McLaren’s 720S family has always been defined by speed with a certain cleanness of purpose, but the new 788HS pushes that idea into more rarefied territory.
Offered as both a Coupe and a Spider, it stands as the final evolution of the line that moved from 720S to 765LT and 750S.
It’s lighter, more powerful and more aerodynamically assertive than the cars that came before it, with production limited to just 200 examples worldwide.
At a glance
- McLaren has revealed the 788HS as the final and most extreme development of the 720S-derived lineage.
- A reworked 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 produces 788 PS and 800 Nm, supported by a more aggressive aero package and a dry weight of 1,265 kg.
- Production is limited to 200 cars globally, split evenly between Coupe and Spider versions.
The 720S family reaches its sharpest point
The 788HS sits at the end of a sequence that began with the 720S and grew more intense through the 765LT and 750S.
Its name reflects the High Sport brief, and the numbers make clear that McLaren hasn’t treated this as a cosmetic farewell edition.
The 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 has been reworked to produce 788 PS, roughly 766 hp, with 800 Nm of torque.
Peak power arrives at 7,500 rpm, while maximum torque is delivered at 5,500 rpm, giving the car a more focused upper-rev character.
Aero hardware with genuine purpose
The most visible change is the aerodynamic package, described as the most aggressive fitted to this platform.
At the front, a multi-zone splitter works with an S-Duct bonnet to manage airflow more assertively.
At the rear, a raised active wing and a Formula 1-inspired diffuser help raise downforce by 10 percent over the 765LT.
That matters because the 765LT was already one of McLaren’s more focused road cars, so a further increase in aero load gives the 788HS a clear dynamic point of difference.
Lightness, sound and limited production
Under the bodywork, the carbon fibre monocoque remains central to the car’s low mass.
McLaren quotes a dry weight of 1,265 kg, helped by lightweight materials throughout the aero package and a stripped-back interior approach.
The result is a power-to-weight figure of 623 PS per tonne, the strongest figure in this particular McLaren family.
A quad-exit titanium exhaust also joins the package, saving weight while giving the V8 a harder voice as the revs climb.
McLaren will build 200 examples of the 788HS worldwide, with 100 Coupes and 100 Spiders planned.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | McLaren |
|---|---|
| Model | 788HS High Sport |
| Body styles | Coupe and Spider |
| Engine | 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 |
| Power | 788 PS, approximately 766 hp |
| Torque | 800 Nm, 590 lb ft |
| Peak power | 7,500 rpm |
| Peak torque | 5,500 rpm |
| Dry weight | 1,265 kg |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 623 PS per tonne |
| Aerodynamics | Multi-zone front splitter, S-Duct bonnet, raised active rear wing, Formula 1-inspired diffuser |
| Downforce | 10 percent increase over the 765LT |
| Exhaust | Quad-exit titanium system |
| Production | 200 examples worldwide, split evenly between Coupe and Spider |
The 788HS looks less like an anniversary flourish and more like McLaren tightening every part of a familiar formula one last time.
For collectors who value the 720S family’s blend of carbon construction, V8 urgency and aerodynamic clarity, this is the closing chapter with the wick turned all the way up.
