I think somebody owes me 5 dollars. McLaren->ke284 has dropped the official details on its upcoming 650S reveal at Geneva->ke228, and just as I predicted, it is essentially a hotted up version of the McLaren 12C not the upcoming P15. Just as expected, that 650 in the name stands for the amount of power produced by the engine. Since McLaren is a UK company, they have the power rating of the new 650S rated in Pferdestärke (PS) so the actual U.S. horsepower rating is 640.

The new car features a pretty solid collection of visual upgrades and aerodynamic changes that increase downforce and handling at speed. This isn't a pure power bump either, as the 650S is designed with several bespoke parts and pieces.

Add to that a nearly 210 mph top speed and a 0-to-60mph time of under three seconds, and the 650S is ready to crush the competition.

Updated 04/02/2014: The new McLaren 650S Coupe will be making its North American debut later this month at the 2014 New York Auto Show, but with just days its U.S. debut, McLaren announced prices for the supercar. The new 650S Coupe will be priced from $265,500 and will be offered through 13 U.S. dealers.

Continue to get all the details on the new McLaren 650S Coupe and Spider.

2015 McLaren 650S

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 McLaren 650S
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 640 @ 7250
  • Torque: 500 @ 6000
  • Transmission: 7-Speed Dual Clutch
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Update History

Update 2/17/2014: McLaren has released a ton of information about the 650S, and you can see it all after the jump.

Updated 02/27/2014: McLaren released performance figures for the new 650S sports car before its official debut in Geneva. Find them out after the jump.

Updated 03/17/2014: McLaren unveiled a new video in which product manager Jamie Corstorphine talks about how great the 650S is. Enjoy!

Exterior

The exterior of the 650S is a combination of P1 and 12C. The car itself is instantly recognizable as a 12C, but the front end has been modeled after the new P1 supercar. McLaren claims the new body shape is just as aerodynamically efficient as the 12C, but at 150 mph, downforce has been increased by 24 percent.

The large intakes behind the doors are a sharp contrasting black in the photos, and they feed air to the radiators required to keep the turbo V-8 cool. The new split-spoke wheels are forged and are bespoke to the 650. The tires are also exclusive to the 650S and are branded MC1. They were developed by Pirelli specifically for the 650S.

We don’t have any photos of it yet, but the new 650S will also be unveiled in a Spider version at Geneva. Hard top styling or open roof motoring; the choice is yours.

Length

4512 MM (177.63 inches)

Width

2093 MM (82.40 inches)

Height

1199 MM (47.20 inches)

Wheelbase

2670 MM (105.11 inches)

Track, F/R

1656 MM / 1583 MM (65.2 Inches / 62.3 Inches)

Curb Weight

1,330 KG (2,932 Pounds)


Interior

Don’t expect the interior to change too drastically from the cockpit of the 12C. McLaren hasn’t given us many details about the cabin, but it assures everyone that it won’t be a stripped out box with hard seats and metal floors. It says that the major amenities are intact, so Bluetooth, satellite radio and navigation are all standard equipment.

If you want to save some extra weight, you can choose fixed back racing seats made from carbon fiber. A rear backup camera and carbon-fiber trim work round out the current options list.

Drivetrain and Chassis

The engine of the new 650S is the same M838T turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 that is found in the 12C and the P1. Power had been bumped from the 600PS (591 horsepower) of the 12C to 650PS (640 horsepower). Likewise, the only transmission option is the seven-speed dual clutch found in the rest of the McLaren lineup.

The 0-to-62 mph time takes just three seconds, hitting 124 mph takes 8.4 seconds and 186 mph comes in just 25.4 seconds. The 650S runs the quarter-mile in just 10.5 seconds at 139 mph, and the top speed checks in at 207 mph. McLaren has promised that all performance statistics will be revealed at Geneva.

At the corners, McLaren installed carbon-ceramic discs measuring 394 mm (15.5 inches) up front and 380 mm (15 inches) on the rear. Thanks to these awesome brakes, the 650S takes only 100 feet to stop from 62 mph, 404 feet to stop from 124 mph and 889 feet to stop from 189 mph.

Wrapped around the standard 19-by-8.5-inch wheels up front and 20-by-11-inch wheels out back are Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires.

2014 McLaren 650S - Drivetrain Specifications

Engine

3.8-Liter Turbo V-8

Output (HP @ RPM)

640 @ 7,250

Torque (LB-FT @ RPM)

500 @ 6,000

Transmission

Seven-Speed Dual Clutch}}

0-100 KM/H (62 MPH)

3.0 s

0-200 KM/H (124 MPH)

8.4 s

0-300 KM/H (186 MPH)

25.4 s

0-400 M / 1/4-mile

10.5 @ 224 km/h (139 mph)

100-0 KM/H

30.5 m (100 ft)

200-0 KM/H

123 m (404 ft)

300-0 KM/H

271 m (889 ft)

Top Speed

207 mph


Prices

The new McLaren 650S Coupe is priced at $265,500.

Competitors

Ferrari 458 Speciale

In many ways, this lighter, faster, more powerful version of the 458 Italia is the whole reason the new McLaren 650S exists. McLaren is on a mission to prove at every step that the plucky Brits can dethrone the mighty Italians as the kings of the supercar game.

With almost 600 horsepower and a 0-to-60 time of less than three seconds, the 458 Speciale is going to be a tough act to beat.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse

Just like the 458 Speciale, the Gallardo Squadra Corse is a lighter, more powerful version of its base car. The Squadra Corse is built with the experience gained from the Super Trofeo race car. With only 570 horsepower, the Squadra Corse is a bit of an underperformer in this company.

Conclusion

The McLaren 650S is far from a groundbreaking vehicle, especially in the shadow of the P1, but it does keep the company fresh in the minds of consumers. You can't afford to sit still when you play in the supercar market, and we appreciate McLaren constantly improving, updating and expanding its vehicle offering. It may just be a horsepower bump and some revised styling, but that may be all McLaren needs to stay ahead of the competition.