Used 2019 McLaren 720S

After winning over hearts and minds following its debut last year, the 2019 McLaren 720S returns with even more ammunition to entice well-to-do driving enthusiasts. Thanks to its advanced carbon-fiber core structure, this stunning 710-horsepower mid-engine supercar weighs a mere 3,100 pounds. On the track, the 720S returns a sub-3-second 0-60-mph time and boasts a top speed of 212 mph. Yet for all its venom, the 720S can also be quite civilized in normal driving conditions, something not many exotic supercars can claim. Priced in the $300,000-$400,000 range, the McLaren is well matched to better-known names like the Ferrari 812 Superfast and Ford GT, as well as the Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

Our own Karl Brauer spent time with the McLaren 720S and came away with these impressions. On the 720S’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and its 710 horsepower, Karl wrote, “The wail of the McLaren 720S’s 4.0-liter V8 is accompanied by relentless acceleration as its twin turbos hit full boost. Experience it once, and you quickly learn to respect the McLaren’s throttle pedal. Conversely, the small-displacement V8 tends to lag, literally and figuratively, if engine rpm drop below 3,500. The solution comes via the 720S’s carbon-fiber shift paddles and light-speed dual-clutch transmission.”

He was equally impressed with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, which responds with such speed some gear shifts are imperceptible. The McLaren’s advanced electronic suspension features settings for Sport, Track, and Comfort, and all three actually work as promised. The Comfort mode makes this lightweight demon quite heavenly on all but the worst pavement, far better than in the Ferrari GTC4Lusso and 812 Superfast.

The McLaren 720S Coupe and Spider offer an inviting cockpit that may surprise you with their spaciousness and features. The dash and door panels have an elegant simplicity to their design, as does the center console housing the ventilation and infotainment systems, the latter large and legible but not quite as responsive as some competitors’. The view out is excellent thanks to the slim pillars and expansive rear glass. Order the Track Pack and you’ll get lightweight carbon-fiber racing seats, carbon-fiber extended shift paddles, and an Alcantara-trimmed sport steering wheel. The 720S trunk is located up front, where a generous 13 cubic feet of cargo space awaits an overnight bag or a few track suits and racing helmets.

In coupe form, the 720S’s sleek exterior features scissor-style doors supported by a super-strong carbon-fiber-composite shell. Carbon fiber also makes up the A-pillars and various body parts, resulting in a 3,100-pound total weight for the coupe, and 3,250 for the Spider. Using all the lightweight options, the 720S’s weight can get as low as 2,830 pounds. The convertible 720S Spider is nearly identical to the coupe, until its power-retractable hardtop is activated, taking only 11 seconds to disappear under a carbon-fiber cover. The coupe’s scissors-style doors are gone, of course. The Spider’s doors are hinged at the front and without a frame around the window. A set of tinted-glass rear flying buttresses allows clear rearward visibility even with the top up.

TRACK PACK
For a mere $28,000, the 720S Track Pack bundles a number of performance features that would cost far more if ordered on their own. Among the highlights are a carbon-fiber active rear spoiler, sport exhaust, track telemetry, and super-lightweight 10-spoke alloy wheels. Inside, the standard seats are replaced with carbon-fiber racing seats in either regular or touring size.

FOLDING GAUGE CLUSTER
The 2019 McLaren 720S has two different gauge clusters combined in a cool fold-away design. In Comfort driving mode, the cluster includes numerous gauges, a meter, and screens to keep the driver informed. Switching to Track mode causes the cluster to fold away, revealing a smaller unit with only a speedometer and tachometer.

The 720S comes pretty nicely equipped, as it should considering its price. There are three trim levels: base, Luxury, and Performance. The most basic 720S includes twin stainless-steel exhausts, launch control, staggered 19- and 20-inch wheels, active rear spoiler with air brake, carbon-ceramic brakes (6-piston up front, 4-piston in the rear), variable drift control, adaptive damping and McLaren’s Proactive Chassis Control II. On the creature-comfort side, there are cruise control, adaptive LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, rear defroster, sport seats in black Alcantara with driver-side power-height adjustment, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touch screen with voice control and an AM/FM 4-speaker stereo.

There are lots of options that both add and subtract weight. The seats can be upgraded with premium leather, and there are a number of interior decor packages adding carbon fiber, colored seatbelts, and other interior upgrades, as well as carbon-fiber and other accent treatments for the 720S’s exterior. Among the more notable big-ticket options: the aforementioned Track Pack ($28,000), a Bowers & Wilkins 12-speaker audio system ($4,290), Vehicle Lift suspension ($2,510), McLaren Track Telemetry (app and camera, $4,220), 10-spoke super-lightweight forged wheels ($5,330), power heated seats ($3,310), power-tilt wheel ($1,680) and 360-degree Park Assist ($3,010). The Spider can be equipped with an electrochromic top that automatically darkens to keep the cabin cool.

The 2019 McLaren 720S derives its muscle from a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 710 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. Track features include launch control and McLaren Brake Steer, along with numerous electronic traction and stability controls specifically designed for high speed. A dual-clutch 7-speed automatic sends power to an open rear differential, where a sophisticated braking setup acts as a torque-vectoring system, sending power to the wheel that needs it most. The 720S can reach 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 212 mph.

4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8
710 horsepower @ 7,250 rpm
568 lb-ft of torque @ 5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 mpg