When McLaren Unveiled the 600LT in 2018, they said it was not a car for the faint-hearted. It was their sports cars and coupe supercar benchmark that was more of a road-legal track-day supercar. McLaren expanded their sports Series with the McLaren 600LT Spider, unveiled the following year as a convertible model alternative to the 600LT, and it wasn't any different despite adding an extra few pounds due to the convertible top. The McLaren 600LT Spider contains unaltered McLaren Longtail DNA; hence, it offers consistent driving dynamics, performance, aerodynamics, driver engagement, and handling like the 600LT. Also, McLaren didn't have to add extra chassis, body strengthening, or reinforcement due to the convertible roof. Aerodynamics also remain unchanged, and with an open roof, the 600LT Spider can do 204 mph flat out, similar to the 600LT's top speed. Production of the 600LT Spider came to a halt in 2020 after a year of ranking high amongst the most engaging and thrilling cars to drive. The convertible top made it better than the 600LT as a few things come close to the feeling of speed you get with an open roof, even when driving at low speeds. How much is a McLaren 600LT Spider? One of McLaren's Longtail ethos is limited availability, so they only made around 500 units during the car's year-long production run. Still, prices are holding steady, with most units being listed for about $240,000, which is an approachable price. When new, buyers had to part with a starting price of $256,500, so there's no need to wait to get a McLaren 600LT Spider, hoping prices will go down quicker.
Built as a convertible version of the 600LT, the McLaren 600LT Spider doesn't lose the McLaren Longtail ethos of increased power, reduced weight, optimized aerodynamics, and absolute driver engagement. Additionally, track-focused dynamics are a core factor in the McLaren 600LT Spider's design as, just like the 600LT and Longtail predecessors, it was meant to push performance and driving to the absolute edge. McLaren introduced the 600LT Spider as their Sports Series' second convertible model after the 570S Spider. Despite both cars having almost similar platforms, the 600LT spider is more hardcore and features extensive upgrades such as a power bump, which enables the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 to make nearly 600 horsepower. One of the most unique design aspects of the McLaren 600LT Spider is that McLaren didn't have to adjust the body and chassis to accommodate the roof compartment. This retains the car's aerodynamic body without adding much weight since the 600LT Spider only weighs 110 pounds more than the 600LT coupe. Besides the roof, weight-saving measures in the 600LT Spider were also implemented extensively in the bodywork, suspension, and braking system. The bodywork mainly consists of carbon fiber, and the lightweight suspension and braking system are taken from the 720S. A package from MSO (McLaren Special Operations) makes the 600LT spider even lighter by adding a carbon fiber roof and front fender louvers.
Picture yourself behind the wheel of a McLaren 600LT, but in this case, the 600LT Spider with the roof down on a warm sunny day cruising down the highway or the coastline. At the back, a 592-horsepower engine beckons you to demand more from it as you feel air gushing above your head. There's no greater feeling in cars than this, which is one of the reasons you should buy a McLaren 600LT Spider. Convertibles are known to add a few hundred pounds to the car and thus lose some 0-60 times, but that's not the case with the McLaren 600LT Spider. It's just as fast to 60 mph as the McLaren 600LT coupe at 2.9 seconds, and if that's not convincing enough, the McLaren 600LT Spider has the same 204-mph top speed. The only loss the McLaren 600LT spider has is that it takes 0.2 seconds more than the 600LT from 0 to 124mph. How did McLaren make the McLaren 600LT Spider as good as the Coupe? You'd expect a fabric top to save as much weight as the hardtop on the 600LT Spider, but McLaren used a lightweight SMC material that only added 110 pounds to the car's weight. The hardtop also maintains the structural rigidity and aerodynamics of the 600LT coupe.
Hidden underneath the McLaren 600LT Spider's stunning silhouette sits a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine sending 592 horsepower to the rear wheels via a 7-speed McLaren-specific dual-clutch transmission. The engine is the same one McLaren used in the 540 and 570S but with upgrades, most notably the shorter titanium top exit exhaust, which reduces back pressure. Like other sports cars in the McLaren Sports Series, the McLaren 600LT Spider sits on a full carbon MonoCell II chassis designed to be as lightweight as possible. McLaren took lightweight measures even further by giving the 600LT Spider an aluminum double wishbone suspension with stiffer anti-roll bars that help deliver dynamic driving precision, excellent driver engagement, and enhanced driver feedback. Stopping power had to be enhanced in the 600LT spider, and as a result, lightweight carbon ceramic brakes were used as standard. The brakes are specified for on-road and track braking precision, amplifying McLaren's statement of the 600LT, a road-legal track-day supercar.
