McLaren Unveils the Road-Legal Racing Car, the 620R

McLaren 620R | McLaren 620R

The 620R: A Limited Edition Road-Legal Racing Car

McLaren Automotive has unveiled the "620R," a coupe that achieves racing car specifications while remaining road-legal. Production will be limited to 350 units.

Text by YANAKA Tomomi

The Most Powerful Sports Series Model Yet

The "620R," a coupe derived from a racing car, makes its debut in a limited run of 350 units. It is based on the "570S GT4," a GT racing car that debuted in 2017 and has achieved numerous victories in various races.

The powertrain features the same M383TE 3.8-liter V8 twin-turbo engine as the GT4. However, with no regulatory restrictions, the maximum output has been significantly increased. By retuning the engine's ECU and turbocharger management, it achieves 620ps, the highest output for a Sports Series model. Torque is also rated at 620Nm, with a top speed of 322 km/h, 0-100 km/h acceleration in 2.9 seconds, and 0-200 km/h acceleration in 8.1 seconds.

The transmission is a 7-speed Seamless Shift Gearbox (SSG) for faster gear changes. Furthermore, in Track mode, McLaren's inertial push technology increases flywheel kinetic energy, resulting in higher torque during upshifts.

On the road, when the driver selects Sport mode, the crackle from the exhaust, created by momentarily cutting ignition spark during gear shifts, can be heard.

The dampers are GT4-spec motorsport coilover units. These dampers offer two manual adjustment settings, allowing for 32 levels of damping force per corner. This enables drivers to customize the compression and rebound ratios to suit their driving style and track conditions.

At the core of the braking system is McLaren's latest lightweight setup, featuring large-diameter carbon-ceramic discs and forged aluminum brake calipers. This system enhances pedal response, modularity, and fade resistance, even after repeated hard driving on the track.

Additionally, full-slick motorsport tires are available as an option. McLaren claims this is the first time a car can be driven on slick tires without mechanical adjustments, transitioning from road tires to track-ready slicks.

The exterior is equipped with the same carbon fiber rear wing as the GT4, while the front bumper, splitter, and bonnet have been redesigned to meet road homologation standards.

The interior features ultra-lightweight carbon fiber racing seats. A six-point harness is also standard, creating a cockpit that is clearly oriented towards the track. A dedicated plaque with the car's serial number is mounted on the center console.

The 620R also offers various customization options, such as brake caliper colors. Production is limited to 350 units, with prices in Japan expected to start from 37.5 million yen.