mclaren constructs a convertible roof for the 650S spider supercar

the 562 bhp convertible mclaren ‘650S spider’ supercar revealed, does 196 mph flat out with the roof down. it is constructed of lightweight composite panels and creates a purposeful, sleek appearance whether raised or lowered. at speeds of up to 25mph, the folding hardtop can open or close in 15 seconds at the push of a button. and just like the AUDI ‘R8 V10 spyder‘, there’s a wind deflector for poor driving conditions.

all images © mclaren

the mclaren ‘570S spider’s’ exterior design is enhanced by a rear spoiler, finished in dark palladium grey, sitting 12mm taller than the rear spoiler of the ‘570S coupé’. the higher spoiler provides additional downforce to offset the aerodynamic changes resulting from the ‘spider’ having a different rear upper body design, ensuring exceptional aerodynamic balance overall. the sophisticated cabin blends exceptional levels of craftsmanship, quality and technology; hand-stitched leather on the seats, door casings, dashboard and centre console sits side-by-side with a 10-inch TFT main instrument cluster and a centrally mounted, 7-inch IRIS touchscreen through which climate control and infotainment functionality are managed.

electrically operated from the driver’s seat using one simple control, the roof folds effortlessly to stow beneath a beautifully crafted tonneau cover that rises automatically to accommodate the lowered panels, and returns to its closed position with the assistance of soft-close technology. the roof can be opened or closed in just 15 seconds, at vehicle speeds of up to 40km/h (25mph). the retractable hardtop is designed to withstand the severest conditions and is significantly more weather- and fade-resistant than fabric, yet with its operating mechanism adds just 46kg to the weight of the supercar.

three new exterior colors celebrate the ‘spider’s’ introduction, with ‘sicilian’ yellow, ‘curacao’ blue, and ‘vega’ blue joining the existing sports series palette and offers a choice of 20 colors. the new hues showcase the complex forms of the aluminum bodywork and dihedral doors, particularly when combined for added visual impact with an optional dark ‘palladium’ grey contrast finish on the roof, windscreen pillars and rear buttresses. a new, 10-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheel design (19-inch front, 20-inch rear) has been crafted as an option for the new 570s ‘spider’. for further differentiation, a new brake caliper color, ‘liquid’ black, is also available.

positioned behind the driver, the twin-turbocharged mclaren V8 engine produces 570 ps at 7,400rpm and torque of 600nm between 5,000rpm and 6,500rpm. combined with a rapid seven-speed seamless-shift gearbox with ‘launch control’ technology, the result is a luxury sports convertible with supercar acceleration from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in 3.2 seconds and to 200km/h (124mph) in just 9.6 seconds. 

top speed is 328km/h (204mph) with the roof in place, and even with the roof lowered the ‘spider’ can reach 315km/h (196mph). complementing this extreme performance is a stop-start system that contributes to overall efficiency; the 570s spider returns official fuel economy of 10.7 litres/100km (26.6mpg) in the NEDc combined cycle and CO 2 emissions of just 249 g/km.