The 2021 McLaren 765LT is an ultra-high-performance sports car that is based on the already impressive McLaren 720S. Like other McLarens with the LT moniker, the 765LT is more track-focused, gaining some performance enhancements from the top-of-the-line McLaren Senna. It's also notable for what it doesn't have. Thanks to the use of lighter transmission materials, thinner glass or polycarbonate and a titanium exhaust, it only weighs 2,952 pounds (176 pounds lighter than the 720S) — about the same as a Toyota Corolla, but with more than five times the power output.
2021 McLaren 765LT





Total MSRP | $366,200 |
---|---|
Edmunds suggests you pay | $366,200 |
- 2021
2021 McLaren 765LT Review

- Blistering speed
- Otherworldly handling and braking performance
- Dozens of custom features and details
- Harsh ride quality
- Lacks common conveniences and driver aids
- Extraordinarily loud
- The 765LT is an all-new model
- Amped-up version of the 720S
- Limited production of 765 units
- Kicks off the first 765LT generation introduced for 2021
Threading the needle between street-legal and closed course-only, the 2021 McLaren 765LT is a more extreme, track-oriented version of the automaker's 720S supercar. How much more extreme? It's nearly 200 pounds lighter, and it has a lower, wider front end, stiffer suspension and 25% more aerodynamic downforce for even more surgical handling performance. And, just for good measure, it makes 45 more horsepower, too.
If you're keeping score, that's 755 hp in a package that weighs about the same as a compact economy car — even less if you opt for every available piece of carbon fiber, such as seat shells that weigh just 7.5 pounds each. McLaren's obsessive pursuit of weight savings, perhaps rivaled only by fellow British carmaker Lotus, sees unnecessary grams everywhere. Hence, the 765LT comes with no carpet, no radio, no air conditioning, and only lightweight suede upholstery to separate you from bare metal, plastic and composites.
Anything that can be carbon fiber is carbon fiber, even the license plate frame. If it isn't carbon fiber — such as the standard aluminum hood, doors and bumpers — it's probably available as an option. The result is a featherweight car with astonishing power and grip but also a bone-rattling ride quality and omnipresent vibration. At idle, it reverberates like a reciprocating saw and smooths out slightly as the engine speed increases. The mechanical growl doesn't sound particularly inspiring until you apply some sustained pressure on the gas pedal, at which point it sounds like an angry robotic bear at full howl.
The 765LT's price and exclusivity (only 765 will be made) place it in a category of near-unobtanium. Yet it's not the best car for buyers looking to project wealth or status, even if you have an on-call chiropractor. Unless you're a racing enthusiast familiar with the sacrifices of comfort for performance, there are similarly capable alternatives still docile enough for daily driving. The McLaren 720S is an obvious choice, but the Lamborghini Huracan, Ferrari F8 Tributo and Porsche 911 GT3 are also sublime performance machines that don't forsake common comforts like heated seats, smartphone integration or basic driver safety aids.
But physics are physics, and those added comforts do come at the cost of uncompromised acceleration, braking and handling, areas where the 765LT is arguably unrivaled as a road-legal performance car.
Which 765LT does Edmunds recommend?
McLaren 765LT models
The McLaren 765LT starts with a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, mounted behind the seats, generating 755 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Power passes through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission before reaching the rear wheels.
The 765LT comes in just one trim level, which you can customize to taste with a dizzying array of options and details. Regular sport seats or super-lightweight carbon-fiber buckets, leather or suede steering wheel wrap, lockable center console or no center console at all — you get the idea. Some options make the car even more race-focused, while some restore a small measure of civility. Notably, air conditioning and a basic audio system are optional.
Standard features include:
- Carbon-fiber body panels and components
- Titanium quad-outlet exhaust
- Adaptive suspension
- 19-inch front wheels, 20-inch rear wheels
- Pirelli high-performance tires
- Carbon-ceramic brakes
- Lightweight suede upholstery
- Carbon-fiber seats
- 8-inch infotainment display
Dozens of options are available, whether you want to bend the 765LT into more of a street driver or an even more hardcore track machine. Highlights include:
- Air conditioning (no cost)
- Leather upholstery
- Four-speaker sound system with Bluetooth, satellite radio and iPhone integration (no cost)
- 12-speaker premium Bowers & Wilkins sound system (no cost)
- Rearview camera
- 360-degree surround-view system (uses cameras in all four directions to compose a single image of the car's surroundings)
- MSO (McLaren Special Operations) Clubsport package
- Ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber seats
- Upgraded brakes
- Track telemetry functions (includes three cameras and records lap times)
- MSO Clubsport Pro package
- Adds harness bar and racing seat belts to Clubsport package




2021 McLaren 765LT pricing
in Ashburn, VA
Consumer reviews
There are no consumer reviews for the 2021 McLaren 765LT.
