The word Longtail means many things in the world of motorsports and racing, and that’s true for McLaren, too. Nonetheless, the Longtail hearkens back to an era when cars were brutally fast, drivers were borderline insane, and safety was a good idea—tomorrow.

For the new McLaren 675LT, the future has brought with it many advances including carbon fiber materials, safety baked right into our cars (as well as our race tracks) and power that even the race car drivers of 40 years ago would have respected.

To get more specific: this Longtail uses an upgraded 666-horsepower version of the turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 engine found in the 650S. That allows it to rocket to 62 mph in just 2.9 seconds, whip to 124 mph in 7.9 seconds, and hit a top speed of 205 mph.

Beyond the heritage of race-bred performance (a key to any part of Bruce McLaren’s legacy), the 675LT also wears a new look draped over the familiar carbon-and-aluminum monocoque and subframes. Increased aggression is the theme, executed through details like circular twin titanium exhaust outlets, an additional cooling intake, an extended carbon fiber front splitter, and, of course, the Longtail airbrake.

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The extended Longtail airbrake is 50 percent larger than the standard rear spoiler on the McLaren 650S, but due to special extra-lightweight construction, it actually weighs less.

Five special “By McLaren” “hero specifications” are offered for the 675LT, including four bespoke colors never before available on a McLaren: Delta Red, Napier Green, Chicane Grey, and Silica White. McLaren Orange is the fifth available color; whichever exterior color is chosen, it is brought into the minimalist cabin with hand-selected materials and complements.

While track-focused and derived from McLaren’s motorsports heritage, the 675LT is a fully road-legal car. It will make its public debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, and will be available to customers soon after.

Don’t miss Mr. Bean’s McLaren F1 car!