Automobiles At Its Best: Speed & Precision... The New McLaren 650S Reviewed...

Words & Images By Brennell Christian Tan

McLaren Kuala Lumpur

The McLaren F1 launched in the 90's brought hypercar fame to the McLaren brand, being the holder of the world's fastest production car title from 1998 to 2005 boasting a top speed of over 240mph. With five decades of Formula One glory and technology pioneered in both McLaren F1 and the recent P1 hypercar, McLaren has recently launched the new 650S to further continue the bloodline of the astonishing McLaren supercars. A supercar with super performance along with everyday comfort and practicality.

Performance & Handling...

McLaren is well known for their brilliant performance, especially during the reign of the McLaren F1 in the 90's. The new 650S Spider continues to redefine the technologies of supercars today.

Transmission Controls

Lets start with the drivetrain controls.... The transmission is controlled via buttons on the centre console near the seats for ease of use. Also located near the transmission controls are the buttons for the boot release, convertible roof, the lever for the parking brake and to activate the central locking.

The McLaren Active Dynamics Panel (ADP)

Both the powertrain and suspension system can be fine tuned to suit any driving condition via the two knobs on the McLaren Active Dynamics Panel or ADP for short. The controls on the panel allow the driver to fine tune the PCC or McLaren ProActive Chassis Control along with the powertrain (Powertrain = Engine + Gearbox) characteristic. The button with 'active' written on it activates the two knobs which are used to change the parameters of the cars performance. The knob with 'H' written on it is for handling and 'P' stands for powertrain, both the knobs have three positions: Normal, sport & track. The winter button activates the winter driving mode which speaks for itself and the launch button is for activating launch control (For pulling away with max power and maximum grip from a stand still).

3.8 Litre Twin-Turbo V8

The heart of a lion... The McLaren 650S uses the same M838T engine from the previous McLaren MP4-12C which has been revised to provide better performance. The revised twin-turbo V8 engine produces 650 horsepower and 500 foot pounds of torque. 0 to 60mph (97km/h) comes in at 2.9 seconds compared to 3.3 seconds in the MP4-12C and rockets the car to a top speed of 204mph (329km/h). The driving experience is breathtaking and the surge of power is immediate without a hint of delay.

20 Inch Stealth 650S Rims
Wrapped With Pirelli P-Zero Corsa Tyres

Cutting edge technology is used to engineer the suspension set up. An active pneumohydraulic (Combination of air and liquid) suspension system is utilised to provide precision handling and accuracy. The adaptive suspension system used is known as McLaren ProActive Chassis Control double-wishbone independent suspension with three damping modes which are normal, sport & track. The suspension system provides an exceptionally smooth and comfortable ride, while keeping the car level through tight corners at the same time.

The 650S has a couple of cutting edge features that enhance the performance and driving experience of the car. A program known as Brake Steer has been incorporated in the cars system to maximise cornering grip. Through a corner, the system subtly uses the rear brakes to manage the torque sent to the wheels to manage understeer or oversteer (to understand understeer and oversteer, here's the link to my previous article http://www.automobilesatitsbest.blogspot.com/2014/06/understanding-oversteer-and-understeer.html).

By factoring in speed and steering angle, the system calculates the ideal amount of torque and brakes the rear inside wheel to pivot the car round a corner providing improved levels of grip and control. Another technological feature of the 650S is the ISG also known as the Intake Sound Generator which is able to channel the noise of a 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 in to the cabin to enhance driving excitement. At low revs the ISG is set to its normal mode with sound being insulated from the cabin, but work your way up into the rev range and break 5000+ rpm and the ISG will channel in the noise of a 650 horsepower engine revving away.

Rear Three Quarter View
Air brake(spoiler) Partially Deployed

Carbon ceramic brakes are standard features on the 650S as opposed to the MP4-12C which offered them as an option. The 650S "Stealth" rims are 19 inches in diameter at the front and 20 inches in the rear wrapped with Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres that offer cornering grip that's second to none. The 650S is also equipped with an air brake (a kind of dynamic spoiler that can be angled to increase downforce and to slow down the car). The air brake can be partially deployed at 32 degrees to increase grip and downforce. At high speed when the brake pedal is fully depressed, the air brake deploys at 69 degrees to increase drag and downforce on the rear of the car that reduces braking distances up to 20 metres.

