Nearly six decades after the late racer and innovator Bruce McLaren purportedly likened finishing second to not finishing at all, the automotive entity that bears his name has secured its first Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship title in 26 years, while McLaren Automotive has claimed the mantle of Robb Report’s 2025 Car of the Year with its 750S Spider.
Although this is the first time that the British marque has won our head-to-head contest, it has been closing in on victory for some time, with the 720S finishing second in 2018 and in the top five in 2022—a testament to that supercar’s enduring relevance. As with its predecessor, the 750S is powered solely by internal combustion, but it shares much with the hybrid Artura (which finished second at COTY last year and competed in Spider guise this time around), especially the new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture platform. This foundation allows the model to weigh less while producing more power, compared to those other two siblings.
“Captures the essence of McLaren, full stop," said Joe Fath about the 750S, which won him over thanks to its “amazing acceleration, wicked handling, ear-crackling sound, and head-turning good looks." Cynthia Madrid felt at one with the machine. “The lightweight design and sleek carbon-fiber elegance make it feel like you and the road are in perfect harmony, gliding effortlessly through every curve," she enthused. “Every turn felt like a dance." Preston Shepherd noted how the “acceleration when using launch control is vicious, and there’s barely a hint of wheelspin—very impressive for a rear-wheel-drive platform with this sort of horsepower and an open differential." Yet compared to the Bentley and Aston Martin, it was “a little too light for my preference," said Abb Payne. Andreas Schuermann, meanwhile, dinged the car for “tiny legroom." Then there was Normand Coulombe, who “did not enjoy the turbo lag on such a fast and well-engineered car," as well as Tim Olzer’s feedback that it had a “great interior—with the exception of the screens."
In the end, the majority of judges agreed with Lynn Dugas: “If you’re looking for a supercar, you’re done—this is it!" Robb Report’s automotive editors were also fans, finding the successor to the 720S only improves on what they considered McLaren’s magnum opus until now, opining that the added brushstrokes make it even more brilliant.
Engine: 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8
Power: 740 hp
0-60 MPH: 2.7 sec
Top Speed: 206 mph
Base Price: $345,000
As Tested: $426,960
From the article by Viju Mathew and Robert Ross
