McLaren 750S Review: Civilized Speedster

There's nothing strange about electrified supercars anymore, so when McLaren introduced the exclusively gas-powered McLaren 750S as the replacement for the 720S in the wake of announcing all new models would be electrified to some degree, it was well received. However, the expectation for the successor to the 720S wasn't just an evolved version of that car, so the somewhat new 750S may have been viewed with some curiosity at first. The 750S isn't all-new - just under a third of the components used are actually fresh - but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. The 720S was already a brilliant product, and stepping up to the 750S adds horsepower, performance, and livability. With 740 horsepower coaxed from the twin-turbo V8 and an interior comfy enough for daily use, the 750S seems to be a rather ideal supercar.


2024 McLaren 750S

Introduced in 2023, the new McLaren 750S coupe has already begun production and delivery in the USA alongside its drop-top sibling. With an MSRP of $324,000 (excluding a rather hefty $5,500 destination charge), the latest from the British marque can be customized to cost upwards of $350k.

Designed to surpass the 720S in power but not tread on the toes of the bonkers 765LT, the 2024 750S makes 740 hp from the same twin-turbo V8 used in the former, and it will sprint to 60 mph in just 2.7 seconds. It's just slightly quicker than the 720S, thanks to a lower curb weight, shorter final drive ratio, and increased boost pressure in the turbochargers.

Specs and Trims: McLaren 750S Models And Configurations

2024 McLaren 750S Coupe
Make
McLaren
Model
750S
Model Year
2024 McLaren 750S
Year
2024
MSRP
$305,000
Engine
4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 Gas
Horsepower
740 hp
Transmission
7-Speed Automatic
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Torque
590 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm

750S Exterior

It would be a misnomer to call the 750S an all-new McLaren supercar since only around 30% of the car is actually new. More a case of evolution over revolution, the McLaren 750S takes exterior cues from the 720S - keeping the dramatic dihedral doors, for example - but boasting a new front and rear end.

A new extended splitter and air intakes up front are narrower and more aggressive, with sequential indicators drawing attention. The slim LED headlights can be highlighted with carbon fiber or body-color paint. At the rear, you'll also find new rear wheel arch vents and sill air intakes, and the eagle-eyed may assume this is a Longtail thanks to the generously proportioned rear end. The carbon fiber active rear wing has a 20% greater surface area than the one on the 720S, yet it is lighter. It's positioned higher to enhance airflow, and it comes with a new low-drag mode. Tying everything together are twin exhaust outlets mounted centrally with a new mesh that works together with new air extraction vents to keep things cool. It rolls on staggered 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels.

Dimensions

The main difference between the 720S and the new 750S is curb weight, with the carbon fiber tub and other weight-saving strategies resulting in the scale reading just 3,062 pounds - around 66 lbs lighter than the 720S. The dry weight is a claimed 2,815 lbs.

Although it's a little longer than the 720S at 180 inches, it shares a 105.1-inch wheelbase. Other key dimensions for the McLaren 750S include a height of 47 inches - it spans 85 inches from one exterior mirror to the other (76 inches excluding those). The front track is wider than that of the 720S by 0.2 inches.

LengthWheelbaseHeightMax WidthFront WidthRear WidthCurb Weight
179.9 in105.1 in47.1 in85.1 in66.1 in64.1 in3,062.0 lbs


Exterior Colors

There are a ton of options when it comes to exterior paint colors for your McLaren 750S, starting with the Standard palette that includes McLaren Orange, Onyx Black, and Aurora Blue, among others. There are three 60th Anniversary Triple Crown paints available, with Indy Orange, Monaco White, and Le Mans Grey as your options. The Elite hues offer statement colors like Belize Blue, Mantis Green, and Tanzanite Blue, while the MSO palette gives you even more choice - think Lantana Purple, Volcano Yellow, and Papaya Spark.

Customization by way of exterior packs is also available. The hood air intakes, front air intakes, door mirror casings, rear fender intakes, and an exhaust finisher can be rendered in Steal black or carbon fiber, and the underbody or upper structure of the car can also be equipped with the stuff. Lastly, the hood, headlight surrounds, rear wing, and bumper can be specified in either body color or carbon fiber.


