McLaren 788HS Ends the 720S Era: 788 PS and Only 200 Cars

On July 9, 2026, McLaren unveiled the 788HS, the most powerful and aerodynamically advanced road-legal supercar to grow out of the 720S. The premiere took place on the first day of the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026, which runs from July 9 to 12.

The manufacturer describes the new model as the final evolution of the family that includes the 720S, 765LT and 750S. Production is limited to 200 cars: 100 coupes and 100 Spider roadsters. Pricing and the start of deliveries have not been disclosed at the time of the premiere.

From 720S to 788HS: how the family evolved

The original McLaren 720S made its debut on March 7, 2017 at the Geneva Motor Show. It launched the second generation of the Super Series line and brought the MonoCage II carbon-fiber monocoque, a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and active aerodynamics.

McLaren later released the track-focused 765LT, and on April 25, 2023, introduced the 750S. The latter kept the 720S architecture, but gained lighter components, a revised transmission, updated steering and a 750 PS engine. The main specifications of this model are published by the manufacturer on the official McLaren 750S page.

The 788HS continues this engineering line, but it is not just a regular styling package. McLaren revised the powertrain, suspension, brakes and aerodynamics. The HS badge stands for High Sport. Before this car, the designation had only been used for the MP4-12C HS and MSO HS.

The engine delivers 788 PS, and top speed reaches 330 km/h

At the core of the 788HS remains the M840T engine, a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Its output has been raised to 788 PS, or 580 kW. In the British system, that equals 777 bhp. Peak torque is 800 Nm.

The engine develops peak power at 7,500 rpm and can rev to 8,500 rpm. For the 788HS, engineers changed the engine mount calibration and fitted a new titanium exhaust system with four center-mounted outlets.

According to McLaren, the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, from 0 to 200 km/h in 7.0 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 330 km/h. These figures are manufacturer claims for now and have not yet been confirmed by independent testing.

Aerodynamics is the key difference from the 750S and 765LT

The front end gets a new multi-piece splitter and a hood with an S-Duct channel. Air flows through the duct and is directed over the body, reducing lift on the front axle. At the rear, there is a raised active wing, a panel with ventilation slots and a larger diffuser, developed with motorsport solutions in mind.

All major aerodynamic components are made from carbon fiber. According to the company, the 788HS generates 10% more downforce than the 765LT. McLaren has not yet revealed the absolute downforce figure or the speed at which it is achieved.

The coupe gets a roof scoop. Through McLaren Special Operations, buyers will also be able to order a body with all exterior panels made from exposed carbon fiber, finished in gloss or matte.

Reworked suspension and brakes from the McLaren Senna

The 788HS retains the Proactive Chassis Control III hydraulically linked suspension, but gets its own spring, damper and geometry settings. The front of the body sits 5 mm lower than on the 750S. This change should make the car respond faster to steering inputs, although a full assessment of its behavior will only be possible after road and track testing.

Standard equipment includes carbon-ceramic brake discs developed from McLaren Senna components and six-piston forged aluminum calipers at the front. The 788HS is also the first car in the line that began with the 720S to feature single-center-lock wheels.

Every one of the 200 cars will go through MSO

McLaren will build 100 788HS Coupes and 100 788HS Spiders. Each car will be personalized by McLaren Special Operations, which handles individual colors, materials, trim and special customer requests.

Inside, there is a lighter carbon-fiber center console, special upholstery perforation, embroidered 788HS logos on the headrests and a plaque identifying the limited series. At the same time, the core cabin layout and the steering-column-mounted instrument display will be familiar from the 750S.

What we still do not know about the McLaren 788HS

The official McLaren 788HS page lists the engine, performance, weight and aerodynamic data. However, the company has not yet announced the base price, production and delivery dates, or how the run will be allocated across individual markets.

The 788HS brings to a close the development of a platform introduced more than nine years ago alongside the 720S. Instead of moving to an entirely new design, McLaren has combined the most powerful version of the M840T engine, advanced active aerodynamics, a reworked chassis and a limited production run in one model. That makes the newcomer important not only as another special edition, but also as the final road model in this Super Series branch.