Exclusive: Two McLaren supercar models revealed in Auckland
McLaren New Zealand has revealed the exclusive 675 LT Spider and 650S Can-Am at its Auckland dealership.
With only 50 Can-Ams and 500 LTs produced, the New Zealand dealership was allocated the exclusive sports cars due to the McLaren-Kiwi connection.
McLaren Auckland sales manager, Luke Neuberger, told customers at the reveal event last night that 50 Can-Ams were produced to celebrate 50 years of the famous race.
The McLaren 650S Can-AM.
The Canadian American Challenge Cup (Can-Am) began in 1966 and Kiwi drivers Denny Hulme and Bruce McLaren dominated the series for so many years “that it was called the Bruce and Denny show,” said Neuberger.
The 650S Can-Am was inspired by the McLarens that raced in the series, with a private owner’s 1965 M1A/B on display at the dealership last night.
The 650S Can-Am is powered by 3.8-litre, V7 twin turbo engine producing 678Nm of torque, hitting 0-100km/h in 3 seconds with a top speed of 329km/h.
The Can-Am has a lightweight carbon fibre MonoCell, with the twin turbo V8 engine mounted behind the cabin. It also has a unique two-piece roof design automatically folds beneath the carbon fibre tonneau. The retractable hardtop roof raises or lowers in under 17 seconds at speeds of up to 40km/h.
The LT Spider is one of only 500 produced and is the second only McLaren to have the Longtail (LT) badge after the sold-out 675LT coupe.
The 675LT has also has is a carbon fibre MonoCell chassis and heavily revised 3.8-litre twin turbo V8. The is 40kg heavier than the coupe sibling due to the retractable roof.
It weighs 1270kg with every factor monitored by McLaren, so much so that the carbon fibre was matt not gloss to save 1kg, said Neuberger.
McLaren 675 LT Spider.
McLaren is also inviting owners from around the world to bring their McLaren back to New Zealand in late November for a tour of the country.
Among the highlights of the nine-day tour will be a visit to the newly-named Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park in Taupo, drives through vineyards and among art deco architecture en route to dinner at Te Papa Museum in Wellington, further drives through the grand landscapes of the South Island, and a visit to the Highlands Motorsport Park near Wanaka.
A fleet of McLaren vehicles will available to non-McLaren owners, for driving during the programme, although places are limited.
McLaren 650S Can-Am.
Also incorporated in the tour is a charity dinner in Auckland on November 26.
“The future legacies” dinner will be a prestigious event uniting McLaren supporters and international personalities from the world of McLaren motorsport, to launch a ground-breaking new partnership with The University of Auckland, said Neuberger.
A charity auction for various F1 memorabilia will help raise money for a scholarship for young students at The University of Auckland to travel to the McLaren Technology Centre on a work placement.
“This is a wonderful initiative created by the factory and in a way echoes the story of Bruce as they seek to follow in the footsteps of the iconic motorsport engineer,” said Neuberger.