A Quick Review of Vietnam’s One-of-a-Kind McLaren 750S: The First Super Car with a Personal Touch.

A story of a millionaire in Ho Chi Minh City who spent over VND 26 billion on the first-ever McLaren 750S in the S-shaped land has sparked great interest from car enthusiasts and netizens alike, both domestically and internationally. This is a rare case of a customer opting for a personalized official car.

To learn more about the first-ever McLaren 750S in Vietnam, we invite you to check out our quick review of the McLaren 750S: The first super car personalized by its owner in Vietnam.

Exterior Design

The McLaren 750S is the successor to the 720S and is expected to be the last model of McLaren Automotive to be equipped with an internal combustion engine. Essentially an upgraded version of the 720S, it features a redesigned front and rear.

Thus, only a true enthusiast would spot the subtle differences. Firstly, the British supercar manufacturer has made modifications to the 750S’ front end, including a redesigned, lower bumper, narrower air intakes compared to its predecessor, and specially adjusted openings in the headlight sockets to improve the gearbox and cooling airflow.

Additionally, there is a pair of vents on the front wheel arches, and the rear tires are more exposed to reduce pressure in the wheel wells. The most significant change is the rear spoiler, which is larger than that of the 765LT, with a 20% increase in surface area and a weight reduction of 1.6 kg.

Similar to the McLaren 765LT, the active rear spoiler features a cut-out to prevent heat damage and improve rear visibility. Lastly, the new exhaust system on the McLaren 750S is a stark contrast to that of the 720S and 765LT, as is the 765LT badge on the side skirt, indicating that this may be the last McLaren model to feature an internal combustion engine.

These are the characteristics that set the McLaren 750S apart from its predecessors. When signing the contract to purchase the first-ever 750S in Vietnam from the official McLaren dealership in Ho Chi Minh City, the discreet customer took it a step further by requesting a unique color for their car, opting for a chameleon-like shade instead of the standard green, red, or yellow colors.

In simple terms, this chameleon paint job allows the car’s color to shift depending on the viewer’s angle. The customer chose the well-known Cerberus Pearl color code, previously seen on a McLaren Senna owned by Hoang Kim Khanh, a well-known car enthusiast from District 12. However, as Khanh’s car was purchased second-hand, the new 750S owner wanted a fresh paint job from the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) team.

To be fair, the Cerberus Pearl coat on this McLaren 750S is more stunning than that of the McLaren Senna, with richer hues and a full-body paint job that truly makes it stand out. According to a Vietnamese-American, this custom paint job cost him $48,000, or approximately 1.2 billion VND.

To add some contrast to the intricate Cerberus Pearl paint job, certain parts of the car were accented with carbon fiber, including the front air scoop, hood scoop, side air intakes, mirror caps, and the two side gills on the front wheel arches. The roof was also painted gloss black to create a striking visual contrast.

Lastly, the car features a set of dual-tone five-spoke wheels with silver and black accents, providing a clear opposition. The brake calipers are painted in a bright shade of orange, adding a pop of color.

Interior Design

The McLaren 750S is designed to provide its owner with an exceptional driving experience, whether on congested city streets, highways, coastal roads, or mountain passes. It is a car that can be driven every day, all while enjoying its unique features.

Before embarking on a new day with the McLaren 750S, one cannot help but admire the cabin, a true work of art that places you at the center of the action, thanks to the carbon MonoCell. The new 8-inch infotainment system now supports Apple CarPlay, enhancing your entertainment options.

Unfortunately, the Artura’s fixed toolkit feels like a step down, as the drive mode control buttons are now located on the sides of the box instead of the central console stack. However, the hybrid’s infotainment system is fully functional, which is a significant improvement.

Other mechanical changes include a redesigned central exhaust system, larger air intakes, a final drive ratio that is 15% shorter, and a quicker steering ratio. There are various options for seating, from standard to racing buckets, but the Comford seats remain the preferred choice for daily driving or long-distance trips due to their comfortable Nappa leather material, as opposed to the all-carbon racing seats.

Powertrain

According to McLaren, approximately 30% of the components in the McLaren 750S have been updated compared to the 720S, making the new model 30 kg lighter while also boosting its power output.

The McLaren 750S is equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine, just like the 720S, but with a 4% increase in power output. Specifically, the 750S’ engine delivers a maximum power of 740 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and a peak torque of 800 Nm, an improvement over the 710 horsepower of its predecessor.

The McLaren 750S’ engine is mounted longitudinally in the middle of the car and is paired with a 7-speed SSG automatic transmission and a rear-wheel-drive system. As a result, the McLaren 750S Coupe can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds, reaching 200 km/h in 7.2 seconds, and attaining a top speed of 332 km/h.

McLaren’s supercars have always been a popular choice for both long-distance and track driving, and the 750S is no exception. By addressing the shortcomings of its predecessors, the 750S offers improved balance and clearer communication with the driver, thanks to its simple yet effective architecture.

The new McLaren supercar showcases the impressive advancements made by both internal and external hybrid models, although they are ultimately held back by their weight and complexity. The 750S, with its simple yet powerful performance, may not be as revolutionary as the 650S or 720S, but it is undoubtedly special in its own right.