McLaren 600LT Pushes The Envelope Of Performance

The announcement of an “LT” (Longtail) model from McLaren always has us raise our eyebrows in interest. And there’s a simple reason behind it. While they’re definitely from the future and pack in the latest tech, they hark back to McLaren’s glorious racing roots. The Longtail moniker first debuted on the F1 GTR, way back in 1997, and terrorised the track. It was in hibernation for a full 18 years, till McLaren revived the badge in 2015, with the 675LT. 

Now, there’s a new LT on the block, and it’s called the 600LT. Based on the brilliant 570S coupe, the 600 is bending expectations from what we call “baby” supercars. If you’re wondering what we’re on about, here’s the big number - 481PS/tonne. Compare that to Lamborghini’s hardcore Huracan Performante, that puts out 465PS/tonne, and you know McLaren means business here. The recipe behind that big number isn’t too complex - it’s a simple “up with the power, down with the weight” philosophy.

The 600LT borrows the same 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine from the 570S. But, it’s tuned to produce 600PS (+30PS) and 620Nm (+20Nm). The weight has been dropped by a whopping 96kg, to just 1247kg. Since this is McLaren we’re talking about, you can be sure they’ve gone to extreme ends to shave every little kilogram off. And, they really have. The use of carbon fibre has been bumped up. McLaren’s customisation division (MSO) has developed a carbon fibre roof and cant rails, as well as vented front fenders. Not just that, the seats too are made from carbon fibre, and draped in Alcantara to shed some more weight. 

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There are mechanical tweaks too, to ensure the 600LT is as track-focussed as it can get. The suspension is a double-wishbone setup made out of forged aluminium, and there’s a lightweight braking system and “significantly firmer” engine mounts. McLaren has also fettled with the pedal response, making it sharper. The cooling system has been beefed up, and the back pressure in the exhaust has been reduced too. So much so, that McLaren claims the exhaust on the 600LT is “more extreme than that of the McLaren Senna”. That’s a big claim right there. Also, the top-exiting exhausts look epic. 

Speaking of looks, an LT also has to look the part, right? The 600 is longer by 74mm compared to the 570S it is based on. This is courtesy the extended front splitter, and a longer rear diffuser. For some more visual drama (and aero) there’s a fixed rear wing too. The cabin is usual McLaren fare with a slab of screen on the dash, in place of the instrument cluster.

Finally, McLaren says the production of the LT will be “strictly limited”. But, they haven’t put a number on it yet.