Following Last Week’s Restoration Reveal
McLaren barely had time to wipe the grease off its hands from last week’s restoration project before rolling out something completely fresh. The British marque has pulled the covers off the 788HS – a limited-edition supercar that officially brings the curtain down on the celebrated 720S series.
For the uninitiated, the ‘HS’ badge stands for High Sport, and McLaren doesn’t hand it out like candy. Before this, only the MP4-12C HS and MSO HS got the honor. The 788HS is just the third car to wear it, designed as both a road and track machine.
McLaren Automotive
More Power, Less Weight, and Sharper Dynamics
Under the hood (or behind the cockpit) sits McLaren’s trusty 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, now tuned to a wild 777 horsepower (788 metric horses, hence the name) and 590 lb-ft of torque. Peak power hits at 7,500 rpm, and the engine screams all the way to 8,500 rpm.
Weighing in at just 2,789 pounds dry, the 788HS packs 614 horsepower per ton – the best power-to-weight ratio of any 720S-based car to date. The numbers? Pure hypercar territory. 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, 0-124 mph in 7.0, and a top speed of 205 mph.
McLaren didn’t just tweak the engine and call it a day. The chassis gets its own upgrades, with a custom suspension tune, a front end that sits 0.2 inches lower than the 750S, and brakes borrowed from the McLaren Senna. For the first time in this family, you get center-lock wheels wrapped in new lightweight forged alloys.
A quad-exit titanium exhaust, new engine mounts, and updated sound tech all aim to make the drive more thrilling, yet it’s still usable every day.
McLaren Automotive
Carbon Fiber Everywhere, With Only 200 Being Built
Looks-wise, McLaren went all out. There’s a new carbon-fiber aero kit with a multi-zone front splitter, S-Duct hood, raised active rear spoiler, and a rear diffuser straight out of Formula 1. The result? 10% more downforce than the already wild McLaren 765LT.
Coupes get a gloss black roof scoop, and if you want to show off, you can have almost every body panel in exposed carbon fiber – gloss or satin, your pick.
Inside, it’s all about the driver. There’s a lightweight carbon-fiber center console, special HS branding, unique seat perforations, and a plaque to remind you how rare your car is. You still get the familiar McLaren infotainment and steering-column-mounted gauges, plus controls on the tiller to dial in your perfect setup.
Only 200 will be built worldwide, split evenly between Coupe and Spider. Each one gets the full MSO treatment, so no two will be alike. As for pricing, McLaren’s keeping quiet, but with this level of exclusivity and customization, expect it to be right at the top.
McLaren Automotive
