The McLaren 788HS is the final, fastest and most focused chapter in a bloodline that started with the brilliant 720S, got angrier with the 765LT and sharper still with the 750S. Think of it as the greatest hits album—only louder, lighter and considerably quicker.

Power comes from a 788PS 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that hurls the 1,265kg supercar to 100km/h in just 2.8 seconds, on to 200km/h in 7.0 seconds and eventually a top speed of 330km/h. The numbers are suitably outrageous, but it’s the details that make the 788HS stand out.

There’s a completely reworked aerodynamic package featuring an S-Duct bonnet, a towering active rear wing and an F1-inspired diffuser that together generate 10 per cent more downforce than the already bonkers 765LT.

It sits 5mm lower at the front, gets bespoke suspension tuning, Senna-derived carbon ceramic brakes and, for the first time on this platform, centre-lock wheels. In other words, it’s been engineered to attack race circuits with even more enthusiasm while remaining civilised enough for the drive home.

Inside, the cabin keeps the focus firmly on the driver with lightweight carbon fibre trim, exclusive HS detailing and bespoke finishes, while McLaren Special Operations offers enough customisation to ensure no two cars need look alike.

Then there’s the soundtrack. A quad-exit titanium exhaust, revised engine mounts and carefully tuned induction noise make sure the twin-turbo V8 doesn’t just go like a rocket—it sounds every bit as dramatic as the occasion deserves.

Only the third McLaren ever to wear the coveted HS badge, the 788HS isn’t just another special edition. It’s the ultimate send-off for one of the finest supercar platforms of the modern era—and a reminder that, before McLaren moves on, it still knows exactly how to build a properly exciting driver’s car.