McLaren's Marvels: The Top 10 Engines That Redefined Speed

Ranking high among the supercar standard, McLaren's reputation has been forged by its engines, creating the ultimate purveyors of outright speed.

By the early 2000s, the McLaren marque was as resonant as Ferrari, meaning that it could roll out a street legal benefactor of enigmatic success — the McLaren F1. While the three-seater hypercar flaunted butterfly doors and a screaming, manual-only V12, McLaren was still only commendable for its athletic dynamism, chassis superiority, and commitment to absolute precision. It wasn't until the mass production debut of McLaren's rebranded 'Automotive' division, that the supercar manufacturer would redefine speed through a shunned and shamed snail-like form of forced induction and a lowly small block V8. Almost every McLaren since the 12C has ranked in a league of untouchables so fierce, the Italians across the aisle have been humiliated in their struggles to get close.

Before we dive into McLaren's greatest engines that earned podiums outside the racetrack, it's important to get accustomed to the code names. Barring the new gens in the Artura and Solus GT, McLaren Automotive's toolbox essentially has two main engine groups. The original twin-turbo V8s came in the form of the M838 platform — a 3.8-liter powerhouse with an assortment of suffixes for its respective revisions before the 720s' M840T platform upped the displacement and replaced it.

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Manufacturer

McLaren + Ricardo

Years

2011-2017

Configuration

Twin-Turbo V8

Displacement

3.8-liter

Power

592hp - 679hp

Torque

443lb-ft - 516lb-ft

Fuel

Gasoline

Noteworthy Applications

MP4-12C, 650S, 675LT, MSO 688 HS

Featured first in the MP4-12C, the M838T is considered the catalyst for a series of engines beyond the performance status quo. First rumored to be supplied with an AMG-derived 6.2-liter V8, the production iteration of the 12C aptly shelved a Ricardo-derived twin-turbo V8 neatly between your spine and the rear axles. Unlike the unenthusiastic turbocharging of old, the M838T was a high-revving, flat-plane crank amalgamation of forged internals.

The preliminary motor commanded 600 relatively smooth horses to a rocketing redline of 8,500 rpm. Though torque came just a touch shy of 500 lb-ft, its reckoning started to sing by 2000 rpm. The M838T went on to bury itself within the bellies of McLaren's first supercar flagships in the 650s range. Those motors came with minor tweaks and ECU tunes to uprate power and torque while maintaining a fair output curve.

Manufacturer

McLaren + Ricardo

Years

2015-2017

Configuration

Twin-Turbo V8

Displacement

4.0-liter

Power

666hp - 679hp

Torque

516lb-ft

Fuel

Gasoline

Noteworthy Applications

675LT, MSO 688 HS

The M838TL codename belonged almost exclusively to the 675LTs - (if you're willing to exclude the relative unobtanium in the mildly re-fettled MSO 688 HS). The platform, suffixed for the 675LT with an L, is mused with the same displacement at 3.8-liter. While the architecture remains the same as a 90-degree twin-turbocharged V8, mid-range torque comes with a brutish torque of 516 lb-ft at 5,500 rpm as a result of lighter components and more efficient turbocharging. The eventual adjudicator of performance in the 720s, which we'll get to a little later, owes its unbelievable dominance to the development of this larger, more robust motor.

Manufacturer

McLaren + Ricardo

Years

2016-2021

Configuration

Twin-Turbo V8

Displacement

3.8-liter

Power

533hp - 612hp

Torque

398lb-ft - 457lb-ft

Fuel

Gasoline

Noteworthy Applications

540C, 570S, 570GT, 600LT, 620R

To regain some semblance of profit, McLaren launched a cheaper, more usable sports coupe under the Sports Series umbrella - dubbed the 540C. If you squint hard enough, you can eke out a softer rump with a flared ducktail, a dead ringer for the 570C line. Apart from the relatively unnoticeable visual cues, the motor's behavior highlights the difference. The turbochargers' leniency with its boost pressure translates to a numerically accelerative supercar yet far from otherworldly. The TE spec motor is marginally detuned for a sportier experience designed to excel through British B roads more than anything else.

Manufacturer

McLaren + Ricardo

Years

2016-2021

Configuration

Twin-Turbo V8

Displacement

3.8-liter

Power

533hp - 612hp

Torque

398lb-ft - 457lb-ft

Fuel

Gasoline

Noteworthy Applications

540C, 570S, 570GT, 600LT, 620R

As mentioned previously, 'TE' specced M838s are turned down a few notches in their sports series applications. But for the 600LT, the dial is turned back up again. Like most of McLaren's power plant changes, there's little mechanical difference between the 600LTs twin-turbo V8 compared to the 570S. The turbos are reinforced for higher boost pressure and the engine's compression ratios have been tuned lean to spit fireballs out of its top-mounted exhausts after a couple of throttle blips. That's 592 horsepower and 420 odd lb-ft of torque. Considering McLaren's like to rev like naturally aspirated engines, you do have to deal with a relatively laggy build-up and a code brown turbo dump at the top end.

