McLaren 650S pricing announced

* McLaren 650S gets 641bhp twin turbo V8  * More focused version of 12C supercar * Coupe costs from £195,250; Spider is priced from £215,250...

McLaren 650S pricing announced

The McLaren 650S is priced from £195,250 when it goes on sale at the end of March. That price is for the Coupe, while the Spider costs from £215,250. Both models will be officially unveiled at the forthcoming Geneva motor show on March 4.

The 650S is based on the 12C and gets an upgraded version of that car's twin-turbocharged V8 engine. It will boast a power output of 641bhp - a significant boost over the 616bhp of the 12C. It will manage the 0-62mph dash in just 3.0 seconds and get from 0-124mph in 8.4 seconds. Top speed is 207mph.

Although the 650S is based on the 12C, McLaren says that 25% of the parts have been changed. The most notable change is to the front lights and bumper, which now resemble the face of McLaren's halo car, the P1.

The new LED headlights sit above a more aggressive front splitter that increases downforce, while blades behind the front wheels further aid front-end grip. The chassis control system has been tweaked to improve driver engagement and cornering grip. McLaren also claims to have altered the car's suspension settings to make it more comfortable for everyday driving.

The other upgrades over the 12C include standard carbon-ceramic brakes, which are normally a £10,000 option, plus unique lightweight alloy wheels and Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. Standard equipment includes satellite-navigation with Bluetooth and DAB digital radio. A rear parking camera and electrically-adjustable steering column are optional. 

The car also features more carbonfibre, especially in the cabin. In particular, the 650S can be specified with fixed-back carbon racing seats, similar to the ones found in the P1. Much of the rest of the interior is finished in Alcantara.

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