McLaren just closed the book on one of the most celebrated supercar bloodlines of the last decade. At the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 9, McLaren Automotive pulled the covers off the 788HS — a 777bhp, track-honed send-off to the V8 lineage that began with the 720S in 2017 and continued through the 765LT and 750S. Only 200 examples will ever be built.
For McLaren, this isn't just another limited-run special edition. It's a deliberate full stop on a nine-year story, and a signal that the next generation of McLaren supercars — expected to be more powerful, more electrified, and philosophically different — is coming later this year. For enthusiasts and collectors from the UK to the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, the countdown to McLaren's next chapter has officially begun.
What Is the McLaren 788HS?
The 788HS is McLaren's way of drawing a hard line under its current mid-engine V8 platform. The automaker describes it as the "definitive and final evolution" of a supercar family that spans the 720S, 765LT and 750S — and nearly every detail of the car, from its name to its production count, is built around that idea of closure.
— Source: McLaren Automotive, official 788HS press materials
A Name Nine Years in the Making
The "788" in the name isn't a trim level or a random string of digits — it's the engine's output in metric horsepower (PS), which converts to 777bhp in the more familiar measure. Putting the headline number right on the badge is a McLaren tradition, one shared with the 720S, 750S and 765LT before it.
Only the Third Car to Wear the HS Badge
McLaren has used the "High Sport" designation just twice before: on the ultra-rare 2012 MP4-12C HS and the 2016 MSO HS, both hand-built in tiny numbers by McLaren Special Operations (MSO). The 788HS is the third, and production is capped at 200 cars worldwide — 100 Coupes and 100 Spiders — with every single example passing through MSO for individual, client-led customisation before delivery.
Engine, Performance and Chassis
Powertrain and Straight-Line Numbers
At the heart of the 788HS is McLaren's familiar M840T 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, tuned here to its highest state yet. Power goes to the rear wheels alone through a 7-speed Seamless Shift dual-clutch gearbox, and McLaren has given the 788HS its own engine-mount calibration, aimed at sharpening the connection between driver and powertrain without compromising everyday usability.
| Specification | McLaren 788HS |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4.0L twin-turbo V8 (M840T) |
| Power | 788PS / 777bhp @ 7,500rpm |
| Torque | 800Nm / 590lb-ft |
| Transmission | 7-speed Seamless Shift dual-clutch |
| Drive Type | Rear-wheel drive |
| 0–60mph (0–100km/h) | 2.8 seconds |
| 0–124mph (0–200km/h) | 7.0 seconds |
| Top Speed | 205mph / 330km/h |
| Dry Weight | 1,265kg / 2,789lb |
| Power-to-Weight | 623PS per tonne (highest in the 720S-derived series) |
| Production | 200 units worldwide (100 Coupe + 100 Spider) |
| Starting Price | ~£450,000 (~$600,000) — not yet officially confirmed by McLaren* |
*McLaren has not published official 788HS pricing at the time of writing. Figure reflects widely reported industry estimates; confirm before publishing final pricing.
Aero, Suspension and Brakes Built for the Track
McLaren says the 788HS generates 10% more downforce than the already hardcore 765LT, thanks to a new S-Duct bonnet, a raised active rear spoiler, an F1-inspired rear diffuser and a bespoke front splitter. Underneath, a reworked Proactive Chassis Control III linked-hydraulic suspension system sits 5mm lower at the front axle than the 750S, while carbon-ceramic brakes borrowed from the McLaren Senna — with six-piston forged aluminium front calipers — handle stopping duty. It's also the first car in this supercar series to get centre-lock wheels, paired with an optional Super Lightweight Forged Alloy design, and a quad-exit titanium exhaust tuned to sound more intense across the rev range.
Interior and Personalisation
The overhaul isn't just skin deep. McLaren has carried the same "everything has a purpose" philosophy from the 788HS's aero package straight into the cabin, stripping back the 750S interior to something more focused, more bespoke, and unmistakably tied to the car's send-off status.
Cabin and Materials
The 788HS uses a lightweight carbon-fibre centre console and, as standard, the carbon-fibre bucket seats first seen on the McLaren Senna — prioritising weight savings and support over long-distance comfort, though more accommodating seat options are typically available to order. Every car carries HS-specific touches: a unique upholstery perforation pattern, dedicated "788HS" badging throughout the cabin, and a numbered dedication plaque marking its place among the 200 examples built.
Technology and MSO Personalisation
Driver-facing tech is deliberately minimal: a steering column-mounted instrument display keeps key data directly in the driver's eyeline, while McLaren Infotainment System II and the McLaren Control Launcher handle media and vehicle settings from a compact central display. Powertrain and Handling mode controls sit on the steering wheel itself. Beyond the standard cabin, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) personalises every 788HS — clients can specify bespoke liveries, colours, materials and even full exposed Visual Carbon Fibre bodywork, meaning no two examples are likely to look quite the same.
