2021 McLaren 620R

Looking at the McLaren 620R, it's hard not to be impressed by the manufacturer's growth over the last three decades. First, the 620R. Essentially a road-legal version of the 570S GT4 race car, it pushes out 610 horsepower and will comfortably hit 60 mph in under three seconds. Secondly, some historical background. McLaren famously produced every gearhead's ultimate dream car - the F1. After that, it teamed up with Mercedes-AMG and built the SLR.

Once that was finished, there was some restructuring, and it built an entirely new lair in Woking, England. It seemed like road car development was dead, but McLaren was actually working on an all-new supercar to end all supercars. The resulting MP4-12C was a giant slayer, but the cars that followed were even better. In the last decade alone, McLaren built the 675LT, P1, Senna, and 720. What other manufacturer can claim it made so many legendary cars in just ten years? And will the new track-ready 620R be counted as one of McLaren's greats when we look back at the history of internal combustion? It makes a strong case for itself against rivals like the Lamborghini Huracan STO or the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, with its light weight, tremendous handling, and clever aerodynamics.

Production of the limited-run 620R continues with 2021 models in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East gaining the optional R Pack from McLaren Special Operations that comes as a standard no-cost option on North American cars. It includes cosmetic and mechanical changes like front fender vents and a new roof scoop - both made from carbon fiber. Besides the carbon bits, the normal exhaust is exchanged for a louder, freer-flowing, and lighter titanium sports item. 620R production concludes in December 2020 with only 225 units produced. Final deliveries are wrapped up in 2021.

The McLaren 620R was first unveiled in December 2019 as a road-legal race car based on the 570S GT4, the most successful GT racer that McLaren has ever built. The 620R is the ultimate expression of the 570S GT4, featuring the same 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 motor, dialed up to eleven - the 620R boasts a claimed 0-6- mph sprint time of 2.8 seconds. Production starts in early 2020, with 350 units earmarked for production.

Nothing says "this is a serious racecar" quite like a massive rear wing. It's the first thing you notice about the 620R and the easiest way to tell it apart from other 570 models. The wing is inspired by the actual 570 GT4 racing car, but McLaren incorporates a brake light to make it road legal. There are other subtle hints, like the aggressive front bumper and nostrils on the hood. Less subtle design clues include a massive air intake on the roof and model-specific paint options. The wheels are large, measuring 19 inches in front while there are 20s at the back. The R Pack brings even more carbon-fiber details, such as a roof scoop and the front fender vents to relieve wheel-well pressure at speed.

The 620R has ideal supercar dimensions. It has a 105.1-inch wheelbase, with a 66.1-inch track at the front and a 62.6-inch track at the rear. The overall width with the mirrors included is 82.5 inches, while the overall length is 179.4 inches.

McLaren famously uses a carbon-fiber tub, which makes the 570 a lightweight car, to begin with. Thanks to an even stricter diet, the 620R has a curb weight of just 3,056 pounds, including all fluids and 90 percent fuel tank capacity.

The 2021 McLaren 620R is only available in three colors, inspired by the GT4 race cars: Silica White with Orange stripes, Onyx Black with Orange stripes, or McLaren Orange with White stripes. You can also add your very own racing number or race livery inspired by the Senna GTR. McLaren's Special Operations can also paint it any color you'd like.

We'd like to meet the chap who decided that the standard 600LT simply wasn't hardcore enough. The 600LT is a faster, more hardcore version of an already stupidly quick road-biased car, making the 620R a special version of a special version. Kind of like the Porsche 911 GT3 RS is a more hardcore version of the GT3.

McLaren's are diabolically rapid and the specifications of the 620R ensure more of the same. The MP4-12C was one of the first cars that felt scary fast. You simply couldn't pin the throttle for more than ten seconds unless you were on a track. The first four seconds took you over the speed limit, while the remaining six determined how long you'd stay in prison. The 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 from the GT4 race car packs a mighty punch. Power is up from 592 horsepower in the 600LT to 610 hp here. The 457 lb-ft of torque is the same. All of the power goes to the rear wheels only via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The 600LT and 620R feel the same in a straight line. Both get from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds. However, it takes the 620R 8.1 seconds to get to 124 mph, at which point the 600LT is just a split second behind. The 600LT takes the lead at the top end thanks to the 620R's fixed rear wing, which has a negative effect on the top speed. The 600LT has a top speed of 204 mph, but the 620R's rear wing creates more drag, so it can only do 200 mph.

McLaren's twin-turbo V8 is a mighty engine. It was first used in the MP4-12C and has been refined over the years. The "normal" cars still use the smaller capacity 3.8 version, while McLaren's high-end supercars now feature a larger unit bored out to 4.0-liters.

The latest version of the 3.8-liter engine was once again tweaked for use in the 570S GT4 race car, and it's this basic engine that is used in the 620R. But in typical McLaren fashion, it added more power. In the 620R it develops 610 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. Because a governing body doesn't restrict the 620R, McLaren fettled with the ECU and turbocharger management system to create the most powerful Sports Series car yet. As we've already seen, the engine and seven-speed gearbox deliver epic performance figures, but it's not the standard dual-clutch you'll find in the 600LT. This version also has some racing tech. Sport mode cuts the ignition spark for a split-second when you upshift, which creates a satisfying cracking noise. It simply exists for added drama.

