New McLaren 788HS Revealed: MSO's Ultimate Super Series Collector's Car
Limited to just 200 examples worldwide, the new MSO-developed 788HS bridges the gap between the iconic 688HS and the groundbreaking McLaren W1
There are fast McLarens, there are special McLarens… and then there are the cars that make even seasoned collectors quietly reach for the cheque book.
Introducing the all-new McLaren 788HS. Unveiled as the ultimate evolution of McLaren’s acclaimed Super Series, the 788HS isn’t simply a faster 750S, it’s the final, most focused expression of a platform that has defined modern McLaren performance since the arrival of the 720S. Built by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) and limited to just 200 examples worldwide (100 coupes / 100 spiders), this is a car designed for those who believe “enough” has never been part of the vocabulary.
A Worthy Successor to the Legendary 688HS. If the name sounds familiar, you’re not imagining things. The original 688HS has become one of the most desirable modern McLarens ever produced. Built in incredibly small numbers exclusively for existing owners, it blurred the line between road car and race car long before it became fashionable to do so. Its aggressive aero, increased power and rarity cemented its status as one of the ultimate collector McLarens.
Now, nearly a decade later, the 788HS picks up exactly where the 688HS left off.
Think of it as the spiritual successor - more powerful, lighter, more aerodynamic and developed using everything McLaren has learned through years of Formula 1 engineering and road car innovation.
McLaren Special Operations has never been about subtle upgrades. The 788HS receives an entirely reworked carbon fibre body featuring a dramatic active rear wing, deeper front splitter, functional bonnet ducting, enlarged rear diffuser and an unmistakable roof scoop. Every panel has been designed with one objective: generating meaningful aerodynamic performance rather than simply attracting attention.
Power comes from McLaren’s familiar 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, now producing 788 PS (approximately 777 bhp) and 800 Nm of torque. Combined with a dry weight of just 1,265kg, forged internal components, a titanium quad-exit exhaust and bespoke engine calibration, the result is a car capable of reaching 62mph in just 2.8 seconds, 124mph in around 7.0 seconds, before continuing to a top speed of 205mph (330km/h).
McLaren has also introduced centre-lock wheels for the first time on the Super Series platform, while suspension, engine mounts and chassis calibration have all been revised to deliver even greater precision on both road and circuit.
With the arrival of the revolutionary McLaren W1, many wondered what place remained for a pure V8-powered supercar. The answer is the 788HS.
Where the W1 represents the future of hybrid hypercar technology with over 1,250 horsepower and Formula 1-inspired active aerodynamics, the 788HS celebrates everything enthusiasts have loved about McLaren’s twin-turbocharged V8 era. It is lighter, more analogue and entirely focused on extracting every last ounce of performance from one of the finest combustion-engine platforms McLaren has ever built.
Rather than competing with the W1, the 788HS complements it perfectly. One showcases where McLaren is going. The other celebrates just how far they’ve come.
With production restricted to just 100 Coupés and 100 Spiders worldwide, demand was always going to exceed supply. Cars like the 688HS have proven that genuinely limited MSO-built McLarens become highly sought after by collectors, and there’s every indication the 788HS will follow exactly the same path. For collectors fortunate enough to secure an allocation, the hardest part may simply be deciding whether to drive it… or admire it.
Either way, we suspect many garages around the world have suddenly become just a little more exclusive.
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