Supercars and Ancient Woodlands: A Walkaround of the McLaren 650S Spider in the New Forest

There is something special about the way a supercar looks when it’s taken out of the city and into the wild. We recently took our McLaren 650S Spider down to the heart of the New Forest in Hampshire to capture a full walk around and truly appreciate the engineering of this British masterpiece against one of the UK’s most iconic backdrops.

During our walk around, a few features of the 650S Spider stood out more than ever:

  • The Dihedral Doors: Nothing says “supercar” quite like McLaren’s signature butterfly doors. Opening them up in the middle of a forest clearing felt like a scene from a movie.
  • The Retractable Hardtop: Being the Spider model, we had the roof down to soak in the New Forest air. It takes just 17 seconds to transform from a sleek coupe into an open-top thrill machine.
  • The Heart of the Beast: Under the glass engine cover sits the 3.8L Twin-Turbo V8. Seeing it tucked into the carbon fibre “MonoCell” chassis reminds you that this car was built by a racing team first and foremost.

Why the New Forest?

Hampshire is home to some incredible driving roads, but the New Forest offers a unique pace. While the 650S is capable of 0-60 mph in just 3 seconds, cruising through villages like Lyndhurst and Burley at a gentle pace allows you to appreciate the ProActive Chassis Control—which makes the car feel as smooth as a luxury saloon on the Forest’s sometimes uneven roads.

The Ultimate Prom Arrival

As we filmed the car from every angle, we couldn’t help but think how incredible this car looks pulling up to a venue. Whether it’s a grand Hampshire manor house or a coastal hotel, the 650S Spider doesn’t just arrive—it commands the space.

If you’re looking to make a statement at your 2026 Prom, this is the car that will have every phone camera in the vicinity pointed at you.