Chassis...

Optional Carbon Fibre Side Intakes

With technology pioneered in the McLaren MP4-12C supercar, the backbone of the 650S is a rigid carbon fibre monocell. The aluminium front and rear subframes on the carbon fibre chassis assure that excess weight is kept to a minimum. McLaren claimed that it takes 4000 hours to construct the carbon fibre chassis of the McLaren F1 as compared to the new chassis on the McLaren 650S which takes only 4 hours. The combination of high torsional rigidity of the carbon fibre chassis along with its low weight, combined with light aluminium subframes assures that driving performance is maximised while excess weight is kept at a minimum.

Design & Interior...

The aerodynamic design profiles of the McLaren P1 and the previous MP4-12C have been incorporated into the design of the new 650S. The front fascia boasts a design inspired by the McLaren P1 hypercar that provides additional downforce, while the rear of the car can be easily mistaken for the rear of the MP4-12C.

The convertible roof can be folded up or down in 17 seconds by a push of a button. The roof consists of two aluminium panels which in part keeps its weight to a minimum with only a 40 kilogramme difference between the 650S coupe and 650S spider. 0 to 60mph (97km/h) is similar to the coupe at 2.9 seconds with the top speed at 204mph (329km/h). With the roof down, you'll be able to sample the roar of the 650 horsepower twin-turbo V8 revving away, while having the thrill of the wind in your hair.

A Luxurious But Yet Sporty Cabin
Wrapped In Carbon Black Alcantara

The 650S I tested had a luxurious interior wrapped with selected soft carbon black alcantara. The alcantara wrapped sports seats holds you in place through the tightest corners in comfort. Carbon fibre panels on the dashboard & door inserts provide a premium and sporty feel. The perfectly crafted steering wheel is wrapped with leather and feels good to hold, with no buttons or other controls to compromise the relationship of the driver and the road. The climate controls for the driver and passenger has been moved to their respective doors to minimise excess usage of space on the centre console to make way for driver controls.

Meridian Audio System

The high resolution touchscreen for the McLaren IRIS infotainment system is equipped with all the modern audio sources. Bluetooth A2DP audio streaming, bluetooth calling capability, iPod compatibility, USB and GPS navigation all come as standard equipment on the 650S. The infotainment system offers apps such as a web browser, maps, TuneIn internet radio and weather.

The Meridian branded audio system offers audio quality that's second to none and an important feature to note is that when the roof is lowered, the audio system detects and adjusts volume along with tone settings to each individual speaker in the cabin to deliver a superb audio experience.

The Driving Experience...

The "Dihedral Doors" Of The 650S

Opening the "dihedral doors" as McLaren calls them, instantly invites you in to the cockpit of the new McLaren 650S. 650 horses, 500 torques and by now you should expect the new car to be massively faster and much more intense as compared to the previous MP4-12C supercar. This being the beginning of the test drive, my expectations are looking good. Fittingly tucked into the very comfortable seats and the impression I'm given is a very capable supercar that offers a very comfy and luxurious interior. With carbon black alcantara wrapped seats and carbon fibre panels on the centre console and door inserts, McLaren has done everything to eliminate excess weight.

As we pilot 650S out from the car park, accompanying me is the Sales Manager of McLaren Kuala Lumpur, Mr Terence Chee. The roads surrounding the showroom, gives me a chance to sample the pneumohydraulic suspension on rough and uneven roads. Comfort, was the message I received from the car. On rough surfaces, bumpy roads, potholes and manholes, the car smoothly glides over them. The incredible amounts of engineering put into the hydraulic suspension system means that no anti-roll bars are used; i.e. every wheel of the car is completely independent of one another.

N.V.H. in the auto industry is known as "Noise, Vibration & Harshness" and this plays a major role in the comfort of a vehicle and the 650S manages them exceptionally well. Adequate sound insulation results in a very quiet cabin with the vibration along with harshness in the ride managed well. Whether you're driving on uneven roads or cruising on the motorway, the level of comfort offered is most impressive.