Features & Specs
- Total MSRP
- $366,200
- MPG & Fuel
- 14 City / 18 Hwy / 16 Combined
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 19.0 gal. capacity
- Seating
- 2 seats
- Drivetrain
- Type: rear wheel drive
- Transmission: 7-speed automated manual
- Engine
- V8 cylinder
- Horsepower: 755 hp @ 7500 rpm
- Torque: 590 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm
- Basic Warranty
- 3 yr./ unlimited mi.
- Dimensions
- Length: 181.1 in. / Height: 47.0 in.
- Overall Width with Mirrors: 85.1 in.
- Curb Weight: 2952 lbs.

Safety
Our experts’ favorite 765LT safety features:
- Carbon-Ceramic Brakes
- Uses carbon-ceramic brake discs to better resist heat and improve braking performance compared to steel discs.
- Electronic Stability Control
- Applies braking to individual wheels to prevent loss of control due to extreme steering maneuvers.
- Antilock Brakes
- Applies rapid, pulsating braking force to individual wheels to prevent wheel lockup and potential loss of traction.
McLaren 765LT vs. the competition

2021 McLaren 765LT

2020 McLaren 720S
McLaren 765LT vs. McLaren 720S
If you want the 765LT's capabilities in a more daily driver-friendly package, the 720S is essentially a more polished version of the same supercar. More valet line than starting line, the 720S packs a little less power ("only" 710 horsepower) and offers more luxury features, such as full leather upholstery, heated seats, ambient cabin lighting and parking sensors. It costs a bit less too.
McLaren 765LT vs. Lamborghini Huracan
Like the 765LT, the STO is a race car first, street car second. It makes less power than the McLaren at 630 hp, but it offers the same carbon-fiber-intensive bodywork and stripped interior. It's a couple of hundred pounds heavier than the 765LT but otherwise comes close to matching the McLaren's acceleration, aerodynamic and braking performance. It's nearly the same price and shares a similar level of exclusivity, yet nothing looks or sounds like a Lamborghini at full gallop.
McLaren 765LT vs. Bentley Continental
If you have no track or racing ambitions, the Continental GT Speed scratches the same performance itch as the McLaren, but in a very different package. Its 12-cylinder engine delivers a wallop — 650 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque — and comes paired with an elegant exterior design and supremely luxurious cabin that will cosset you from coast to coast. The Bentley isn't a neck-snapping surgical tool like the 765LT, but it still capably delivers a stunning thrill.
2021 McLaren 765LT First Impressions
The 765LT is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter flat-plane-crankshaft V8 engine that is mounted right behind the seats. Spin it up and you'll get 755 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, which is 45 hp and 22 lb-ft more than the 720S.
McLaren's reps claim a 0-60 mph time of only 2.7 seconds and we're inclined to believe them. Mashing the accelerator from a stop results in a brief pause as the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission begins to slip the clutch, followed immediately by a considerable burst of power as you're pinned to the seat.
That alone is satisfyingly excessive, but it's just the prelude. A blink of an eye later, as the revs push past 5,500 rpm, the turbochargers kick in with the kind of aggression we'd expect from an F-15's afterburners. The world outside blurs from the speed and vibrations from the vehicle while the 765LT launches with laser-straight precision.
The LT sheds speed with similar expertise. Jump on the brakes as hard as you can and the nose twitches ever so slightly but continues on its intended path. The big rear wing flips to the vertical position, acting as an air brake. This position also adds considerable aerodynamic downforce to increase rear tire grip. You feel the soft tissue in your body try to escape out the front as you brace against the dead pedal and steering wheel, yet the nose of the car keeps from diving toward the pavement.
