With deliveries as early as April this year, it is clear that Singapore is an important market for McLaren. Its latest 650S debuts here the same time it is showcased at the Geneva Motor Show.

Photos: Jimmy Oh

After a few rounds of private previewing with prospective owners, McLaren invited us to a closed-door event to show us the new 641bhp McLaren 650S Coupe.

The new car replaces the MP4-12C and can accelerate from 0 to 200km/h in just 8.4 seconds. More than half a second quicker than its predecessor. 0 to 100km/h takes just 3.0 seconds, faster than its immediate rivals, the Lamborghini Huracan and the Ferrari 458 Speciale. It is also a full second quicker than the iconic McLaren F1 road car.

With the front-end of the P1, the new car looks sexier and is now endowed with more curves all round. At the rear though, things are pretty much still the same with the MP4-12C. McLaren have managed to blend the designs of both cars to create a cohesive 650S (although we can't help but wonder what if the rear had more bits from the P1).

New updated aerodynamics enhance handling, high-speed balance and steering turn-in resulting from improved levels of downforce. This promises to bring the new car into a whole new level of driver engagement, allowing to feel like a lightweight stripped-out road car.

Yet the 650S boasts a high level of luxury specification. Carbon ceramic brakes sit behind unique ‘650’ lightweight alloy wheels shod with Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyres, IRIS satellite navigation with Bluetooth telephony, wireless tethering, audio streaming and voice control are all fitted as standard, and the cabin is trimmed in Alcantara.

‘The McLaren 650S represents 50 years of road and racing car know-how,’ comments Mike Flewitt. ‘Everything we’ve learnt from the 12C and the McLaren P1™ has gone into this car, creating a car with the widest breadth of capabilities of any production supercar. It’s also a new benchmark in pure driving excitement.’