Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Statham
2023 PALM BEACH AUCTION – 2018 MCLAREN 720S – NO RESERVE
In the rarified air in which supercars travel, all limits are explored, all boundaries are pushed. There’s no room for the timid. The cars ‒ and their owners ‒ are capable of exploring frontiers of speed where others fear to tread.
A case in point is the silver and black 2018 McLaren 720S shown here, which will be offered with No Reserve at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction, April 13-15, 2023. This supercar has all the strengths and race heritage engineered-in from McLaren ‒ plus an extra X-factor added by an owner.
With the 720S, it all starts at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey, England, a production facility that could double as an art gallery. Leading-edge technology is certainly baked into the car’s DNA, but the company’s starting point springs from fundamental principles and seeks to create a balanced driving experience. As the McLaren website informs, “The radical shape of the 720S is inspired by the teardrop. Nature’s perfect aerodynamic form. It takes this shape because it helps to deliver superlative performance. And aerodynamic efficiency.” McLaren describes its design philosophy quite simply: “Everything for a reason.”
That manifests in a number of different ways. One goal engineers and stylists had for the 720S design was 360-degree visibility from the driver’s seat, which is achieved thanks to advanced composite materials that allow slim A-pillars and glazed C-pillars. The dihedral doors will always command attention, but also allow for superior access to the cabin and storage areas.
Of course, the heart of any supercar rests in the power that lurks under the hood. The 720S rolls off the assembly line with a 4.0-liter M840T twin-turbo V8, factory-rated at 710 bhp and 568 ft/lbs of torque. McLaren says that engine will propel the car from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, 0-124 mph in 7.8 seconds, the quarter-mile in 10.4 seconds and up to a factory-rated top speed of 212 mph. The positioning of the engine results in a low center of gravity and fantastic weight distribution for putting that power to work. Backing up the V8 is a 7-speed Graziano dual-clutch transmission.
McLaren balances these pure performance characteristics with luxury. Some features are obvious, such as the brown leather interior surfaces on this car, as well as the mood lighting. Some are less obvious, like the 720S’s extra engine-bay soundproofing and tuned exhaust note.
McLaren is famous for the performance of its ultimate supercars, but there are always people who strive for more. This 720S has been taken beyond factory specs with an 885hp VF Engineering Stage 2 tune. Sharp-eyed McLaren fans will notice the already muscular body sporting some unique curves, and that is the result of a Full Carbon Widebody kit from 1016 Industries, a maker of carbon-fiber body parts for premium sports cars and supercars. According to the consignor, these body pieces, along with other custom details like 3D-printed wing mounts in titanium, shave 200 pounds from the already svelte 720S body. The car rides on three-piece custom wheels, with 325/25ZR21 rubber on the rear and 255/30ZR20 up front.
A McLaren 720S is a car for special driving occasions, and this one has been used sparingly, accumulating 2,020 actual miles. But then, each mile traveled in a car like this will be memorable, something to be treasured. The winning bidder in Palm Beach will drive off in a supercar with plenty more stories to tell. Register to bid today for the 2023 Palm Beach Auction, April 13-15 at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
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