Estate Living Digital Publication Issue 11 November 2015 | Page 59

A true test of engineering ability, driving talent and bravery, and an invigorating
battle of power and speed, the Can-Am series attracted the best drivers of its time.

Am touch is the unique dedication plaque on the
driver’s door. Like the 650S Spider, the model features
the award-winning 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 which
produces 641bhp and 678Nm of torque. Performance
and economy figures are just as exhilarating: a zero to
100 km/h sprint takes a mere three seconds and its
top speed is 329 km/h. Unique to the car is a set of
lightweight forged alloy wheels, inspired by those of
the 1960s racers with a gloss-black finish on each of
the five spokes and a diamond cut rim.
Available in a choice of three bold colours, the
launch colour, Mars Red, is directly inspired by the
M1B raced by Bruce McLaren and his teammate
Chris Amon in the debut season. Papaya Spark is a
modern and metallic take on the famous Can-Am
racing McLaren Orange and the final option of Onyx
Black is similar to the base colour used by many of the
McLaren customer teams in the later seasons. Each
is additionally available with a corresponding racing

livery to give an even closer visual association with the
historic Can-Am series, whilst the retractable hard top
adds to the car’s dramatic appearance. With the roof
down, drivers are treated to a stirring V8 soundtrack
just as Bruce and his teammates enjoyed.
Following the global launch of McLaren Automotive in
2010, the ground-breaking 12C was launched in 2011,
the 12C Spider in 2012, and the limited-run McLaren
P1™ went into production in 2013. In keeping with
its plan to introduce a new model each year, the
company unveiled the 650S, in coupe and Spider
form in 2014, and has announced the Sports Series
among the models to be introduced in late 2015.
Priced at £255,850 (around R65 million depending on
the exchange rate), just fifty vehicles will be produced
globally, with international deliveries set to commence
in Marc