SCOOP 3 - McLaren 650 leaked online before Geneva debut

The upcoming McLaren 650S, a high-performance variant of the existing McLaren 12C, has leaked online ahead of the car's Geneva debut next month.

Previously, McLaren had confirmed to Autocar that the 650S would be a production model based on the current 12C. The company said that the car would feature myriad styling tweaks, including the nose design from the P1 - as confirmed in these leaked images.

Instead of the 616bhp offered by the 12C's 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, the new 650S is thought to feature - as the moniker suggests - a 650ps (641bhp) variant of the same engine.

Other upgrades are reputed to include improved aerodynamics, upgraded suspension, different brakes and adjustments to the car's seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

McLaren had previously indicated that the new 650S would be tuned specifically to increase its driver engagement, which may be bought about by changes to the steering and transmission.

New options are claimed to include the carbonfibre seats from the P1, which would serve to help cut the new 650S' kerb weight fractionally.

Official pricing has yet to be confirmed, but further leaked documents suggest a price tag that's some £20,000 more than the current £176,000 12C.

McLaren also told Autocar that two version of the 650S would be offered, one with a distinctive carbonfibre styling package.

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