McLaren releases limited-edition 650S Can-Am (Photo)

McLaren is celebrating 50 years since the inaugural season of the Can-Am series with the new limited-production McLaren 650S Can-Am road car based on the 650S Spider.

It pays tribute to five decades of the Can-Am motorsports series, which brought about racing greats such as Graham Hill, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart and Bruce McLaren – the man that started it all. The 650S Can-Am is a close rendition to the Can-Am race cars back in the day.

As opposed to aluminium and mallite which was used in Can-Am racers of yesteryear, the McLaren 650S Can-Am features extensive use of carbon fibre. Applied to its MonoCell chassis, while elsewhere, the material is used for its retractable hard top, bonnet, airbrake, front splitter, rear bumper’s mid section door blades and its 650S Can-Am branded sill cover.

It wears a set of five-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheels akin to those found on 1960s Can-Am cars. Fashioned with a gloss-black finish and locked in with titanium bolts, it is wrapped with Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. Standard on the limited edition are carbon ceramic brakes and black calipers.

Elsewhere, the inspiration continues as it features a carbon fibre louvered front wing, which works to reduce pressure over the front wheels and give the vehicle added downforce. Also, a new polished stainless steel quad-exhaust system that sticks out of the carbon fibre rear grille, said to give the car a powerful note.

Under the carbon fibre hood, sits the same 3.8 litre V8 twin-turbo mill that makes 650 hp and 678 Nm of torque. Hence, once can expect that the limited edition will still do 0-100 km/h in three seconds flat while its top speed also stays the same at 329 km/h.

Interior-wise, the seats are wrapped in leather and Alcantara, while one can expect to find more carbon-fibre throughout. In addition to that, a unique Can-Am plaque has been fitted onto the driver’s door.

Colour options include Mars Red a paint scheme used by the M1B racer that Bruce McLaren and teammate Chris Amon debuted in. Papaya Spark, a metallic take on the Can-Am racing McLaren orange while Onyx Black, the colour that is found on McLaren customer teams in later seasons.

Agencies/Canadajournal