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Manufacturer

McLaren + Ricardo

Years

2011-2017

Configuration

Twin-Turbo V8

Displacement

4.0-liter

Power

592hp - 679hp

Torque

443lb-ft - 516lb-ft

Fuel

Gasoline

Noteworthy Applications

MP4-12C, 650S, 675LT, MSO 688 HS

The final send-off for the M838 designation came electrified in the TQ range. Built exclusively for McLaren's Ultimate Series, the M838TQ's internal combustion end started where the 675LTs M838TL left off. Four liters of naturally aspirated forced induction fury was pushed to its mechanical limits with stronger internals and maxed-out tuning. The 'standard' P1, if you can even call it that, stretched its legs into the 700 horsepower realm via its new-fangled twin-turbo V8, adding an extra 177 hp via its electric journeyman. Total output for the P1 was a tire-shredding 916 horsepower which could somehow reliably break away from a standstill to sixty in less than sixty seconds.

Manufacturer

McLaren + Ricardo

Years

2011-2017

Configuration

Twin-Turbo V8

Displacement

4.0-liter

Power

592hp - 679hp

Torque

443lb-ft - 516lb-ft

Fuel

Gasoline

Noteworthy Applications

MP4-12C, 650S, 675LT, MSO 688 HS

Now for the engine that made Godzilla vacate its throne as king of the streets. From the lessons of the 675LT, a new performance architecture was established for McLaren's flagship spaceship - the 720s. Starting in life as Nissan's own VRH V8 platform the mostly reworked M840T shares little with its donor engine other than its 3.80-inch bore and 2.89-inch stroke. Like the original M838T, the development of the 720s' engine comes in partnership with Ricardo — a third-party internal combustion supplier — who worked hard to maintain the character of a high-revving yet durably torquey power plant. The 710hp monster delegates percentages of it's boost across the first four gears — just so you, and the gearbox, can manage the unleashing of the M840Ts fury.

Manufacturer

McLaren + Ricardo

Years

2011-2017

Configuration

Twin-Turbo V8

Displacement

4.0-liter

Power

592hp - 679hp

Torque

443lb-ft - 516lb-ft

Fuel

Gasoline

Noteworthy Applications

MP4-12C, 650S, 675LT, MSO 688 HS

Limited to 106 units, the ultra-rare Speedtail's iteration of the M840 isn't radically different as far as the internal combustion engine goes. The changes come with the return of electrification, designed to deliver consistent torque at the lower end while the M840T teleports its slippery spacecraft housing through cataclysmic fissures in space-time. Again, the core recipe is unchanged — four liter displacement, lightweight forged internals, slightly larger turbochargers, and ridiculous figures. Performance is illustrated via 746 exploding horsepowers that combine with 308 zippy ones for a total output of 1,040 steeds. The thrust sequence is brought to life from an overhead ignition switch meaning it's closer to a jet fighter than anything from Lamborghini's fashion house.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why We Love The McLaren Speedtail

Manufacturer

McLaren

Years

2023

Configuration

Twin-Turbo V6

Displacement

3.0-liter

Power

577hp

Torque

431lb-ft

Fuel

Gasoline

Noteworthy Applications

Artura

Artura's new M630 architecture, engineered bespoke for it, is a plug-in hybrid with a downsized ICE companion. The legendary series of turbo V8s have been ditched in favor of a smaller, lighter, and more efficient V6, that on its own produces 577 hp and 431 lb-ft of torque. Sounds like it's down on power for a McLaren flagship, doesn't it? Well, the power doesn't stop there. The electric motor supplements an extra hundred horsepower to knock out a total power rating closer to 700hp while eliminating lag by spooling up the turbos in its off time.

Manufacturer

JUDD

Years

2023

Configuration

N/A V10

Displacement

5.2-liter

Power

829hp

Torque

479lb-ft

Fuel

Gasoline

Noteworthy Applications

Solus GT

What?! A 5.2-liter V10 that hasn't been rammed up the backside of a raging bull? In McLaren's continuously wacky series of Ultimate production cars, the track-only Solus GT takes a Mandolorian approach to exciting its hard-to-impress top-shelf clientele. Like the Artura, Ricardo's engine development team is absent from this project and the lads at McLaren have instead consulted the expertise of Judd Power. The motor is an evolution of their 5.0-liter V10 crate offering, developed in tandem with McLaren churns out an inconceivable 829 naturally-aspirated horsepower at 10,000 RPM. Ten. Thousand. F1 eat your heart out.

Manufacturer

BMW Sauber

Years

1993-1998

Configuration

N/A V12

Displacement

6.1-liter

Power

618hp

Torque

455lb-ft - 480lb-ft

Fuel

Gasoline

Noteworthy Applications

McLaren F1

Basically, two straight sixes strapped to the hip, the S70/2 V12 is another supplied motor in McLaren's fleet, this time from Bavaria's M Performance division. The BMW S70/2 was a 6.1-liter all-aluminum DOHC V12 with early iterations of performance-configured variable valve timing. The engine epitomizes mechanical opulence in its enrollment of precious metals. The heat shields are lined with gold to deflect the immense heat generated at high RPM, while the block and other internals utilized magnesium for its lightweight durability and robustness. Notable figures dispel 627 horses at 7,400 RPM and a then stonking redline of 7,500 RPM.

Ali is an ex-finance man turned automotive journalist, who has been penning enthusiast car reviews in his magazine and publications like DriveTribe since late 2020. Having spent most of his life in Dubai, his exotic escapades have found him behind the wheel of nearly every performance benchmark under the sun. With a predilection for all things with three pedals and a stick, Ali derives meaning in writing about cars —and watches — that make everyday machines feel like they're more than metal.