuala Lumpur Service Centre in Temasya Industrial Park, Glenmarie. The Service Centre has a fully-equipped workshop where the employees have been professionally trained at the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, Surrey (UK) to ensure that the supercars remain in peak condition at all times.
McLaren Kuala Lumpur is currently retailing the new 650S; limited numbers of the 12C and 12C Spider; and the McLaren P1™, and the showroom in Mutiara Damansara is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Sunday.
For those who are interested in registering to preview the 650S, call +6019-3396888 for more info
McLaren Kuala Lumpur’s website: http://www.kualalumpur.mclaren.com
McLaren Kuala Lumpur’s Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mclarenkualalumpur
McLaren’s (principal) website: http://www.mclarenautomotive.com
McLaren’s (principal) Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mclarenautomotive
 
Here are more photos of the McLaren 650S provided courtesy of McLaren.
Click on the individual photos to open a larger version.
                                                                                                                                                                
 McLaren Kuala Lumpur showroom in Mutiara Damansara
 
McLaren 650S Coupe Technical Specifications
POWERTRAIN

Engine: M838T
Engine capacity (cc): 3,799
Format: 90° V8
Technology: Twin turbo, dry sump
Valvetrain: 32 valve, DOHC, VVT
Max rpm: 8,500
Power: 650 PS (641 bhp) (478 kW) @ 7,250 rpm
Torque: 678 Nm (500 lb ft) @ 6,000 rpm (95% @ 3000-7000 rpm)
Transmission: 7- speed Seamless Shift dual clutch Gearbox (SSG)

 CHASSIS

Suspension Type: ProActive Chassis Control
Differential: Open differential with Brake Steer
Driver Aids: ABS, Traction control, ESC, Launch control
Wheel Size: 8.5″ x 19″ / 11″ x 20″ (F/R)
Tyres: Pirelli P Zero Corsa 235/35 R19 / 305/30 R20 (F/R)

PERFORMANCE

Maximum Speed 333 kph (207 mph)
0-60 mph 2.9 s
0-100 mph 5.7 s
60-0 mph 28.5 metres
100-0 mph 81 metres
0-100 kph 3.0 s
0-200 kph 8.4 s
100-0 kph 30.5 metres
200-0 kph 123.0 metres

EFFICIENCY

Fuel Consumption (combined): 24.2 mpg (11.7 l/100 km)
CO2: 275 g/km

BODY

Dry Weight: 1,330 kg (or 1,301 kg lightweight)
Body Structure: Carbon Fibre MonoCell with aluminium front and rear structures
Aerodynamics: Active Aerodynamics incorporating Airbrake and DRS

 
McLaren 650s SPIDER Technical Specification
POWERTRAIN

Engine: M838T
Engine capacity (cc): 3,799
Format: 90° V8
Technology: Twin turbo, dry sump
Valvetrain: 32 valve, DOHC, VVT
Max rpm: 8,500
Power: 650 PS (641 bhp) (478 kW) @ 7,250 rpm
Torque: 678 Nm (500 lb ft) @ 6,000 rpm (95% @ 3000-7000 rpm)
Transmission: 7- speed Seamless Shift dual clutch Gearbox (SSG)

CHASSIS

Suspension Type: ProActive Chassis Control
Differential: Open differential with Brake Steer
Driver Aids: ABS, Traction control, ESC, Launch control
Wheel Size: 8.5″ x 19″ / 11″ x 20″ (F/R)
Tyres: Pirelli P Zero Corsa 235/35 R19 / 305/30 R20 (F/R)

PERFORMANCE

Maximum Speed 329 kph (204 mph)
0-60 mph 2.9 s
0-100 mph 5.8 s
60-0 mph 28.7 metres
100-0 mph 82 metres
0-100 kph 3.0 s
0-200 kph 8.6 s
100-0 kph 30.7 metres
200-0 kph 124.0 metres

EFFICIENCY

Fuel Consumption (combined): 24.2 mpg (11.7 l/100 km)
CO2: 275 g/km

BODY

Dry Weight: 1,370 kg (or 1,341 kg lightweight)
Body Structure: Carbon Fibre MonoCell with aluminium front and rear structures
Aerodynamics: Active Aerodynamics incorporating Airbrake and DRS

 
FUEL CONSUMPTION for Both McLaren 650S CoUpÉ/Spider
URBAN: 16.1 mpg (17.5 l/100 km)
EXTRA URBAN: 33.2 mpg (8.5 l/100 km)
COMBINED: 24.2 mpg (11.7 l/100 km)
Carbon Dioxide (Co2) Emissions: COMBINED 275 g/km
 
Here’s a look at how McLaren has evolved over the years.