McLaren 600LT Spider 2019: drop-top supercar might be world's craziest convertible

McLaren has whipped the covers - and the roof - off a convertible version of its 600LT Coupe, with the stunning Longtail Spider making its global debut.

The 600LT Spider is the fifth model to wear the Longtail nomenclature, and, on paper at least, it looks to be a tonne of drop-top fun.

The focus has been saving weight, which is often the Achilles heel of inevitably heavier convertibles, but McLaren says its 600LT Spider weighs just 50kg more than the coupe equivalent, tipping the scales at 1297kg (dry), owing mostly to the fact the brand hasn’t added any structural reinforcements.

Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 - paired with a seven-speed “Seamless Shift” auto - that pumps out 441kW and 620Nm, McLaren says its hardcore convertible will clip 100km/h in a coupe-equalling 2.9 seconds (which is very fast), as push on 200km/h in just 8.4 seconds.

Top speed is a claimed 324km/h, but with the retractable hardtop top roof open, that number drops to 315km/h - which will still surely feel like your head is being pulled off by a surly giant.

Putting that power into the road is a set of track-focused Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tyres, and we’re very happy to see the top-exit exhausts that debuted on the coupe have made their way to the convertible version, too.

Like the coupe, you can expect super-stiff carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, while the fixed carbon-fibre wing produces 100kg of downforce at 250km/h. The folding roof itself is made of three seperate pieces, and can be lowered or raised at up to 40km/h.

“The McLaren 600LT Spider adds a new dimension of excitement to the most extreme model in the Sports Series family, while losing none of the Longtail focus. Taking full advantage of the strength of the carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis has ensured that the new Spider has dynamic abilities and performance on par with the 600LT coupé, for a weight premium of just 50kg and with no additional structural strengthening required,” says McLaren CEO, Mike Flewitt.

“In addition to our weight advantage over competitors, we have also retained the top-exit exhausts that debuted on the coupé – and I’m pleased to report that they sound and look even better with the roof or rear window of the Spider lowered!”

The 600LT Spider is priced at 201,500 pounds in the UK, with local pricing yet to be released.

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