McLaren’s New 788HS Marks the End of the 720S Era

McLaren's New 788HS Marks the End of the 720S Era
McLaren's New 788HS Marks the End of the 720S Era
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McLaren has revealed its new production car in almost two years.

Named the 788HS, the car made its debut at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

McLaren’s last model was the W1 hypercar, revealed in October 2024, making this the automaker’s first completely new launch in almost 21 months. It is a significant gap, unusual for a brand that typically releases new variants every year or two.

The 788HS closes that gap and also marks the end of a chapter. McLaren says this is the final version of the Super Series line, which began with the 720S in 2017.

Meet the McLaren 788HS.

The 788HS is the third McLaren to wear the “HS” (High Sport) badge. Its name comes from its 788 PS power output, which is equivalent to 777 bhp.

The car is the final evolution of McLaren’s Super Series lineup. It started with the 720S in 2017, followed by the track-focused 765LT in 2020 and the more road-friendly 750S in 2023. The 788HS is the most powerful and extreme version of this platform before McLaren introduces a new generation of Super Series cars.

1. Engine and Performance

This supercar is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine producing 788 PS (777 bhp). That’s 23bhp more than the 765LT and 37bhp more than the 750S. Torque remains the same at 800Nm, with power sent to the rear wheels through a 7-speed transmission.

McLaren claims the car can sprint from 0–100km/h in 2.8 seconds and 0–200km/h in 7.0 seconds, with a top speed of 330km/h (205mph).

Despite the extra power, the 788HS is not faster in a drag race than the 765LT. Instead, McLaren focused on improving handling and aerodynamics rather than increasing top speed.

2. Design and Aerodynamics

The exterior of this car features several design upgrades to improve cooling and aerodynamics. It gets a new roof scoop, a fixed rear wing instead of the active airbrake, a larger rear diffuser, a quad-exit titanium exhaust, and new lightweight center-lock wheels with aerodynamic wheel covers.

McLaren says these changes increase downforce by 10% compared to the 765LT. The car has a dry weight of 1,265kg (2,789 lbs), making it lighter than the 750S, though still slightly heavier than the 765LT. Even so, McLaren claims the 788HS has the best power-to-weight ratio of any Super Series model built so far.

3. Brakes and Suspension

The 788HS gets a specially tuned suspension with adaptive dampers and McLaren’s Proactive Chassis Control III system for improved handling and stability. For braking power, it uses six-piston front brakes with carbon-ceramic discs and lightweight aluminum brake components taken from the McLaren Senna.

4. Interior

Inside, the 788HS keeps McLaren’s familiar driver-focused dashboard with a steering column-mounted instrument display and a carbon-fiber center console.

You can also choose lightweight bucket seats from the McLaren Senna and personalize the interior with custom colors, materials, and finishes through McLaren Special Operations (MSO).

5. Production and Pricing

McLaren will build just 200 units of the 788HS, of which 100 will be coupes and 100 Spider convertibles. Every car will go through McLaren Special Operations (MSO), so buyers can specify custom paint, materials, and trim.

McLaren has not announced global pricing yet. However, since the 750S was around $365,100 in the U.S., the 788HS is expected to cost even more. In Australia, the car is priced at AUD 1,078,800 before on-road costs; however, this price includes local taxes and should not be considered a global benchmark.

What Comes Next for McLaren

CYVN Holdings purchased McLaren Automotive in April 2025, and the company has said it plans a bigger overhaul of its lineup by 2028, with more hybrid models expected. Reports suggest the next Super Series car will use a plug-in hybrid V8, with a reveal expected later this year and customer deliveries starting in 2027.

For now, the 788HS is the last car with a V8 engine, a tradition that began with the 720S nearly a decade ago. It brings more power, more downforce, and a more track-focused character, all wrapped around a platform McLaren has spent years refining.

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McLaren's New 788HS Marks the End of the 720S Era