The real hero is McLaren's Inertia Push system. It converts built-up flywheel energy into a quick burst of additional torque when you shift up. Most cars feel less accelerative as you shift up the gearbox, but the 620R just keeps on pulling. The combination of that momentary burst of torque and the power delivery makes it feel as if the 620R will just keep on accelerating forever.

When McLaren says the 620R is a race car for the road, they mean it. This isn't just some hardcore stripped-out car with a stiffer setup for the adaptive damping. Instead, the 620R has the GT4's aerodynamics, powertrain calibration, and complete suspension setup.

The engine has stiffer mounts to minimize inertia under full acceleration. Suspension-wise, the 620R has two-way manually-adjustable coil-over dampers. According to McLaren, there are 32 clicks of adjustment per corner. It may be highly nerdy, but we love that this car allows you to adjust the compression and rebound rates for different tracks. We'd have endless fun just finding the right setting for any given track, never mind racing the thing. It also has lightweight wishbones and stiffer anti-roll bars. McLaren removes the rubber top mounts with solid stainless steel. This increases the feel but renders any claim that it's a road car null and void. You can use it on the road, but you wouldn't want to. The standard 600LT is already too stiff for daily use.

The brakes are upgraded to a lightweight carbon-ceramic system. It has six-piston forged aluminum calipers at the front and four-piston calipers at the rear. McLaren used some of the lessons learned from Senna production to increase pedal response and consistency. That new front-end design improves downforce and sends some air directly to the brakes to help keep them cool. Finally, the 620R gets a set of Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tires. McLaren also offers a set of full-slick tires, but only for racetrack use.

As you can imagine, the 620R is sublime on a track. Any car with this much race car technology is bound to provide the kind of responses you'd usually find on, well, uhm, a race car. It's not fun in the way a road car is fun. This is a downforce car with direct steering and powerful brakes. If sideways action is what you seek, look elsewhere. Push it too hard and the slicks will eventually lose traction, and slick tires are notoriously tricky to get back in a straight line. The 620R lets you brake later and turn in harder. It's about hunting apexes, instead of sliding like a lunatic from one corner to the other.

It does not work on the road. The suspension setup is way too stiff, but McLaren says you can replace the standard, manually-adjustable GT4 dampers for the adaptive dampers that are equipped to other Sports Series models. These enable cabin-adjustable modes like Normal, Sport, and Track, but this defeats the purpose of the hardcore 620R. If you have this much money, it would be much easier (and more comfortable) to just buy an entry-level pickup truck and trailer.

A gas mileage review of the McLaren 620R is perhaps as important as evaluating its off-roading abilities. Since the 620R is a race car, its fuel consumption figures are impressive for all intents and purposes. According to McLaren, it's capable of 15/22/18 mpg city/highway/combined. Unfortunately, McLaren doesn't provide a race track consumption figure, but it's probably not a double-digit figure. Just hire a pit crew to sort things out. It has a 19-gallon tank, which means an estimated range of 342 miles on a full tank. By the time you've gone that far, your bones will be dust, however.

The 620R does have an interior, but it exists for two reasons. First, it gives the driver a place to sit while he/she operates the major controls. Secondly, it has an interior because it has a roof, which is there for structural rigidity. In the interest of saving weight, McLaren removes all of the niceties you usually get in a 570S. It removes the carpet, air conditioning, sound system, and navigation. The last three can be put back in, but, once again, that sort of defeats the purpose. On paper, the dearth of features doesn't align with the price of the 2021 McLaren 620R - but it's perfectly in tune with the car's philosophy.

The interior is as spacious as the standard car, but the seats are not. In the interest of recreating the full race-car experience, the 620R is equipped with lightweight carbon-fiber racing seats with six-point racing harnesses. The whole point of a racing harness is to hug you as tightly as possible should you reach into your bag of talent and realize that it's not as full as your wallet. These seats aren't covered in a soft material but lightly padded with a substance no thicker than a washcloth. Okay, maybe not that thin, but it certainly feels that way. It also enhances the driving experience. With so little interior, there's very little between you and the mechanical bits. In the right time and place, it's driving nirvana.

You can have any color you want, as long as it's black. This phrase is often incorrectly attributed to Henry Ford, but it is applicable here as well. It doesn't mean the interior is terrible, however. It's a sea of naked carbon fiber, which is like catnip for car lovers. Rumor has it, McLaren will let you decide what color you want the seat harnesses to be. Opting for the R Pack adds even more carbon fiber to the interior.

McLaren's press release for the 620R is eight pages long, and nowhere does it mention luggage capacity. That's most likely because the storage space under the carbon-fiber hood is nothing to brag about. It's around four cubes big, which is enough to store a racing suit and helmet but not much else.

