The hotly anticipated McLaren 12C Spider finally breaks cover, featuring a retractable hardtop. Also, on the evidence of the pictures they released of the car going sideways, the Spider must be much more fun to drive than the hardtop. One thing’s for sure, the 12C Spider looks much cooler than its coupe version. By simply removing the top, McLaren may have turned a soulless car into a real funster.

Technical specifications are identical, mostly, to the hardtop. The Spider features the same carbon ‘MonoCell’ chassis identical to that of the 12C, and the same 625 PS biturbo V8 engine. Amazingly it has the same 0 to 60 time as the 12C, at 3.1 seconds, but the top speed is a few mph slower. The Spider 204 mph, while the hardtop can manage 207. Big Deal!

The Spider is also as geeky as the 12C, what with all the dynamics technology including Brake Steer, ProActive Chassis Control and the unique McLaren Airbrake. But the moment you drop the top and listen to the tuned exhausts, you thank McLaren engineers for being such nerds. Because this car is so technical, the performance is more accessible, and it’s also hugely comfortable.

The car has a fabulous roof system, which only takes 17 seconds to go up and down, and can be operated while on the move up at speeds up to 30kph (19mph). Behind driver and passenger sits a rear windscreen – that acts as wind deflector – which may also be electronically lowered and raised. With the roof raised the area under the tonneau can be used as an additional luggage area which provides 52 litres of useful storage space.

The McLaren 12C Spider is a fantastic car. But it also has a mahoosive price tag. It is priced £195,500, but as is the case with these cars, you are going to spend a few days speccing it up and order bespoke this and that. McLaren’s special operations center gives you endless opprunities to make you car more exclusive. So by the time you finish with the configurator, you’ll probably be looking at £230K car.

Antony Sheriff, McLaren Automotive Managing Director said: “I am really excited to announce that the new 12C Spider is now available to order at new McLaren retailers worldwide. The launch of our second model is an exciting milestone in the growth of our company.

“While the 12C is the technological essence of a race car, the 12C Spider incorporates an additional dimension. 12C Spider owners will love the opportunity to lower the roof and hear the unhindered howl of a V8 twin turbo engine at full throttle. It undoubtedly enhances an already euphoric 12C driving experience.

* when specified with PZero Corsa tyres