MCLAREN'S 675LT TURNS 10 - HERE'S HOW AND WHY IT WAS MADE.
The date: March 3rd, 2015. The place: Geneva. The car: the McLaren 675LT. A machine that didn’t just turn heads—it snapped necks and reignited the legendary ‘Longtail’ name in a way that only McLaren could. Now, a decade later, the LT name has carved its own legacy, standing as the most extreme expression of McLaren’s series-production performance ethos. Six models deep, the LT family remains a shrine to lightweight aggression, aerodynamic wizardry, and driver-focused thrills. And what better way to celebrate than by looking back at the car that started it all? The 675LT made its production debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show as the lightest, most powerful, fastest, and most track-focused road-legal McLaren Super Series model of its time. Limited to just 500 coupés—every single one sold before the public even had a chance to blink—the 675LT didn’t just wear the LT badge; it earned it. Inspired by the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail,’ this was a car built with one mission: to deliver an unfiltered, undiluted, and uncompromising driving experience.
“The Longtail is a famous name in McLaren’s history, first used on the fastest version of the iconic McLaren F1,” explained Mike Flewitt, McLaren Automotive’s former CEO. “The McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ was the final, highly successful iteration of the F1, and it is an appropriate name for the most exhilarating and driver-focused version of the Super Series. The 675LT was the purest distillation of what McLaren stands for – pure driving pleasure.”
And pure it was. McLaren stripped 100 kg from the 675LT, employing a ruthless weight-saving strategy that saw carbon fibre used everywhere possible. Even the suspension geometry was lifted from the McLaren P1™, widening the track by 20 mm for added stability. The heart of the beast? A 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8, reworked and refined to produce 666 hp and 700 Nm of torque. That meant a power-to-weight ratio of 549 PS per tonne and staggering performance figures: 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 7.9 seconds, and a top speed of 330 km/h.
Aerodynamics played a starring role in the 675LT’s hardcore persona. With a completely reworked front splitter, Formula 1-style nose end-plates, and that unmistakable ‘Longtail’ Airbrake—now 50% larger than on other Super Series models - downforce was increased by a massive 40% over the 650S. Even the rear deck was redesigned, all in the name of squeezing every ounce of aerodynamic efficiency out of the LT’s aggressive silhouette. Inside, the 675LT continued its no-nonsense, driver-first approach. Carbon fibre bucket seats, lifted from the McLaren P1, saved 15 kg while ensuring maximum support. Alcantara replaced unnecessary luxuries, carpet and sound deadening were stripped back, and the steering wheel remained blissfully free of buttons - because when you’re behind the wheel of an LT, nothing should come between you and the drive. The 675LT didn’t just revive the Longtail name; it set the template for every LT that followed. Brutally fast, razor-sharp, and built for those who truly understand performance, it remains one of McLaren’s greatest hits. Ten years on, it's legend only grows stronger - a car that captured the essence of McLaren’s relentless pursuit of driving perfection. Here’s to the 675LT: a decade of Longtail dominance, and a legacy that shows no signs of slowing down.
Take a look at the YouTube video that delves into the history of the first modern Longtail version of a McLaren that's just unbelievably turned 10 years old - maaan time flies. It feels like these came out just the other day: The Making of the McLaren LT | McLaren Automotive
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