Carbon Monocoque

Lore & Background

The carbon fibre tub in the 720S is an evolution of the MonoCage used in the P1. It is lighter than the previous model's tub and is also used in the 765LT.

In Their Own Story

The rain lashed against the cockpit of the MP4/1, blurring the lights of the night race at Brands Hatch. Inside, Niki Lauda gripped the wheel, feeling the familiar vibration of the Pirelli tires fighting for grip. A sudden loss of traction sent the car spinning into the barriers with a deafening crunch that echoed through the wet circuit. Silence followed the impact, then the slow, agonizing wait. When the marshals finally approached, they found Lauda shaken but unharmed; the carbon monocoque had absorbed the energy of the crash, remaining intact and rigid, proving once again that McLaren's bold engineering gamble was the difference between a broken career and a continued legacy.

Reader's Guide

The 720S's chassis is built around a carbon fibre MonoCage II tub, which is bonded to aluminum subframes. This construction provides a lighter and stiffer structure compared to the 650S.

Did You Know?

• The MonoCage II tub in the 720S is 18 kg lighter than the carbon fibre tub used in the McLaren 650S.
• The same MonoCage II tub underpins the 765LT, but not the Senna, Speedtail, or Elva.
• The 720S's carbon fibre tub allows for dihedral doors with large cutouts for easier entry and exit.