The McLaren 600LT Spider's design retains the precision that the 600LT coupe has, most notably the unique top exit exhausts that work with the roof compartment cover and fixed rear wing. Speaking of the wing, it sits higher than the one on the 570S Spider to enhance airflow over the back end, thus achieving better aerodynamics and downforce. Going down to the taillights, full carbon rear bumper, and diffuser, the McLaren 600LT spider has an aggressive rear-end look that complements the car's wide stance and low profile. The McLaren 600LT Spider sits closer to the ground than the 570S Spider and 570GT and has a wider front end due to the 10mm wider track, improving high-speed stability and low-speed agility. Still at the front, the front bumper, made of full carbon, has wider vents and a larger diffuser to control airflow more effectively, smoothening air over the front end to the carbon air intakes that run from the doors to the rear quarter panels. The air intakes on the McLaren 600LT and 600LT Spider are widened by 15mm to meet the cooling demands of the engine's increased power output.
McLaren aimed to make the 600LT Spider as lightweight as possible, so they stripped the interior of its non-essentials. Still, they managed to keep it comfortable with a race car ambiance by using high-end lightweight elements such as carbon fiber and special lightweight Alcantara instead of leather. As standard, buyers got full carbon fiber racing seats from the McLaren P1 with Alcantara padding, saving more weight than the optional comfort seats. The carbon seats have zero adjustability, but they are comfortable for track days since you'll need extra lower body and shoulder support in those first corners. If you'd consider more comfortable seats, you might have to go the aftermarket way since most buyers went for the full carbon McLaren P1 seats when buying a McLaren 600LT or 600LT Spider. Also, there's no floor padding in the footwells and underneath the seats, which adds to the 110-pound weight-saving measures that McLaren implemented to save weight on the 600LT and 600LT Spider.
When McLaren was determining which features to get rid of in the McLaren 600LT and 600LT Spider, they added air conditioning and navigation to the list, some of the features a car can't lack. However, buyers could opt to have them included and integrated into the 7-inch infotainment display that beautifully graces the dashboard's center and appears floating above the center console. In-cabin entertainment is provided via a 4-speaker McLaren sound system, but buyers had more premium sound system options, including a 12-speaker Bowers and Wilkins sound system. Safety features and Driver and usability assists are plentiful in the McLaren 600LT spider. These include but are not limited to a backup camera, front and rear parking sensors, ABS, traction control, occupancy sensors, and driver and passenger airbags. Due to its simple operating mechanism, the roof in the McLaren 600LT Spider retracts in just 15 seconds and takes the same amount of time to close. Additionally, it can be operated at speeds of up to 25 mph. Behind the seats, a wind deflector can be raised to reduce buffering and improve ventilation. But when it's down, you get to hear the titanium exhaust behind your head better, which is one of the advantages of driving a McLaren 600LT Spider over a 600LT Coupe.
The McLaren 600LT Spider, just like the 600LT Coupe, brings a race car driving experience to the road. It's more of a road-legal track car that defies the limits of how a fast road-going sports car should be. To achieve the McLaren 600LT Spider's full potential, plan a road trip with several track stops, pack some bags, and hit the open road. You are guaranteed a thrilling road driving experience as you journey through highways and into the sunset, especially with the roof down and breaking necks at every stop with masses turning back to admire the beauty of the McLaren 600LT Spider. How much is a McLaren 600LT Spider? $240,000 will get you a clean McLaren 600LT Spider since most average around that price. However, getting one for as low as $200,000 and as high as $270,000 is possible, especially if it has some exceptional factory options. If you are currently in the market for a McLaren 600LT Spider, you can buy one on Exotic Car Trader. Be sure to watch out for our McLaren 600LT Spider listings, and you might find a spec that matches your taste. Also, if you have a taste for McLarens, check out our McLaren listings.
The McLaren 600LT Spider brings a new dimension of excitement over the 600LT Coupe with the addition of a convertible roof that doesn't compromise driving dynamics, aerodynamics, and, most importantly, the car's goal, bringing track performance to the road. From its lightweight construction to its aerodynamic design, the McLaren 600LT Spider is crafted to deliver an unrivaled driving experience than most sports cars in its class, beckoning you to dare to reach its limits.
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