Price, Production and Availability
McLaren hasn't published an official price for the 788HS, but industry estimates put it at roughly £450,000 (around $600,000) before options — and given the extensive MSO personalization program built into every car, final invoices are likely to run well beyond that. With only 200 units earmarked for the entire world, expect allocation through existing McLaren clients and dealers to matter far more than an open order book. Recent limited-run McLarens have sold out within days of being revealed, and the 788HS is unlikely to be any different.
How the McLaren 788HS Compares to Its Rivals
The 788HS enters a field where nearly every rival has gone hybrid. That makes it something of an analog holdout — a pure combustion, non-electrified V8 in a class where Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche have all added battery assistance for extra shove and efficiency. Here's how the numbers stack up against its closest competition, including its own McLaren stablemate.
| Model | Starting Price (USD) | Power | 0–60mph | Powertrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLaren 788HS | ~$600,000 (unconfirmed, 200-unit run) | 777bhp | 2.8s | 4.0L twin-turbo V8, no hybrid |
| McLaren 750S | $359,600 | 740bhp | 2.7s | 4.0L twin-turbo V8, no hybrid |
| Ferrari 296 GTB | $342,205 | 819bhp (combined) | ~2.9s | 3.0L twin-turbo V6 + hybrid |
| Lamborghini Temerario | $293,995 | 789bhp V8 (907bhp combined) | 2.7s | 4.0L twin-turbo V8 + hybrid |
| Porsche 911 Turbo S | $272,650 | 701bhp (combined) | 2.4s | 3.6L twin-turbo flat-six + hybrid |
Prices and power figures link to each manufacturer's official model page and reflect confirmed 2026 US MSRP where published. McLaren 788HS pricing is an industry estimate in GBP converted to USD; official pricing has not been published by McLaren.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the McLaren 788HS?
It's a limited-edition, 777bhp version of McLaren's V8 supercar, built as the final and most extreme development of the platform that began with the 720S in 2017.
How much does the McLaren 788HS cost?
McLaren hasn't confirmed official pricing. Industry reports estimate a starting price around £450,000 (roughly $600,000), before McLaren Special Operations personalization options.
How many McLaren 788HS units will be built?
Just 200 worldwide — 100 Coupes and 100 Spiders.
What is the 0–60mph time of the McLaren 788HS?
McLaren claims 2.8 seconds to 60mph (0–100km/h), 7.0 seconds to 124mph (0–200km/h), and a top speed of 205mph (330km/h).
What does "HS" mean on a McLaren?
HS stands for "High Sport," a badge McLaren reserves for only its most extreme, track-focused special editions. It has been used just twice before, on the 2012 MP4-12C HS and 2016 MSO HS.
How is the 788HS different from the McLaren 750S?
The 788HS adds 37bhp over the 750S, along with a reworked aerodynamic package with 10% more downforce than the 765LT, centre-lock wheels, Senna-derived brakes and a lower front ride height.
Will there be a McLaren 788HS Spider?
Yes. Of the 200 total units, 100 are Coupes and 100 are open-top Spiders.
Is the McLaren 788HS the last V8 McLaren supercar?
It's the last of this particular platform lineage (720S/765LT/750S/788HS). McLaren CEO Nick Collins has said details of the next-generation supercar family will be shared later in 2026, though McLaren hasn't confirmed whether that car will retain a pure V8 or move to a hybrid setup.
Conclusion
The 788HS is McLaren doing what it does best: taking a platform to its absolute limit right before retiring it. It's the most powerful, most track-focused, and most exclusive version of a bloodline that redefined what a "usable" supercar could be, and its non-hybrid V8 character may end up being its most distinguishing feature as rivals go electric. The one thing worth watching now is McLaren CEO Nick Collins' promised reveal of the brand's next-generation supercar family later this summer — that announcement will show whether McLaren's future can live up to the standard the 788HS just set.
Images courtesy of McLaren Automotive Press (cars.mclaren.press).
Sources
McLaren Automotive — official press site
McLaren.com — official 788HS model page
McLaren.com — official 750S model page (US pricing)
Ferrari.com — official 296 GTB model page
Lamborghini.com — official Temerario model page
Porsche.com — official 911 Turbo S model page (US pricing)
McLaren Automotive — official 788HS reveal film (YouTube)
Note: McLaren has not published official 788HS pricing at the time of writing; the figure used in this article is an industry estimate and should be reverified against McLaren's official press materials before publishing.
