2015 McLaren 650S Le Mans first official pics

WE DON'T usually fall for special editions, but it’s hard to not to be seduced by the McLaren 650S Le Mans. It’s two decades since the original McLaren stormed Le Mans, filling four of the first five places and is still, 20 years on, the last non-prototype to win the famous 24-hour enduro.

Made in the McLaren Special Operations shed with input from the original F1 designer Peter Stevens, the Le Mans edition wears its heart on its sleeve with its metallic Sarthe Grey exterior paint matching that of the race-winning #59 car driven by Lehto, Dalmas and Sekiya in 1995.

Pirelli-wrapped ‘Le Mans edition’ alloy wheels (19-inches up front, 20-inches on the rear) have orange centres – McLaren’s trademark hue – while the ceramic brakes have matching orange calipers. That roof-mounted ‘snorkel’ scoop echoes the brilliant competition cars, and while there’s no additional power for the 478kW/678Nm 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, that snorkel should give it a more vocal rant when the special 650S is pushed hard.

There’s also a carbonfibre front splitter and rear bumper, extended side blades with McLaren orange tips, and, inside, black leather and (you guessed it) orange Alcantara seats.

The McLaren 650S Le Mans costs £244,500 ($454K) which, while a hefty premium over the regular 650S at £195,250 on the road, is less than the 650S MSO at £252,500. No word on whether any the 50 built have been ordered by Australian customers. UK deliveries start in mid-2015.