As capable as these brakes may be at full potential, they also allow for nuanced modulation. Feathering the brakes as you nudge the vehicle toward an apex is easy, and there's no noticeable transition to the throttle if executed gracefully. The transfer of weight between the front and rear is well managed, and the overall balance is as perfect as you'll find for high-speed cornering.
And corner it does.
The 765LT has an abundance of grip. The kind that you get from a legitimate race car wearing track-only slick tires. A lot of that can be attributed to the wide 305-series Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires at the rear, but the active suspension and aforementioned downforce also contribute mightily. On public roads, you'll feel every imperfection in the road surface. But the suspension absorbs most big jolts, keeping all four wheels firmly planted. On smooth surfaces, the 765LT really begins to prove itself with otherworldly handling limits. The ultra-precise steering with substantial feedback serves to further add to driver confidence and enjoyment.
Whether you're a white-knuckle death-grip type of pilot or a racing sophisticate with a featherlight touch, the McLaren 765LT will engage you and reward you with each passing kink in the road. It goes blisteringly fast and corners with cartoon-like ease, just as intended. It thrills as it challenges the driver to give it more, but it's also relatively easy and approachable for a supercar. It's not overly twitchy or terrifying, just impeccably balanced.
If you're seeking a race car for the road (and you've been in an actual race car before), this is it. If you're looking for anything different, such as comfort or refinement, you'd probably be better served by almost any other supercar. Don't take that as a knock against the McLaren, though. Rather, consider it affirmation of its hardcore nature. Yes, we love it.
Short answer: It's not. The 765LT isn't the kind of car you could comfortably cruise around town in. It's a purpose-built race car. The nearly solid engine and transmission mounts transmit laugh-inducing amounts of vibration and noise that are met with little resistance from the minimal sound insulation and thin glass. At idle, it reverberates like a reciprocating saw and smooths out slightly as the engine speed increases. The mechanical growl doesn't sound particularly inspiring until you apply some sustained pressure on the gas pedal, at which point it sounds like an angry robotic bear at full howl.
The seats are thinly padded in order to give the driver immediate and explicit feedback translating what the wheels are doing on the pavement. But there's little in the way of comfort after about 45 minutes. The suspension is unyielding when compared to lesser sports cars, transmitting every shock into your backside and spine.
The 765LT isn't a car for the fragile, nor is it for those who just want to exude a certain level of wealth or distinction. This is a car for those who prioritize the thrill of motoring and find the harshness intoxicating. Most others will find it torturous.
Swing open the dihedral-style doors and you're treated to a cockpit that's elementally simple without seeming barren. A good section of the roof swings up with the door, providing an almost direct drop into the driver's seat, which is good since there's not a lot of space on the side to shimmy between the wheel and seat. Our particular test vehicle was bathed in black Alcantara, giving it an authentic race-car look and feel while reducing windshield reflections and gripping the driver like a Velcro onesie.
The steering wheel, attached shifter paddles and pedals are some of the few controls that will seem familiar. Other controls are oddly placed, unconventional in their operation, or simply hidden from view. The seat controls are tucked underneath the forward inboard corner of the cushion, for example, and the mirror adjustment is to the right of the steering wheel where you'd normally find an ignition button. It all takes some getting used to.
The cabin is snug without being claustrophobic. There's ample space for taller passengers in terms of head- and legroom, but laterally there's barely enough space. Forward visibility is good, though the moderately thick front roof pillar can obscure the view through tight left turns. Your view out the back might also be massively obscured if you opt for the 765LT's roof air scoop. Intended for racetrack use, it funnels air to help cool down the engine's air intake. For the privilege you'll pay $36,340 extra.
The 765LT is a technological powerhouse when it comes to performance. For everything else? Not so much. The Proactive Chassis Control II suspension continuously monitors road conditions and their effect on the suspension, all while processing what the driver is asking of the vehicle. The computer instantaneously comes up with a solution and executes it by adjusting a number of mechanical systems. Unlike most other suspensions, the 765LT's eliminates some heavy metal elements with compact hydraulic substitutes. Instead of a traditional anti-roll bar, a linked hydraulic system between the wheels adds or subtracts pressure on one side to maintain a flat roll attitude when cornering. The end result is very predictable and seamless from the driver's seat.
