When a company like Mclaren Automotive gets in touch and asks if you want to drive one of their cars for a few hours, what you don’t say is, “I’ll check my diary.” What you do say is, “when do you want me? I’ll cancel my medical procedure.”

The Cotswolds is a rural area of South Central England covering parts of six counties, notably Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Its rolling hills and grassland hide secret medieval villages, churches, stately homes and, for one day only, a treasure trove of McLaren supercars.

Turning up at a venue deep in the heart of this atmospheric area of Britain, I was greeted by a pageant of automotive beauty. Did you know that one of the hardest things in the world to do is to sit quietly and listen to a McLaren guy wax lyrical about the cars, in the full knowledge that the real thing is sitting outside, purring?

The McLaren 650S

McLaren split their cars into three groups: Sports Series, Super Series, and Ultimate. The 650S Spider falls under the Super Series alongside the more potent 675LT. Both come in either Coupé and Spider configurations. Perhaps the Coupé is more suited to the British climate but beggars can’t be choosers and I was shown to the door of a 3.8 liter V8 twin-turbo Spider.

Oddly, I didn’t care.

What’s New

The design of the 650S is inspired by the legendary McLaren P1 and the ethos of form following function. This revised styling adds visual drama and increases downforce by 40% at 150 mph. Additionally, the steering is sharper and handling and balance is improved.

Ride quality has been further improved thanks to new damper mounts and firmer springs. Importantly for the driver, the twin-clutch transmission is now smoother, especially at low speeds, thanks to new clutch software. In the next six years, McLaren is planning an investment of around one billion Pounds for no less than fifteen new models or variants.

Half of these will be hybrids, the company said.

Features & Options

A car like the McLaren 650S Spider is unlike mainstream motors in the sense that almost anything is possible. The level to which a customer can now personally tailor their chosen car is greater than ever before. Even straight off the shelf, all the things we have come to expect from a prestige car are on board. Satellite navigation and an electrically adjustable steering column are all to hand. DAB radio is available to UK McLaren clients, the equivalent of SIRIUS in North America.

Visibility is truly excellent for a mid-engined supercar and can be augmented by a back-up camera, probably a must-have to help protect that carbon-fiber Monocell from careless maneuvering. Open the Engine hatch and very little is visible to stir the imagination.

“Don’t worry,” said a McLaren engineer standing nearby like a worried parent. “You don’t need to see it because it won’t break down.”

“You will know it is there though,” were his mysterious parting words.

Carbon ceramic disk brakes with forged aluminum hubs are standard and bring proceedings to a satisfying, swift halt. The Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires biting into the road inspire a very high level of driver confidence.

In the United Kingdom the McLaren 650S Spider costs £218,250. That’s the equivalent of $273,150 of your U.S. Dollars at the time of this writing. Although I suspect this desirable automobile will be less expensive to American buyers, thanks to your lower level of taxation generally. Yes, really.

Interior Highlights

At this price buyers have a right to expect the very best. They will not be disappointed. Hand-assembled in the gleaming and arena-like McLaren Production Center in Woking, England, the interior of the 650S Spider is a testimony to the maxim that less is more.

The cascading dashboard is a masterpiece of minimalism, yet all the features are there. Entering via the swooping dihedral doors, the passengers are enclosed in a world of luxury Alcantara and leather, or, if preferred, carbon fiber racing seats for the hardcore pilot. Don’t take a lot of luggage; a carry-on bag and that’s your lot.

The retractable hardtop can be raised or lowered in seconds – always an advantage in Britain – even at speeds of up to thirty miles per hour. To make the most of the aural symphony going on behind you, it is not necessary to have the top down. McLaren have thoughtfully provided a retractable rear window which can be raised or lowered to choice, a nice touch.

The cockpit is very much driver focused with a surprising amount of adjustment for finding just the right driving position. Unlike a German brand I could mention, the steering wheel and pedals are directly in front of the driver, not offset. It really makes a difference. Get in. Sit down. Shut up. Push the button.

Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs

As previously mentioned, the 650S is powered by a 3.8 liter V8, the numerical designation referring to the horsepower. Hence the more powerful 675LT has a power boost. The Spider’s 641bhp is developed at 7,500 rpm. Torque is measured at 500 lb-ft. and the transmission is a seven-speed SSG automatic with a dreamy-smooth paddle shift alternative.

Acceleration to 62 mph is a scant 3.0 seconds with 124 mph coming up just 5.6 seconds later. Top speed is 204 mph but you’ll need a track and a special pair of trousers to achieve it. Providing you don’t rag it to the red line at every opportunity it might, just might, be possible to get 24 miles for a gallon of petrol.

Driving Dynamics

Well, wow!

What’s that? You want more information? Okay, the McLaren uses Formula One-influenced technology via one of the world’s most advanced road car chassis, giving advantages in torsional rigidity and thus a far superior drive.

Upshifts under part throttle are accompanied by a brief cylinder cut during the shift (I didn’t even realize this – I was told afterward.) which is what delivers the distinctive engine noise. Thus, even at lower speeds, it still sounds fun, which is, of course, the whole point. Under full acceleration, the 650S features what McLaren calls ‘inertia push.’ This harnesses the engine torque levels, raising the engine speed at a faster rate for each gear, and delivering continuously strong acceleration.

This engine science is supported by active aerodynamics. The McLaren Airbrake is both active and intelligent in how and when it deploys, operating whenever the car senses extra downforce is required. The rear wing flattens in a straight line like the F1 DRS system. The results speak for themselves on the road.

Conclusion

But you don’t want to know all that. You want to know that driving the 650S has to be experienced to be believed. I think it would not be wrong of me to describe this as the drive of my life.

British roads are notoriously difficult to travel on given the volume of mixed traffic and the appalling standard of driving, but it didn’t seem to matter in this wonderful car. Whenever the chance arose the foot went in.

The McLaren 650S Spider tackles corners in a flat and neutral manner, always inspiring confidence. Although quick and even startling under acceleration it is never scary. This car was born to the task and it shows.

As I said earlier: wow.

Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite

McLaren 650S Spider Official Site

Photos: DriveWrite Automotive, McLaren Automotive Limited.