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McLaren 750S review – a match for the Ferrari 296 GTB? | evo REVIEWS
Aug 13, 2025
Taking the best technical components from the 765LT, McLaren has created a V8-engined supercar that can be considered not only one of the best of its time, but the best of all time. Jethro Bovingdon gets behind the wheel on the road and track. Subscribe for evo’s latest performance car reviews, head-to-heads and track tests: https://bit.ly/3Ommfyv Read our McLaren 750S review: https://www.evo.co.uk/mclaren/750s/206302/mclaren-750s-2023-review-v8-supercar-primed-to-take-on-ferraris-296-gtb And follow us on our social channels at: https://twitter.com/evomagazine https://www.facebook.com/evomagazine https://www.instagram.com/officialevomagazine/ https://www.tiktok.com/@evomagazine?
View Video Transcript
0:00
this is the mclaren 750s and for once i don't have to talk to you about hybrid power and battery packs
0:28
and all that other stuff. This is a 720S with more. 30 horsepower more, 30 newton meters more
0:34
and 30 kilos lighter. I love the 720S. So today all we have to discover at this amazing track
0:41
is whether McLaren have made a brilliant car even better. We'll get back to Estoril in Portugal in just a minute but first a recap of why the 720S is such
0:52
a difficult act to follow. For me, its real appeal, quite aside from the spaceship looks and
0:57
straight line performance, is how it seems to do everything. There's phenomenal usability
1:03
full-on supercar drama, and when you look for it, real edge to the experience too
1:09
Think of it as buying a 911 Turbo and getting a GT2 RS thrown in for free
1:13
The 720S has so many bases covered. The idea with the 750S was to stretch that capability still
1:21
further pushing at the top end right towards the 765LT levels that is a big ask. Okay so I've had
1:30
a little go in the 750S already we're at Estoril which is brilliantly ramshackle really cool place
1:37
but it was damp when I was out so I was on a P0 standard tyre then they put me on a Trofeo just
1:46
to try it but it was pretty marginal for those tires so now it's warmed up I've got a new set of
1:56
Trofeos so I'll try and give you some live impressions fourth gear wheels a bit
2:02
I've got the settings on track track because I'm not a and I've got the variable
2:13
drift control set on 12 out of 14 or 15 I think And yeah already I love that they now offer a proper tyre on it
2:28
Always wanted to try a 720S on a proper tyre, but you felt like they were almost protecting
2:33
the other cars by not allowing that. So first off, so much torque, so much performance
2:44
which is as before. You don't need second for these so much torque
2:53
You can hear the wheel spin. You don't have the new diff that you get in the Artura
3:01
I've never had a problem with the McLaren open diff brake steer
3:08
I quite like it and you can probably see how easy it is on the limit
3:14
Just a bit of turning over still, which you get with the track, track mode, the stiffer suspension
3:20
Ah, man, it's quick. The torque at the top end as well
3:25
Wow. So let's just quickly cover what's new here. Yes, it's lighter and more powerful, but there is more
3:32
The steering, already a strong point on any McLaren, is revised. There's a faster steering rack and a little bit more weight to the feeling of it too
3:41
The settings for the trick cross-link dampers have been changed. and the spring rate is actually slightly softer at the front and stiffer at the rear
3:47
to change the balance and make it more neutral. For that crazy 765LT-style acceleration, it adopts the hardcore car's shorter final drive
3:57
the brake system is uprated, plus the car benefits from the new Artura-style dash
4:02
To be honest, I miss the old-style dash with its sci-fi folding instrument binnacle
4:07
and whilst I get the advantages of the placement of the rocker switches for powertrain and handling modes
4:12
the buttons themselves feel a bit cheap and insubstantial. A little gripe that, hey, nitpicking is part of the game at this level
4:20
The car feels friendly. Just a spike. You can probably hear that it's just on the edge
4:31
Yeah. Of wheelspin. So much before the month I will say I drove the eSport earlier and I found the gear shift
4:44
They've added some kick to it and I didn't actually like it that much in the damp
4:55
But it feels lovely and positive and smooth in track. and p and l it's still a handful when you want it to be that's what i like
5:05
bit of understeer through the quick corner then you let it go yes top end
5:16
i know some people don't get my parents but jeez It's so exciting to drive
5:26
I don't get it. How you don't like them? So much performance
5:32
I'd say there's a bit more feeling that the car's just a bit more tied down than the 720S
5:40
A bit more locked down generally. A bit more weight to the steering
5:46
A little bit more front end buy. More torque definitely. brake feel is a little bit firmer some people really don't like mclaren's longer brake pedal
5:56
i really like it because it allows you to really modulate the car
6:00
these are a little bit firmer but still retain that ability yeah love the balance actually you can feel the difference when you left the brake a bit more
6:15
okay this thing oh man you could just hustle the car we can lose the traction control completely in a minute but let's
6:28
briefly talk about the road where i tried the 750s spider firstly the usability is retained the ride
6:34
remains really nice the driving position is just gorgeous and the added weight to the steering and
6:40
slightly more locked down feel, don't veer too far towards the much harsher 765LT
6:48
Sport mode attempts to add plenty of drama with throttle cut cracks on upshifts and downshifts and overall the car is a bit of a riot The engine is strange in that in delivery it has so much character and a wicked feral top end but the noise is lacking true sparkle but mostly as a
7:06
road car it feels light, lithe and massively potent. A Ferrari 296 GTB is sharper still and finally
7:13
that lack of a limited slip diff does show up just from time to time but honestly very little can live
7:20
The 750s, it is mighty. OK, so this is a bit of a quick and dirty video, but thoughts..
7:27
I don't think I'm just going to say the predictable... They've put it somewhere between a 720 and a 765
7:39
because it feels like its own thing. Definitely got some of that 765 edge
7:44
but it feels a bit more accessible somehow. I don't want my 750 horsepower car to be too easy to drive
7:57
So you need the edge. This has that. It's just a wicked thing
8:02
I love the lightness and the controllability. Doesn't feel as manic as the Ferrari 296
8:11
So much power. Yeah, supercars are about how they make you feel
8:16
There's so much engineering that goes into these things. Mostly, you just want it to be invisible, to feel like you can get stuck into the car
8:26
And it definitely gives you that. It's proper. So good, the balance
8:32
Yeah, this is mega. What else do you need to know
8:51
So there's a quick review of the 750s. Manic yet accessible, usable, but completely outrageous when you want it to be
8:58
and genuinely lightweight, with all the benefits that brings. It is a hell of a car, and much, much cheaper than the Ferrari 296 GTB
9:08
I'd say that is job done
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