A weekend with a McLaren 720S is always going to be memorable, but the surprise came in the discovery not of how good the car is (no spoiler alert: it’s ridiculously good) but in how many people knew exactly what car it was and how many people passed comment about how they’d now consider one over some of the more established (think Italian, Prancing Horse emblazoned) opposition.
The level of recognition was off the scale, from teenagers to grizzled businessmen, and that was a shock. In the past, lucky bugger than I am, I’ve spent many an hour walking enthusiasts around Woking’s finest, explaining what it was, who it was aimed at and where in the line-up of cars it fitted.
“It’s a 720S, isn’t it?” said one and all, although I paraphrase. “I’ve seen it on television and in magazines. It’s the best-looking McLaren I’ve ever seen - like they’ve finally discovered themselves.”
I’ll admit our local car-loving teenager, phone in hand, Instagram on meltdown, heart set to burst through his chest as I opened the door to let him sit inside, was the only one to spot the Track Pack additions, but you’ll get my point. Not so long ago, people didn’t know a McLaren supercar at first glance; now they know both its model name and purpose. The conclusion can only be that things are really starting to gel, both in terms of design and recognition.
I’ll admit to being semi-surprised, because until I got up close with the car, I hadn’t fully appreciated how distinctive the 720S was and how much, through a sum of small changes, it had moved McLaren’s offering on. Maybe I’d been distracted by the relentless focus on technical improvement, but I hadn’t appreciated just how much of a look the car has.
Join the debate
Add your comment
I like Mclaren...
but they do technically complicated things just for the sake if it, any F1 fans will have noticed this.
Like all McLarens, lovely in
But I seriously disagree with Jim about anyone except the most extreme aficionado being able to tell one from the other.
I don't think this problem can even begin to be addressed until they offer more than one engine.
Rise and Rise?
So boom and bust is done then.......
I remember hearing that somewhere else, with predictable results..
Mclaren's stubborness and refusal to diversify their range will be their undoing.
There's a major credit crunch going on in China, the US economy is on a low after it's sugar high - and the EU is in dire financial straits with all the economic levers stretched to their max.
This situation is not a good time to be spending huge sums of money on new product, spending money while the sun's shining is never smart.
Storm clouds are clearly evident.