Skip to main content

Ahead of its Geneva Motor Show debut, McLaren explains what makes the 675LT so sleek

McLaren 675LT teaser image 2
Image used with permission by copyright holder
McLaren isn’t ready to take the wraps off its 675LT just yet, but it just let slip a few more technical details ahead of the new supercar’s debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

The 675LT is inspired by the McLaren F1 GTR “Longtail” of the 1990s, and like that race-winning car, it features modified bodywork for better aerodynamic performance.

That includes a new air brake with twin exhaust tips exiting the bodywork just below it. Combined with other styling changes, McLaren says this will yield 40 percent more downforce than the 650S the new car is based on.

The 675LT will use a version of McLaren’s ubiquitous twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8, tuned to 666 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.

McLaren installed new turbochargers and a lightweight titanium exhaust system. Torque delivery is also stepped to prevent overwhelming the tires when the driver accelerates from a standing start.

Along with the 650S and the Asian-market 625C, the 675LT will be part of the newly-christened “Super Series,” differentiating the three related models from McLaren’s upcoming Sports Series.

Expected to debut at the 2015 New York Auto Show about a month after the 675LT’s unveiling, the Sports Series will be an “entry-level” model that’s smaller and less powerful than the Super Series, but also less expensive.

We’ll have full details on the McLaren 675LT when the 2015 Geneva Motor Show opens next month.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more