750S Performance

Performance for the 750S is targeted to be more than the 720S but without encroaching on the 765LT's territory. The V8 under the hood makes 740 hp at 7,500 rpm and 590 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm, which is enough to get the McLaren 750S from 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds. This isn't a massive improvement on the 720S - just a tenth of its time shaved off - but the longer you wring it out, the more performance impresses: 0-124 mph is done in 7.2 seconds (0.6 seconds quicker) and the quarter mile is dispatched in 10.1 seconds. Top speed only arrives at 206 mph, and if you're the showing-off type, then the specially-tuned exhaust note will be a favorite trait.

Part of its impressive performance lies in the high grip levels of the RWD system, the tweaked electro-hydraulic steering, and the linked-hydraulic suspension that combine to create a genuinely compliant speedster. And with softer front springs, it's also livable, meaning you can drive it whenever you want and not just reserve time behind the wheel for the track.

Engine and Transmission

The 4.0-liter flat-plane crank V8 that does duty in the 720S was given some attention for duty in the 750S - the twin-scroll turbochargers get an increase in boost pressure to produce 740 hp and 590 lb-ft - improvements of 30 hp and 22 lb-ft over the 720S. The engine in the McLaren 750S also uses the lightweight pistons we know from the 765LT, which, when combined with the tweaks and a lighter body, results in better performance.

The 750S uses a seven-speed sequential shift transmission with a shorter final drive ratio, which is partly responsible for the improvement in acceleration figures. Power goes to the rear wheels, and with enhanced suspension and steering updates, the 750S should be even more satisfying to drive. You also get updated brakes with carbon ceramic discs and monobloc calipers as an optional extra.

750S Gas Mileage

The EPA hasn't published any official gas mileage figures for the McLaren 750S but it's reasonable to expect similar efficiency ratings to what the 720S achieves. Expect around 15/22/18 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. Range should be around 340 miles, if driven with restraint, given a 19-gallon gas tank.

750S Interior

There's a new type of supercar buyer these days - those who want to focus on the thrill of the drive without getting caught up in unnecessary bits and bobs that distract you in the cockpit. McLaren feeds into that with the new 750S, keeping it simple and straightforward inside. To that end, the steering wheel isn't littered with buttons and toggles, and the interior of the McLaren 750S isn't dominated by screen real estate. In fact, it's rather subdued with a focus on enveloping passengers so they're kept in place during spirited driving. That's not to say there aren't some tech improvements, and there's a new instrument display mounted to the steering column and the inclusion of Apple CarPlay.

Seating and Interior Space

There are various options for seating in the McLaren 750S, with the standard carbon-fiber-shelled racing seats being interchangeable for comfort seats or even super-lightweight items. You can also specify whether you want regular or touring seats for both occupants. Seats with power adjustment and heating are also available. There's ample interior space for two of even the taller variety in the McLaren 750S.


Interior Colors and Materials

The interior of the 750S is full Alcantara off the bat, with Carbon Black being the main interior color in this guise. The Performance Interior gets brightly contrasting color accents throughout the cabin, however, and the Alcantara seats get softgrain leather accents with colored perforations. The TechLux Interior combines softgrain leather with tonal Alcantara accents and decorative stitching. Accent colors for the Performance interior of the McLaren 750S include Ember Orange, McLaren Orange, Flux Green, Teal, or Dove Grey. The TechLux is less in your face, with Ink Blue, Harissa Red, Mojave Tan, and Porcelain as some additional color choices. Both these upgrade packages add brushed Dark Aluminum paddles and Dark Titanium brightwork - and additional carbon fiber and colored seat belts are also on the options menu.

750S Trunk and Cargo Space

As a rear-mid-engine car, there are two areas to stow cargo in the coupe. The McLaren 750S's cargo space figures are 5.3 cubic feet in the frunk and 7.4 cubic feet in the rear, which is actually quite a bit for a car that's not designed to take you on the grocery run or ferry around school kit.

