New McLaren 720S Spider

December isn’t exactly what you’d call high time for the convertible car market, what with plummeting temperatures and the constant threat of snow and ice.

Clearly, nobody told McLaren though because they’ve just unveiled a new top-down version of the 720S. Priced from £237,000, the hardtop 720S Spider is available to order right now and could be on your driveway for Easter with the first models being delivered from March 2019.

McLaren says it’s their most accomplished convertible supercar ever, pulling together the thrill of open-air driving with unparalleled dynamic performance and sophistication. It uses a four-litre twin-turbocharged McLaren V8 engine with a power output of 710bhp and 770Nm of torque, giving the 1,332kg 720S Spider with a power-to-weight ratio of 532bhp per tonne.

This means it can accelerate to 62mph from rest in 2.9 seconds; the same as its fixed roof sibling, the 720S Coupé. From there, it can double its speed to 124mph in five seconds (0-124mph: 7.9 seconds), topping out at 212mph with the roof raised or 202mph in top-down mode.

Thanks to the Spider’s light, stiff and extremely strong Monocage II-S carbon fibre core with integrated rollover protection structure, the car needs no additional strengthening over the coupé, ensuring a convertible without compromise and guaranteeing exceptional dynamic agility.

With a dry weight of 1,332kg, the 720S Spider is the lightest in its class and weighs just 49kg more than the 720S Coupé and 88kg less than its closest competitor.

McLaren’s patented new carbon fibre roof system means you can have the top down in 11 seconds at vehicle speeds of up to 31mph – a fastest-operating time in the supercar class.

This retractable hard top is available glazed with an electrochromic glass panel that can rapidly switch between tinted and transparent states.

Mike Flewitt, chief executive officer at McLaren Automotive, said: “As the most accomplished convertible supercar ever, the new Spider delivers across a remarkable spectrum of abilities to outstandingly high levels and moves us even further ahead of our competition in the weight race.”

What do you reckon to the 720S Spider? Or can you not bear the thought of getting the roof down at this time of year? Let us know in the comments…

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