McLaren 650S Spider (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew

First Official Pictures

04 March 2014 12:00

This is the convertible version of the McLaren 650S: the 650S Spider. Given how closely the 650S coupe is based upon the 12C, it’s no surprise to see the 650S Spider looking very much like a 12C: same folding hard-top roof, same 40kg weight penalty, same boasts by McLaren that the carbon tub needs no extra reinforcing for its role in a cabriolet.

Though the 650S Spider is 40kg heavier than the hard-top and has some of its P1-echoing aerodynamic talent spoiled by chopping the top off, it’s still a very fast piece of kit. The Brit's 641bhp twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 will punch the car to 62mph in a claimed 3.0sec.

It’s two-tenths slower to 124mph than the hard-top: 8.6sec plays 8.4sec. The top speed is 204mph – 3mph slower than the coupe.

Like the 12C Spider, the retractable hard-top of the 650S can be dropped in 17sec, at up to 19mph. And if the weather’s inclement but you want to hear the bark of the 3.8-litre powerhouse behind you, owners can drop the rear window independently of the roof to stay dry and let engine roar fill the cabin.

You’ll pay £215,250 for the 650S Spider: a chunky £20,000 more than a 650S coupe costs. That makes the 650S Spider the most expensive McLaren this side of the P1, but then again, you can’t drop the roof in the 903bhp hybrid hypercar.

By Ollie Kew