The 2021 McLaren 620R is the range-topping version of the Sports Series, the company's entry-level lineage of sports cars. Essentially a road-legal version of the 570S GT4, the 2021 620R slots above the 600LT. Design-wise, the 2021 620R is almost identical to the 570S GT4. It also features the same engine, but because it's not restricted by racing regulations, the V-8 boasts more power.

Rated at 610 horsepower, the 2021 620R is the most powerful Sports Series vehicle ever created. It's also the quickest, but it lags behind its siblings when it comes to top speed. With production limited to 350 units, the 2021 McLaren 620R costs almost $300,000. Let's find out more about this supercar in the review below.

Exterior

Save for the racing livery, of course. In the front, we can see the same race-spec upgrades over the standard 570S.

Just like the 570S GT4, the 620R features a redesigned bumper with a one-piece splitter, curved winglets on each of the fascia, and a larger intake under the nose.

The latter features a fine mesh. We can also see a fabric tow loop (instead of the race car's conventional hook). The carbon fiber front hood even features the same nostrils as the race car, although they seem a tad smaller. The only notable features from the 570S GT4 that disappeared here ar the quick-release pins for the hood. A race-specific feature, quick-release pins wouldn't make sense on a road car anyway.

Just like on the race car, downforce at the front of the car is further enhanced by dive planes that create vortices of low-pressure air at track level. They also help accelerate airflow along the car’s sides, while improving cooling for the braking system. The dive planes contribute with up to 66 pounds of downforce to the total 143 pounds delivered by the front aero package.

The profile of the 620R is again identical to 570S GT4, save for the wheels. The road car features the same sharp side skirts, enlarged door intakes that feed air into the engine, and the same lowered ride height.

The same goes for the rear end, where only the license plate number and light on the wing set the 620R apart from the 570S GT. The brake light was added to turn the massive race-spec wing into a road-legal element, so the 620R features the same aero piece as the 570S GT.

But while the race car features a three-way adjustable wing, the 620R comes with the wing set to its least aggressive angle, which returns an optimized balance between the front and the rear for road driving. If you want a more aggressive angle for track driving, you can have the wing modified at a McLaren dealer. In its most aggressive setup, the wing generates up to 408 pounds of extra downforce.

If you live in North America, you can specify the 620R with a special MSO upgrade package that features a gloss finish Visual Carbon Fiber roof with a roof scoop, and MSO Defined gloss finish carbon-fiber roof cantrails. This package comes at no additional cost.

Interior

For instance, the GT4 features an exposed floor section up front that is probably covered in the 620R. The same goes for the center stack, which should come from the regular 570S. On the other hand, we can see from some photos that the 620R is equipped with a race-spec roll cage for increased safety at the track. The sports car should also feature race-spec seats made from carbon-fiber.

The dashboard should also look more like the regular 570S, with more features and more options for trim. The door panels should also look a bit different, although McLaren probably retained the lightweight design and the fabric pull loops. The only bit of information we have so far is that North American models can be equipped with the optional McLaren Track Telemetry system with lap time function and the cameras to record track moments at no extra cost.

Drivetrain

Thanks to race-spec upgrades that McLaren designed for the 570S GT4, as well as the fact that the 620R is free from racing regulations, this coupe cranks out more oomph than its track-only counterpart.

That's 48 horses and 14 pound-feet more than the regular 570S. Amazingly enough, the 620R packs more punch than the 600LT too, which is rated at 592 horsepower and 457 pound-feet. While torque is similar, the 620R benefits from an extra 18 horsepower. This makes it the most powerful model in the Sports Series lineup.

The extra oomph also makes it the quickest of the bunch. With a 0-to-60 mph sprint of 2.8 seconds, the 620R is four-tenths quicker than the 570S and a tenth-second faster than the 600LT. The 620R is also the quickest to 124 mph, hitting the benchmark in 8.1 seconds. That's 1.4 seconds quicker than the 570S and a tenth-second quicker than the 600LT. Impressive!