As is expected of a car like this, there's not much in the way of small-item storage, with no door pockets thanks to the dihedral doors and no standard glovebox. Occupants will have to make do with a small storage area in the center console or the netted area between the seats. You do get two cupholders, although only of those is readily accessible.

Features

As mentioned earlier, the McLaren 750S is less about luxuries and pampering the occupants than it is about driving pleasure and enjoying the experience, so it's not flush with features. The basics are there, however, including climate control and a push-button start. Of course a backup camera is included, as is a front-axle lift system to ensure you don't scrape the front-end of your 750S. Power-adjustable seats with heating are also available, and ambient interior lighting and engine bay lighting come courtesy of the Performance interior, when specified.

Infotainment

New on the 750S is the digital gauge cluster that works alongside a seven-inch touchscreen display that runs the infotainment system. Although no mention is made of Android Auto, the new McLaren 750S coupe comes with Apple CarPlay.

The standard sound system comes with four speakers, but an upgrade to a 12-speaker Bowers and Wilkins unit is available.

750S Problems and Reliability

The McLaren 750S is still brand new, so there's no reliability data to fall back on, but there are no recalls or problems logged with the NHTSA at the time of writing. Based on the history of the 720S it replaces, however, we expect the automaker to have ironed out any kinks to ensure the 750S is one step up.

The standard warranty cover for the 2024 McLaren 750S runs for three years with unlimited miles.

Warranty

BasicDrivetrainCorrosionRoadside Assistance
3 Years / Unlimited Miles3 Years / Unlimited Miles10 Years / Unlimited Miles3 Years / Unlimited Miles


750S Safety

There is no official safety review on the new McLaren 750S from the IIHS or NHTSA - that's standard for this price bracket and segment. With a robust carbon tub, however, the 750S should keep occupants safe should something go wrong.

Key Safety Features

No one buys a supercar for the extensive list of driver assist features and safety equipment, but buyers will want to know the foundation is there. The McLaren 750S comes with six airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera with backup sensors, and a vehicle nose lift system that raises the front in just four seconds for steep inclines.

There's just one additional safety feature that you can pay for, and that's a 360-degree park assist camera with a bird's eye view - unless you count a HomeLink transceiver among vital driver assists. A fire extinguisher is also available.

Verdict: Is The McLaren 750S A Good Car?

Although some were slightly disappointed at launch that the 750S wasn't more exciting (or more groundbreaking), it's clearly an evolution of the 720S in a way that promotes the thrill of driving and the intimate enjoyment of supercar driving for just two. In terms of performance, the British marque has given us quicker shifts and improved performance - and even created a drop-top 750S Spider that's barely penalized in performance for being slightly heavier. Of course, there's something to be said for supercars sans electrification, and we know McLaren is going hybrid for new models after this. We love that communicative steering and a supple chassis mean you can drive the 750S as often as you'd like, which is perfect for those who believe in buying exotics to use them and not just having them displayed as automotive decor.

What's The Price Of The McLaren 750S?

With an MSRP of $324,000, the price of the 2024 McLaren 750S isn't something to sniff at - and that's excluding the $5,500 destination charge. Depending on how you choose to outfit yours, spending over $350k is possible.

Additional Packages

There are a few ways to customize your McLaren 750S, the main ones being aesthetic changes to the exterior (read: carbon fiber) and even to the cabin in terms of seats, upholstery, and materials used. The upgraded Bowers & Wilkins sound system is worth considering, and the 360-degree camera is a must. We'd also spring for the Track Brake Upgrade, which adds high-speed brakes with higher fade resistance and a higher durability level. Tacking any of these on will see the price of the McLaren 750S rise exponentially since these options cost anywhere from $4k to over $50k.

What McLaren 750S Model Should I Buy?

There's only one trim of the McLaren 750S and we'd love to kit it out in a vibrant hue that will catch the eye. We'd stick with the basics and keep the standard sound system over the optional one - not from a price perspective, but to enjoy the aural nature of the car instead. We'd tack on the 360-degree camera and Track Brake Upgrade, as well opting for the TechLux interior package to capitalize on the livable nature of the 750S.