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First look at McLaren 788HS specs and design

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First look at McLaren 788HS specs and design

McLaren 788HS specs
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McLaren 788HS specs

Image Credit: Mclaren

The McLaren 788HS specs make one thing very clear: this isn’t just another limited-edition supercar with extra badges and a louder paint job. This is McLaren squeezing the final drops out of the 720S platform before the brand turns deeper into hybrids, electrification, and whatever comes next. And honestly, what a way to leave the room.

The 2027 McLaren 788HS takes the familiar mid-engine formula and sharpens almost every edge. More power. More aero. Less weight. More theater. It feels like the 720S lineage looked at the 765LT, smirked, and decided it still had one final swing left.

McLaren 788HS specs and the High Sport badge

The HS name matters here. High Sport is not something McLaren throws around casually. It has appeared only on rare, highly focused models before, and the 788HS continues that tradition with a proper McLaren MSO touch.

Only 200 units will be built globally, split evenly between 100 Coupe and 100 Spider models. That alone places it deep inside limited edition cars territory. But the real story is not only rarity. It’s intent. The 788HS is a McLaren 720S platform farewell, and it feels engineered for collectors who still want a car that can bite back on a track day.

The V8 still has something to say

Behind the cabin sits McLaren’s familiar 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, known internally as the McLaren M840T engine. In this tune, it produces 777 horsepower, or 788 PS, and 590 lb-ft of torque. That makes it more powerful than the 750S and puts it among the strongest pure-combustion McLaren Super Series models.

Here’s the thing.

The numbers are huge, but the character matters more. This twin-turbo V8 does not feel lazy or overly filtered. It pulls hard, revs with anger, and keeps that slightly manic McLaren edge that made the 720S platform special from the start.

The 0 to 60 mph sprint takes 2.8 seconds. It reaches 124 mph in about 7.0 seconds. Top speed stands at 205 mph. So, when people ask what is the top speed of the McLaren 788HS, the answer is simple: fast enough to make most roads feel very small.

McLaren High Sport 2027

McLaren High Sport 2027

Image Credit: Mclaren

Key Specs

  • Engine: 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 777 hp / 788 PS
  • Torque: 590 lb-ft
  • 0-60 mph: 2.8 seconds
  • 0-124 mph: 7.0 seconds
  • Top speed: 205 mph
  • Dry weight: 2,789 pounds
  • Production: 100 Coupe and 100 Spider units
  • Aero: 10% more downforce than 765LT
  • Brakes: Carbon-ceramic setup with Senna-derived hardware
  • Wheels: Center-lock design, first for this platform

Aero that actually works

The 788HS does not rely on horsepower alone.

McLaren has loaded it with a serious aero package, and it looks functional rather than decorative. The front S-Duct channels air through the nose and over the hood, helping the front end stay planted at speed. The rear gets an active spoiler that can reduce drag or act as an airbrake. Below it, the diffuser adds real aggression and purpose.

Better yet, the McLaren 765LT downforce comparison shows the 788HS generates 10% more downforce than the 765LT. That is not a small claim. On a fast road or circuit, that extra stability changes the feel of the car. It gives the driver more trust when loading the front end, leaning on the brakes, and feeding power back in.

McLaren 788HS specs meet MSO drama

The McLaren 788HS specs are only half the appeal.

The other half comes from McLaren MSO. Buyers can personalize the car deeply, from paint and carbon fiber finishes to interior trim, stitching, and special details. A full carbon fiber supercar body option gives the car a raw, exposed look. It suits the machine. This is not a soft grand tourer pretending to be exotic.

Inside, expect the familiar McLaren driving position: low, centered, focused. The cabin does not bury the driver under unnecessary nonsense. It keeps the important things close. The titanium quad-exit exhaust adds more edge to the experience, while stiffer mounts help the engine feel more physically connected to the chassis. That matters in performance cars like this.

Price, release date, and availability

Official pricing sits behind McLaren’s private-client world, but estimates place the 2027 McLaren 788HS price and release date conversation around the $600,000 mark, with deliveries expected from late 2026 into 2027.

Availability is the tougher part.

Every build slot was reportedly spoken for before the car reached the public spotlight. That is not surprising. With only 200 cars planned, this was always going to collector garages before most enthusiasts could even finish reading the spec sheet.

So, how many units of the 2027 McLaren 788HS will be built? Just 200. That includes both Coupe and Spider.

Conclusion

The McLaren 788HS specs show a supercar built with a clear mission: give the 720S platform the send-off it deserves. It has the power, the weight savings, the aero, the rarity, and the attitude to stand apart from the 750S and even challenge the memory of the 765LT. More importantly, it feels like a final celebration of McLaren’s pure twin-turbo V8 era before the next chapter takes over. The 788HS is not trying to be subtle. It is loud in purpose, sharp in execution, and properly special. For a platform that changed what people expected from modern supercars, this is a fitting final bow.