When it comes to top speed though, the 620R falls behind its siblings. Due to its aggressive aerodynamic package, the sports car tops out at 200 mph, which is four mph below both the 570S and the 600LT, rated at 204 mph.

The extra power is backed by a series of race-spec upgrades retained from the 570S GT4. The 620R also features the two-way manually adjustable coilover motorsport dampers, lightweight aluminum wishbones, and stiffer anti-roll bars. These help improve agility on the track, but also shave more than 13 pounds off the regular 570S.

Stopping power is of the high-performance variety as well, as McLaren fitted carbon-ceramic discs and aluminum brake calipers at all four corners. Carbon-ceramic discs are more durable to fade than steel brakes and are also lighter. McLaren claims that they also improve pedal response. Power is transferred to the ground through Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R semi-slick tires, which comes standard. Optionally, you can buy full-slick tires for track use.

Pricing

Like most range-topping McLarens, the 620R is not only exclusive, but expensive as well. This model is limited to only 350 units and pricing starts from a whopping $299,000. This sticker makes it the most expensive version of the Sports Series lineup. The 620R costs around $50,000 more than the 570S GT4 race cars, $50,000 more than the 600LT, and around $100,000 more than the regular 570S. It also costs as much as the 720S, which retails from around $300,000 in the United States. As usual, McLaren will offer a handful of expensive options that could increase the bill to at least $350,000.

Competition

Lamborghini Huracan Performance

The Huracan Performance is a track-ready version of the Huracan. And just like the 620R, it borrows features from the race-spec Huracan that Lambo races in various competitions. Notably more aggressive on the outside, the Performance features an active aerodynamic system and extra carbon-fiber and other lightweight elements. It boasts a massive rear wing and a sporty diffuser and also rides on a stiffer suspension. Impressively enough, the Performante's active aero system provides 750% percent more downforce than the standard Huracan. Power comes from the already iconic 5.2-liter V-10 engine, so you'll enjoy naturally-aspirated power in this one. The mill cranks out 631 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque and pushes the Performance from 0 to 60 mph in only 2.8 seconds. So it's only marginally more powerful than the 620R, but just as quick. Its top speed, however, is superior at 218 mph. The Huracan Performance is also a tad more affordable than the McLaren 620R, priced from $274,390.

Read our full review of the [Lamborghini Huracan Performante.

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Ferrari F8 Tributo

The F8 Tributo isn't marketed as a track-ready car, but it's actually an evolution of the 488 Pista, a track-ready variant of the 488 GTB. Sure, it doesn't have a big wing in the rear, but every other aero element suggests professional racing. Unlike the Huracan, the F8 Tributo is twin-turbocharged, just like the McLaren. Power comes from the 3.9-liter V-8 unit from the Ferrari 488 Pista, rated at 710 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. That's significantly more than the 620R, but the extra oomph doesn't make it quicker. The F8 Tributo hits 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, just as fast as the other cars in this comparison. The Italian coupe tops out at 211 mph, 11 mph more than the McLaren 620R. The F5 Tributo is also a bit more affordable than the 620R, coming in at around $280,000 before options.

Read our full story on the [Ferrari F8 Tributo.

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Final Thoughts

McLaren claims that the 620R "handles like a race car, performs like a race car and feels like a race car." These are mighty big claims, but given the race-spec parts borrowed from the 570S GT4, I'm pretty sure it's more than just PR talk and that the 620R would actually stand a change against the GT4 car in a race.

The 620R is one of the most extreme cars McLaren created so far and, impressively enough, it's almost as quick as the old 675LT or the newer 720S, a couple of supercars that compete in a superior segment. The 620R is also some sort of a premiere for McLaren, which has yet to add a similar track-ready supercar to its Super Series lineup. I'm not talking about Long Tail models, but versions placed above that and inspired by race-spec McLarens. Like a road-legal version of the 720S GT3. But maybe the 620R is here to set a new benchmark and announce a more aggressive version of the 720S.