Power from the engine is also electronically controlled and routed to the right wheel at the right time with no hint of what's happening on the surface. Other available tech-related items include track-related features such as a lap timer, performance telemetry to analyze your driving, and three cameras that can record your session.
Otherwise, the McLaren is noticeably light on convenience and safety tech. The infotainment system has a small vertical touchscreen mounted halfway down the center of the dash. It looks futuristic, but in reality, it's very basic and rather difficult to use while in motion. Smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is not supported. As a driver-centric supercar, advanced safety features are absent.
One feature we do quite like is the dual-mode instrument panel. At startup, the panel rotates up from a flat position, revealing a high-resolution display that shows typical speed, engine, trip and temperature information. A tap of a button folds the display flat again, leaving only a very thin display strip showing engine rpm and speed for when the driver wants to cut out all unnecessary distractions.
Between the driver and passenger, there is a moderately sized cupholder and a few small pockets. There is no glove compartment, just a small elastic net on the bulkhead behind the seats. Interior space is at a premium, so we suggest you keep your personal effects to a minimum.
The cargo space under the hood is more accommodating than the interior suggests. You get a deep front trunk that could easily hold two medium duffles. A typical hard-sided carry-on suitcase will not fit. If this were more of a touring car, the lack of storage would be an issue, but since the 765LT has such a narrow focus on performance, it's easy to accept.
Economical? The McLaren 765LT is laughably wasteful. With a price tag not too shy of a half a million dollars and an estimated fuel economy estimate of 15 mpg combined (14 city/18 highway), it justifies the old adage of "racing cars is like standing in a wind tunnel shredding thousand dollar bills." If you drive with any sort of excitement, you can expect single-digit mpg.
That said, if you consider the relative rarity of the 765LT and McLaren's storied history, it could be a potential long-term investment, but we don't think we'd be able to forgive you for keeping such a free spirit caged.
The 2021 McLaren 765LT is an apex predator in the supercar space. You'd have a tough time finding anything more entertaining, but that's really all it can do. The McLaren 720S is immensely easier to live with, especially when it comes to comfort, and it will still deliver far more performance than most drivers will ever demand of it. The LT is for the rare driver who finds the harshness attractive, and we're glad that such a hardcore option exists.
FAQ
Is the McLaren 765LT a good car?
What's new in the 2021 McLaren 765LT?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 McLaren 765LT:
- The 765LT is an all-new model
- Amped-up version of the 720S
- Limited production of 765 units
- Kicks off the first 765LT generation introduced for 2021
Is the McLaren 765LT reliable?
Is the 2021 McLaren 765LT a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2021 McLaren 765LT?
The least-expensive 2021 McLaren 765LT is the 2021 McLaren 765LT 2dr Coupe (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $358,000.
Other versions include:
- 2dr Coupe (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM) which starts at $358,000
What are the different models of McLaren 765LT?
2021 McLaren 765LT Overview
The 2021 McLaren 765LT is offered in the following submodels: 765LT Coupe. Available styles include 2dr Coupe (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM). The 2021 McLaren 765LT comes with rear wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 7-speed automated manual.
What do people think of the 2021 McLaren 765LT?
Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2021 McLaren 765LT and all its trim types. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2021 765LT.
Pros
- Blistering speed
- Otherworldly handling and braking performance
- Dozens of custom features and details
Cons
- Harsh ride quality
- Lacks common conveniences and driver aids
- Extraordinarily loud
Edmunds Expert Reviews
Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2021 McLaren 765LT and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2021 765LT featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Our Review Process
This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
What's a good price for a New 2021 McLaren 765LT?
2021 McLaren 765LT 2dr Coupe (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM)
Which 2021 McLaren 765LTS are available in my area?
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Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color.
What is the MPG of a 2021 McLaren 765LT?
2021 McLaren 765LT 2dr Coupe (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 7AM), 7-speed automated manual, premium unleaded (required)
16 MPG compined MPG,
14 city MPG/18 highway MPG
EPA Est. MPG | 16 |
Transmission | 7-speed automated manual |
Drive Train | rear wheel drive |
Displacement | 4.0 L |
Passenger Volume | N/A |
Wheelbase | 105.1 in. |
Length | 181.1 in. |
Width | N/A |
Height | 47.0 in. |
Curb Weight | 2952 lbs. |
Should I lease or buy a 2021 McLaren 765LT?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out McLaren lease specials
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