The Instrument Cluster Of The 650S
Very Driver Focused

Stop at a traffic light and you'll notice the heads of people around you turning as you grab their attention. The V8 power plant revving at idle is exceptionally quiet. As we headed on to the ramp leading to the freeway, I turned the two knobs which control the handling and the powertrain into sport mode and track mode respectively. Immediately, the 650S behaved differently. The ride became stiffer, the throttle response was immediate and the steering tightens. The revs then build up to 7000+ rpm and I'm in third gear flying by other cars at 120mph (190km/h) while the 650S was completely stable.

Getting up to high speed in the 650S was effortless as the V8 engine delivered amazing amounts of torque. At any gear and at any revs, floor the throttle and you will have instantaneous amounts of torque hurling you forward. Arriving at a U-turn, when the brakes are floored hard, the air brakes are deployed as well. The combination of carbon ceramic brakes and a massive air brake on the rear hauls the 650S down while the G-forces throw you forward. We made the turn at about 50km/h and upon exiting the U-turn, the throttle was floored and a slight drift occured (Drift = oversteer). We hit max revs at 8500rpm and all 650 horses were unleashed as we revved up on to the on-ramp. We flew down the highway at 150mph (240km/h) speeding by everyone else ahead of us. The seven speed double clutch transmission or as McLaren calls it the seven speed Seamless Shift Gearbox (SSG) handled the shifts quickly and crisply. There's no gap in the torque delivery when the transmission upshifts. Therefore, the torque shoves you back into your seat all the way up to its top speed of 204mph (329km/h).

Air brake Deployed At 32 Degrees

As I pulled up at the same traffic light where I started, getting ready for the next run on the same route, I realised how practical this car is. With sublime comfort for everyday use and then with a turn of a knob, it transforms into a breathtaking extremely grippy, stable and not to mention fast supercar. As we manoeuvred through traffic on to the freeway, I then switched the handling mode from "sport" to "track". The ride was even harder, to me its as if the springs solidify but as we pushed the car further and further whilst testing its capability, there was no hint of understeer or oversteer. The Pirelli Corsa tyres provides relentless grip through every bend and every corner. As we came to the U-turn again, another drift could not be executed due to traffic obstructing our way. However as soon as we were clear of traffic, shift down a couple of gears and floor the throttle and the car rocketed up to speed without any delay. With every corner and every bend I'm speeding through, the cars system is working out ways of going faster and faster. Coming off the on-ramp, we hit a slight bump and I'm reminded how stiff the suspension was set up.

I switched the handling and powertrain settings back to normal, whilst making our way back to the showroom. Through a few bumps and yet again I'm reminded how comfortable the ride can be in the "normal" suspension setting. As we parked the car in front of the McLaren showroom, I opened the "dihedral doors" and took another glance at the car. What a thrilling drive this has been.....

Conclusion...

The McLaren 650S is a car built for driving enthusiasts. With unparallelled levels of control and stability along with breathtaking speed and acceleration, this is a supercar that can be driven at its limits without much effort. The day-to-day comfort offered by this car is second to none in its class but with a turn of a knob, it becomes one of the very best supercars out there. The McLaren 650S, the pinnacle of British engineering....

For those interested in the McLaren 650S, please contact Mr. Terence Chee, Sales Manager of McLaren Kuala Lumpur or visit the showroom with accordance on the details below:

Terence Chee,
Sales Manager of McLaren Kuala Lumpur:

Mobile: +6019-3396888
E-mail: terence.chee@kualalumpur.mclaren.com

McLaren Kuala Lumpur,
Sime Darby Auto Britannia Sdn Bhd:

Unit G-2, Ground Floor, Menara Mudajaya,
No. 12A, Jalan PJU 7/3, Mutiara Damansara,
47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

Special Thanks....

The McLaren 650S, The Pinnacle Of British Enginnering
Hand Built In Surrey, England

Special thanks and appreciation to Mr. Terence Chee, Sales Manager of McLaren Kuala Lumpur for the McLaren 650S insight and the informative view on the McLaren brand and technology. Thanks to Ms. Aliana Roslan for the session arrangement on the review and photography.