Calling the 750S an update to the 720S undersells how much McLaren changed, and overstates how much it needed to. Around 30 per cent of the parts are new. The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 gains higher-boost turbos, a lighter flywheel and revised pistons for 740 hp; the seven-speed dual-clutch gets a shorter final drive; the rear track is wider; the springs are softer at the front and stiffer at the rear; and the whole car sheds weight to a dry figure around 2,815 lb, which is startling for something this fast.

The 720S was sometimes criticised for being clinically capable. The 750S answers that with feel: a quicker steering rack, a new centre-locking wheel design, and a hydraulic power-steering system McLaren has stubbornly retained while everyone else moved to electric assistance. That last decision is the single biggest reason enthusiasts prefer these cars.

Proactive Chassis Control III replaces conventional anti-roll bars with hydraulically interlinked dampers, so the car can be genuinely compliant on a bad road and flat in a corner — a trick McLaren has been refining since the 12C.

Inside, the aero-optimised glasshouse gives visibility no mid-engined rival matches, and the new column-mounted control pods keep the wheel clean. Positioned against the Ferrari 296 GTB and Lamborghini Temerario, the 750S is the lightweight, hydraulically-steered, non-hybrid choice — and increasingly the last of its kind.

03 / How to use

Owner's walkthrough

Practical guide for everything a new owner asks on day one — starting the car, finding the gear selector, drive modes, infotainment, driver aids, and easy-to-miss features.

How to start it

Step on the brake, press the engine start button on the console or steering column; wait for the cluster to confirm ready before shifting out of P.

Where the gear selector is (and how to use it)

Console-mounted shifter with R-N-D-S notches; paddles behind the wheel for manual gear control.

Drive modes

Drive modes are accessed via the drive-mode selector on the console. Available modes typically include Normal, Sport, Eco. Each mode reshuffles throttle mapping, steering weight, adaptive dampers (if equipped), exhaust valves, and stability-control thresholds. On performance trims, an 'Individual' or 'Custom' slot lets you save your favorite combination so you can recall it with one click instead of nesting through menus.

Cluster & head-up display

The driver display is a Digital cluster. Use the steering-wheel left thumb-pad to cycle layouts (Classic, Sport, Navigation, Minimal). When in Sport / Track mode the cluster automatically swaps to a wide tach with gear indicator and tire-temperature readout. The head-up display brightness, height, and content are configured from Settings → Displays → HUD.

Infotainment & voice control

Infotainment runs on Central touchscreen with smartphone mirroring. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard; pair from Settings → Connections the first time, then it auto-connects whenever your phone is in range. Steering-wheel push-to-talk wakes the in-car assistant for nav, climate, calls, and messaging without touching the screen. The main display also hosts vehicle-specific apps: tire pressures, performance data recorder (where fitted), drive-mode customizer, and the camera views.

Driver assistance

Standard driver aids include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Toggle each system individually from the driver-assist menu (steering-wheel left-pad → Assistance). Highway-driving assist (hands-off in marked lanes on supported roads), automatic lane-change on indicator tap, traffic-jam assist for stop-and-go, and a 360° surround camera with transparent-hood mode are all available and worth enabling for the first time before driving in heavy traffic.

Fueling

Premium unleaded (91 or 93 octane) is required on McLaren performance models — the engine timing is set for it and lower octane causes audible knock and reduced power. Fuel-cap release is a button on the driver door panel; the cap is capless (just push the nozzle in).

Keys & phone-as-key

Beyond the physical key, this car supports Smart key. Set up phone-as-key from the Manufacturer app app: it provisions a secure credential to your phone's wallet so a tap on the door handle unlocks the car and placing the phone on the wireless charging pad authorizes ignition. You can also share temporary keys to family members (with optional speed and area limits on performance trims) directly from the app.

First-week tips & easy-to-miss features

A few things every new owner tells us they wish they'd known on day one:

Always use the front-axle lift before driveways and speed bumps — it stores the lift point in GPS so the car raises automatically next time.
Warm tires and oil for at least 8–10 minutes before using Race / Track mode; cold rubber on this much power is the #1 cause of off-throttle spins.
Download the brand app (Manufacturer app) and pair it with your VIN before your first long trip — remote climate, charging/fuel-level checks, and remote lock-status save you walking back to the garage in winter.

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