McLaren 788HS — 777 hp V8 Track Special Storms Goodwood 2026 as the “Definitive and Final” 720S Successor

The McLaren 788HS broke cover on the morning of July 9, 2026 at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed, marking the first all-new McLaren in almost two years and what the brand itself calls the “definitive and final” evolution of the 720S supercar family. Limited to 200 examples split evenly between Coupe and Spider bodies, the 788HS revives the “High Sport” designation used only twice before in McLaren’s road-car history, following the 675LT-derived 688 HS of 2016.

Every detail is engineered to sit above the 750S in the McLaren range without straying into the electrified W1 hypercar’s territory. McLaren Special Operations (MSO) is responsible for the build, and every one of the 200 cars will be bespoke: customers can commission tinted clear-coat carbon bodywork, custom liveries, and even a family crest inlaid under the lacquer.

4.0-litre M840T V8, 777 hp and 590 lb-ft

Power comes from an evolution of McLaren’s familiar M840T 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, now tuned to 788 PS (777 bhp) and 590 lb-ft (approx. 800 Nm) of torque. That is a 37 hp gain over the 750S, and it flows to the rear axle through the same 7-speed seamless-shift dual-clutch gearbox that anchored the entire 720S/750S line since 2017.

McLaren has kept the powertrain naturally combustion-only rather than adding hybrid assistance — the “HS” badge stands for High Sport, not hybrid. The brief was to close the era in the purest possible way, and componentry can be traced back to the MP4-12C that launched McLaren’s road-car business in 2011.

2.7 seconds to 62 mph, 205 mph top speed

The 788HS reaches 62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.7 seconds, sprints to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, and pushes on to a 205 mph (330 km/h) top speed. Those numbers slot it directly between the 750S and the 765LT on paper, but the aerodynamic package changes the story on track.

Aerodynamics: snowboard rear wing and F1-slotted diffuser

McLaren describes the aero as its most extensive re-work of a 720S-generation car. Highlights confirmed at reveal include:

• A bespoke front splitter paired with enlarged front intakes for cooling and downforce
• An S-duct hole in the bonnet that channels air over the windscreen for extra front-end grip
• A functional roof scoop feeding the airbox and quad-cam heads
• The once-flush active airbrake replaced by a fixed, snowboard-sized rear wing
• Enlarged engine-bay cooling vents and a quad-exhaust layout with perforated finishers
• Aero-optimised wheel spats to reduce drag around the arches
• The largest diffuser ever fitted to a 720S-generation car, with F1-style slots cut into its vanes

The total effect: roughly 10 per cent more downforce than a 765LT, McLaren says, with front ride height dropped by two-tenths of an inch versus the 750S.

1,265 kg dry weight and Senna-derived braking

Weight is the other headline. Claimed dry weight is 1,265 kg (approximately 2,789 lbs), representing a 12 kg reduction versus the 750S. That gives a power-to-weight ratio of roughly 279 hp per 1,000 lbs, comfortably in hypercar territory. Underpinning the car is a unique tune of McLaren’s signature linked-hydraulic suspension system and a bespoke chassis calibration built on the 750S monocoque.

Stopping duties are handed to the McLaren Senna braking system, migrated from the P15 hypercar to this Super Series application for the first time.

Full specifications: McLaren 788HS at a glance

Interior: Senna seats, carbon, suede

The cabin follows the 750S template but with additional aggression: Senna-derived lightweight carbon fibre seats, extensive exposed carbon on the tunnel and doors, and suede across the dashboard and steering wheel. Rear visibility is compromised by the roof scoop — McLaren makes no apology for it, positioning the 788HS unambiguously as a track-focused special.

Bespoke by design: MSO livery and family crests

Every 788HS is customised by McLaren Special Operations. Options confirmed at reveal include full custom liveries, a tinted clear-coat over the bare carbon bodywork, and an inlaid family crest under the paint lacquer — a first for a McLaren Super Series car. The brand states that no two of the 200 examples will be identical.

McLaren 788HS vs 765LT and 750S

Note: the 765LT is lighter on paper, but the 788HS carries more downforce and pairs the Senna braking system with a re-tuned linked-hydraulic suspension — changes McLaren says re-write the lap-time hierarchy.

Release date, price and how to order

McLaren has confirmed that the entire 200-unit run is being sold direct to invited McLaren clients via Special Operations. Pricing is expected to sit in the £300,000s (equivalent to roughly $400,000 USD), with first customer deliveries following the Goodwood debut in the second half of 2026. The 788HS closes the 720S / 750S chapter and clears the way for the twin-turbo V6 hybrid successor that McLaren has previewed for 2028.

Related reading

• Hennessey Venom F5-M — 1,817 hp V8 manual hypercar at Goodwood 2026
• Pagani Huayra 70 Derecho — 864 hp Xtrac manual roadster at Goodwood 2026
• Lamborghini Fenomeno Roadster — V12 hybrid limited-edition

Sources

• Road & Track — The McLaren 788HS Is the Ultimate Evolution of the 750S, With 777 HP to Prove It
• Top Gear — The new 788HS is the first ‘new’ McLaren for almost two years
• CarBuzz — Revealed: McLaren 788HS Is A Bonkers 777-HP Supercar Swan Song
• Motoring Research — Extreme McLaren 788HS debuts at Goodwood Festival of Speed
• Carsales — 2026 McLaren 788HS marks the end of the iconic 720S era
• McLaren Automotive — Official model range