720S Spider joins McLaren lineup

McLaren Automotive has added a convertible to its 720S lineup.

The 720S Spider joins the 720S coupe in McLaren's Super Series. It's powered by the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, which produces 710 hp and 568 pound-feet of torque.

McLaren says the convertible can hit 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and tops out at 212 mph with the top up and 202 mph with the top down.

The highlight of the convertible is its retractable hard top, a one-piece carbon-fiber panel, McLaren said. The folding mechanism is electrical instead of hydraulic, the automaker said, and can be raised or lowered in 11 seconds. The roof can also be lowered or raised while the vehicle is moving, at speeds up to 31 mph.

McLaren also incorporated flying buttresses into the design of the convertible, one behind each seat, which allows for better visibility, the automaker said.

Because of the hard top and tonneau system, the convertible weighs 108 pounds more than the coupe, McLaren said.

The automaker said the retractable hard top will have a carbon-fiber-framed "glazed" option. McLaren said that with the option, the roof's glass is "electrochromic and can switch rapidly between a transparent or tinted state at the touch of a button."

When the vehicle's ignition is off, the glass reverts to a tinted setting to keep the interior cool, McLaren said.

The automaker is adding two new colors for the convertible: Belize Blue and Aztec Gold.

As with the 720S coupe, the convertible will be offered in three trims: standard, Performance and Luxury.

McLaren said deliveries from its production center in Woking, England, are to begin in March.

Pricing starts at $319,100, up from $297,100 for the coupe. Prices include shipping.

The 720S Spider is the second vehicle out of McLaren's Track 25 product plan, which calls for 18 launches of new models or derivatives by 2025 at an investment of $2.1 billion. The Track 25 plan replaced Track 22, which called for 15 new models or derivatives through 2022.

McLaren's 720S Spider follows the Speedtail, a 1,035-hp gasoline-electric hybrid, which debuted in October.