4 Things I Learned After 'Daily Driving' A McLaren 720S

If you fired up YouTube a couple of weeks ago, you’ll have seen multiple McLaren 720S videos from the likes of Autocar and Auto Express, Seen Through Glass, Mr. JWW, Supercars Of London and Seb Delaney. We also compounded matters with our own video of the car, and on the whole, reactions to the new Super Series supercar were positive (especially for those who enjoyed track time).

But because of a poorly timed motorbike race at the Vallelunga Circuit last Saturday, my experience with the McLaren 720S was limited to the broken roads around Rome, along with the equally broken driving skills of the locals. And while I’m disappointed not to have been able to explore even 50 per cent of the supercar’s abilities, it’s probably no bad thing - after all, the majority of 720S models will probably never set foot on track, so my few hours of real-world, daily driving are what a lot of 720S owners will usually experience. So with that in mind, here’s what the 720S is like to live with:

It's actually really comfortable

Big points are awarded to the 720S here. It’s arguably the best-suited supercar to town driving thanks to great all-round visibility because of the car’s carbonfibre Monocage II that’s allowed the interior to become less cramped. The Monocage is also strong enough for McLaren to endow the roof with thinner pillars, as well as allowing for glass to be used in the C-Pillars. The dashboard also sits nice and low, so even kids in booster seats will enjoy a great view. Or short people like me…

The trick suspension (including dampers with three settings - Comfort, Sport and Track) gives the 720S a wonderfully smooth and compliant ride, but one thing I will say to potential owners not focusing on track driving is to avoid the optional bucket seats which aren’t particularly comfortable. And plus, the standard seats are beautiful and supportive anyway.

Practicality is another 720S strength

Again, top marks go to the 720S. The frunk is large enough to store a fire extinguisher, mobile phone, apple and a small human, while the rear shelf behind the seats can easily carry a tripod and a couple of bags.

Thanks to the new Monocage 2, the sides of the carbonfibre tub are also lower for easier access into and out of the cabin, while the steering wheel has great adjustability to meet anyone’s needs. The thin pillars and extensive use of glass I mentioned before also makes parking and changing lanes surprisingly stress free. Oh, and thanks to a button on the dashboard, you can also considerably raise the ride height for aggressive speed bumps to save the splitter or to better get you up a steep drive without scraping.

It's fast. Obviously

Without track time (although as I’m writing this, McLaren has invited me to try the car on track - result!), I’m not in a great position to comment on the 720S’s potential for braking, grip and acceleration. On paper, however, what I can tell you is that the 720S will hit 62mph from standing in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of 212mph. The supercar also features carbon ceramic brakes and Pirelli P Zeros tyres as standard, meaning that braking is savage when you jump on the left pedal.

In the engine bay, the firepower has been unlocked thanks to a 710bhp/568lb ft 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 (it’s 41 per cent new and bigger than the previous 3.8-litre variant) that’s even bathed in its own light to show off the engineers’ handiwork.

In terms of daily driving, these things add up to a car that’s more capable and faster than you’d ever need, but out on track they give the 720S the kind of performance that allows it to nip at the heels of the mighty P1. Out on the road, the 720S is predictably fast. Too fast, given the fact that in second gear you’ve already lost your license while slowing the Earth’s rotation in the process.

How does it make you feel?

Driving, or even looking at a supercar should be a special event. It should stick in your memory, and you should think about that very moment last thing at night and first thing in the morning. When you eat your breakfast you should conjure up clever ways of making enough money to be able to afford one, including the realisation that if everyone in London gave you 0.025 of a single penny you’d be able to buy one outright. And imagine is any one of those people were to donate an entire penny….You’d personally thank every one of those 10,000,000 people I’m sure.

So did my time with the 720S make me dream up such far-fetched, money-making ideas? Until I get my shot on track to see what the supercar is really made of, I’ll have to throw caution to the wind and say possibly not. Yes, I love the look of the 720S, and yes, it’s one of the fastest, most capable cars I’ve ever set foot in, but it didn’t turn me into a quivering wreck, unable to string a sentence together and in desperate need of a change of pants and a cigarette.

Again, driving a car like this on public roads means you can’t possibly understand it, so until that happens (soon), I’ll have to hold off and say ‘to be confirmed’. As a supercar you can daily, however, it’s probably the best option currently on sale.