Do you have an ego the size of a football field? Congratulations, sir or madam. Since there are no features, you are the center of attention in the 620R. Seriously, the interior is stripped of everything we normally mention here. It doesn't have air conditioning, carpets, a glovebox, or a sound system. It's just you, the steering wheel, carbon-fiber paddle shifters, and the throttle and brake pedals. The only luxury item is the digital instrument cluster, so if you're looking for a long list of comfort and convenience specs, this isn't the place to find it.

Oddly, McLaren did not remove the seven-inch touchscreen interface, but with good reason. Instead of doing all the usual things a touchscreen does, this particular unit runs McLaren's Track Telemetry system. You can order a Bowers & Wilkins sound system, however.

The 620R has never been recalled, attributed to McLaren's almost insane attention to detail. Every McLaren is sold with a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty.

Given the high price of the McLaren 620R and its exclusivity, it's little surprise that neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has evaluated it for crashworthiness. McLaren's carbon-fiber tub is also famously strong, with many untalented drivers who have been known to survive severe accidents because of it. So if you're going to crash a car, it might as well be a carbon-fiber model with six-point racing harnesses. The biggest bruise will be to your ego.

Yet another department McLaren fails to address. But we do know the 620R has various driving modes, which means it has advanced traction and stability control. The carbon-ceramic brakes also count as a safety feature, as you can cut loads of speed in a relatively short amount of time and space. Six-point safety harnesses keep you firmly secured in the racing seats. As for advanced safety gear like blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning? You won't find them in this McLaren. The company doesn't even make mention of airbags, although it technically would require them to comply with local regulations.

Yes. Cars like these don't make a lot of sense, especially when they're built with only one purpose in mind. Thing is, if you can afford to buy a 620R for track days, you most likely have a 720 or GT to drive with daily. And a Bentley Bentayga or a pickup truck to tow the 620R wherever you want it.

The point is, collectors buy cars like these. The 620R won't be the only car in their garage, which makes the downsides of this particular car a moot point. As a track toy, it's epic. There are very few cars that are as hardcore as this. It makes the Porsche GT3 look like a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The allure of a stripped-down McLaren with all the good bits from an actual racing car is extremely alluring. It's as close as most car lovers will ever get to the real thing, apart from buying an actual racing team. But as Nikita Mazepin is so keen to point out, this doesn't always work out the way you want it to.

Only 225 will ever be made, and production started at the beginning of 2020. The COVID-19 virus caused a considerable delay, so the first units took a while to reach the USA. The price of the 620R was $299,000 in the US, and the McLaren factory reached the magical 225 figure in December 2020.

There's no chance of getting a brand new car, but owners are flipping them online. Unlike other McLaren models, which have lost a lot of value over the years (we're looking at you, 720), the cost of the McLaren 620R is appreciating at a rapid rate. Even today, you can find various on sale in the USA, all with a hefty markup, selling for well over $300,000.

There's only one 620R, and it has more in common with the 570S GT4 racing car than the 600LT. It has a stripped-out interior with little more than carbon-fiber bucket seats and six-point harnesses. If you want entertainment, you'll need to take an interesting passenger along for the ride. US-spec models came standard with an upgrade package from MSO that includes a roof scoop and some carbon fiber bits. The track telemetry can also be upgraded to record both lap times and record video via three exterior cameras. This pack was made available to cars bound for Europe, Africa,and the Middle East in 2021.

There's only one model, and you can't even buy it anymore. If you're willing to pay a premium, you can get a low mileage example with prices that start upwards of the $300k mark.

The 620R doesn't have any rivals that are as hardcore. Lambo's Huracan Performante is the closest in concept since the Porsche 911 GT2 RS has gone out of production. It, too, has many racecar-like features, like a lightweight exhaust system, a hardcore suspension setup, carbon-ceramic brakes, and active aerodynamics.

The Lambo's straight-line performance is nearly on par with the 620R. The 0-100 km/h sprint (0-62 mph) takes 2.9 seconds, while the sprint to 124 mph takes 8.9 seconds. The Lambo's top speed is 201 mph. Lamborghini is more generous when it comes to comfort features. The Performante isn't a Rolls Royce, but it has heated power-adjustable seats and climate control. It's also slightly more comfortable, in the same way that stepping on a Lego is more comfortable than treading on a needle. We'll go for the Lambo because it's more affordable and, crucially, more widely available, albeit on the second-hand market.

The closest rival in terms of stripped-down track-ready performance is the Caterham Seven 620. It's the most extreme road car the British manufacturer has, but they offer track-only specials for cheaper. This particular model uses a supercharged 2.0-liter Ford engine, producing 310 hp and 219 lb-ft of torque. In addition, the car weighs less than 1,400 lbs, which means it can get to 60 mph in a 620R-matching 2.8 seconds. It's also equipped with racing harnesses, a Momo quick-release steering wheel, and carbon fiber accents. The Caterham provides a visceral thrill because of its simplistic design, while the McLaren is more of a tech masterpiece. The one thing Caterham has going for it is the price. At under $70,000, you won't find anything for sale that's faster and cheaper than this.