McLaren exclusively makes super cars. If they chose, they could design and build hyper-priced machines that are only suitable for track days and boulevard cruising.
With the new 650C making its North American debut at NYIAS 2014 this week, McLaren poured carbon fiber and massive mid-engine power into a $265,000 car that you could, if you were so inclined, drive every day.
That chassis and its interconnected handling system are adaptable in driving modes. Obviously, Track unleashes all of that power and F1-worthy handling while transmitting the feel of the road to the driver in full. Slap it back into Normal, and the 650C’s technology package smooths out the ride and adds in a suite of driver aids to make the elite machine into a very manageable, smooth and comfortable drive.
There are different ways to calculate horsepower. On the European scale McLaren uses, this car’s 3.8 liter, twin turbo-charged powerhouse produces 650 equine monsters to produce a top speed of 207 and a spine spring 0-60 time of 2.9 seconds.
The 650C is on sale now, with Jay Leno on the list of men taking ownership, If you see him knocking around LA, ask for a lift because that’s as close as you’re going to come to possessing this rare flower of a super car.
