McLaren May Eventually Offer AWD on its Cars

McLaren is looking at using all-wheel drive going forward as supercars become more and more powerful.

The British manufacturer’s recently unveiled 720S supercar produces 710 horsepower from its 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which is sent to the rear wheels only. According to McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt, any more power and all-wheel drive would pretty much be a necessity if it wishes to retain any degree of drivability.

“We’re not there yet, but I’d say we’re getting close to the limit,” Flewitt told in a recent interview. “We’re not planning [all wheel drive] right now, but we’re conscious it’s a direction that we may well want to go in.”

SEE ALSO: Here’s a McLaren 720S Mega Gallery For You to Drool Over

An all-wheel drive McLaren wouldn’t use a conventional all-wheel drive system, however. Flewitt said the automaker is instead looking at using an electric motor to power to the front axle, which would give it more control in regards to power delivery and would save it from having to use a driveshaft. He also said the hybrid system would be flexible, meaning it will likely appear on a number of cars in McLaren’s portfolio.

Finally, Flewitt revealed McLaren may one day ditch its rear subframe entirely, electing to bolt the engine directly to the car’s carbon tub. This has obvious drawbacks in regards to comfort, as there are no mounts to prevent the engine’s vibrations from infiltrating the cabin. If the brand could figure out how to ditch the subframe, however, it could do away with a significant amount of weight – something supercar manufacturers are always looking to do.

[Source: Car and Driver]