With back-to-back F1 constructors’ championships, you’d think McLaren would have milked all that success to release production cars to earn some ‘good coin’.
Surprisingly, other than some special edition cars and track-only racers, the company hasn’t released anything since 2024, when they announced the W1.
According to McLaren, the new car will close the chapter on the ‘700’ range, but if you’re a fan, I wouldn’t start mourning quite yet. These supercar marques make a habit of contradicting themselves, so don’t be surprised if we get another one two years from now with a carefully framed PR release note.
Shenanigans aside, what makes the new car interesting? The 2,789-lb dry-weight car features a 777bhp 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and a power-to-weight ratio of 614bhp per ton. That’s the highest in the ‘700 family’, so it owns bragging rights in that department.
The 788HS revs to 8,500rpm and delivers a quick response with 590 lb-ft (800Nm) of torque. 0-62 mph time is quoted at 2.8 seconds, while 0-124 mph is a cool 7 seconds. Flying on the track on a straight line will get you up to 205mph before the powertrain lets you know you’re done. Transmission is via a 7-speed Seamless Shift Gearbox.
Still in the performance department, you have an advanced carbon-fiber aero package featuring a multi-zone front splitter, a hood with an S-Duct, a raised active rear spoiler, and a Formula 1-inspired rear diffuser. Together, the elements provide enhanced stability and driver confidence.
Regarding the design, I think McLaren is still having a hard time topping the P1's design despite its age. That may be a testament to the brilliance of the aging car's design. The 788 comes close, but function aside, I would do away with that roof scoop. The massive rear wing makes a strong statement, as do the quad exhaust tailpipes, giving the rear profile top marks.
Speaking of the tailpipes, they go beyond looking awesome. According to McLaren, these amplify the intensity of the V8’s soundtrack all across the rev range with melodies to keep ICE (no, not that other ICE) fans happy.
The front profile doesn't depart much from the signature 700 look. That ‘alien eye’ headlight profile is still there. The car sits pretty low (5mm lower than the 750S), so you’ll need to be careful where you take it if you don’t want a repair bill to leave a hole in your annual car budget.
Braking duties are assigned to carbon-ceramic discs and massive 6-piston forged aluminum monoblock brake calipers borrowed from the Senna. To cap things off, the 788HS comes with a center-lock wheel mechanism (the first one in the ‘700 family’). That pairs well with the lightweight forged alloy wheels.
Inside the cockpit, there’s generous use of carbon fiber on the center console, bespoke HS branding, and a perforated upholstery pattern. In typical McLaren minimalist fashion, not much else is going on here, but the Senna seats look great. Just don’t expect to stay comfortable on a long road trip. Sometimes you have to give up something for aesthetics.
McLaren plans to make only 200 examples of the 788HS, splitting that number between the coupe and spider models. If you don’t already have one on order, you might want to grab the phone and talk to your dealer; there’s a small chance that you’ll get lucky.
