There’s an intensity to the McLaren 750S that’s irresistible. It has so many fantastic ingredients – from the clever hydraulically cross linked dampers to the stunning driving position that places you right at the head of its arrowlike silhouette – but above all it’s the outrageous urgency of the experience that lives long in the memory. Every drive ends with the same thought: “How can this be legal?” Followed quickly by, “Thank God it is”.
So, I’m excited to experience the 750S at full flight again on the Circuito de Navarra. But, rather shockingly, I’m even more excited about the Corvette Z06 configured with the extreme, track focused Z07 package. The spec sheet is mouthwatering all on its own, but the stated inspiration behind this car has tipped me over the edge. I hold the Ferrari 458 Speciale as something truly sacred. A perfect storm of high revving V8, sublime poise and scintillating response. Peak Ferrari – which pretty much means peak car, full stop. The team behind the Z06 agree and it was their muse for this amazing project. Only they wanted to go beyond even the Speciale...
Just like the Ferrari, the Z06 has a normally aspirated flat plane crank V8. Only it’s bigger (5.5 litres vs 4.5), produces more power (670bhp vs 597bhp) and murders it for torque (460lb ft vs 398lb ft). The LT6 Gemini engine is handbuilt and swims against the tide of turbocharged engines. It was developed with lessons learned directly from a stripped down Ferrari engine bought on eBay and delivered from Poland to Detroit. Yes, really. Its very existence warms our souls. And it’s just one element of a car that is dripping with intent and the engineering right stuff.
Esta historia es de la edición November 2024 de BBC TopGear India.
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Esta historia es de la edición November 2024 de BBC TopGear India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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MG COMET
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THOUGHT THIS CAR TO BE COMPLETELY useless when it came out.
BMW i7
WHEN THE i7 PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND PARKED ITSELF next to the Mercedes EQA and the MG Comet, it just struck me that this is how the future will be.
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
McLaren's finest faces off Corvette's nat-asp swansong as the Brits and the Americans square up... in a Spanish playground. Expect fireworks
NEXT LEVEL
Thought the 750S was fast? The McLaren P1's successor - the W1 is ready to spread its wings
MANUAL LABOUR
Two cars from opposite ends of the performance spectrum with one crucial thing in common...
PRO VS SLOW
At last, we have our hands on the Valkyrie. But is its performance only accessible for the pros... or can anyone enjoy it?
THE OUTBURST OF OFFROADING
The high-volume market is a point of interest for all manufacturers here in India.
THE BATTLE OF CRUISER-COMMUTERS
WHO DOES THE BEST COMMUTER WORK WHILE NOT BEING A TRUE COMMUTER MOTORCYCLE?
LEAVING EVERYTHING ON THE TRACK
FT. YMRP ROUND 3 From being second, I DNF'd from the race on the last corner
BEHIND THE BARS,
THE DIFFERENT KIND