The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Price: upon application
On sale: now
As supercars go, some attract your attention, others demand it. The McLaren 620R is the latter. Ignore it at your peril. Walk past it dismissively and it’ll grab you by the shoulder, spin you around and smack you in the face. That’s just the sort of car it is.
So, feast your eyes on this bright orange projectile. Notice the Tron-like white outlines highlighting the side air-intakes, front spoiler and side skirts. Take in the presence of a LeMans-style roof scoop, and marvel at that massive rear wing. And what’s this? Sponsor branding on the flanks? Is this a race car, is it a road car, or is it a bit of both?
The 620R is a bookend for the Sports Series in McLaren's product line. The Sports Series was a kind of (dare I say it?) "entry-level" range. Above it was the Super Series and, for ultra-exclusive hypercars, the Ultimate Series. This is being reconfigured. Ultimate remains, Sports is ditched, Supercars replace super and welcome the comfier GT Series.
Adapted for road use, in theory
The Sports Series featured the 570GT and 600LT and also sired a race car in the form of the 570S GT4. The 620R is essentially that car, but adapted for road use. However, while it has the same de rigueur 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, there is more power, about 50 more brake horsepower, taking it to 611bhp, or 620PS as befits its nomenclature. Likewise, there’s 620Nm of torque delivered by the time you’ve revved up the engine to 3500rpm. Which won’t take very long at all.
I would say blink and you'll miss it, but you won't be able to shut your eyes – or recover your dropped jaw – if you deploy said torque and find yourself propelled from rest to 100 kilometres per hour in just 2.9 seconds. Keep your foot in. In another 5.2 seconds, you will reach 200kph, 2.3 seconds after that you'll see off the quarter-mile, and eventually 322kph will arrive leaving the outside world a blur.
Rest assured that the 30-centimetre-high rear spoiler will keep you planted on the ground, as at half the speed, it was already exerting 185 kilograms of downforce.
While insane and mesmerising, the acceleration isn’t brutal or dramatic. It’s just very efficient and utterly relentless – so, in keeping with the purposeful nature of this car. The 620R also has full manually adjustable race suspension, although adaptive dampers can be had as an option. Most of the body is in lightweight carbon fibre.
Inside there's a six-point race harness fitted, although it also gets regular three-pointed seat belts for daily use. The centre console has been raised slightly, so that you can reach it once the full harness has you tightly in its hold. The AC and sat nav are no-cost options, there's Alcantara trim everywhere, and reduced sound-deadening means the Dh20,000 or so you'll spend on the optional 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo is a waste of dirhams.
Pricey or not, what you absolutely must have is the R Pack, which includes more carbon fibre, titanium sports exhaust, track telemetry with cameras and, best of all, the roof scoop.
You might think that’s just a faux affectation, but blast up through the gears and the engine audibly sucks in huge gulps of air through the scoop. It’s like you’ve got Darth Vader clinging on to the top of the car, breathing menacingly and finally pronouncing: “The Force is strong in this one.” You’ll hurry back to the dealership, shouting: "Take my money!"
Suited to the racetrack, in reality
Escape the city limits and the 620R comes to life. Always on-edge in town, looking too extreme, sounding too loud and feeling too harsh, it’s when you find that smooth piece of tarmac and an enticing and challenging sequence of S-bends that its forte shines.
The steering is quick and super-responsive, the direction changes will put a crick in your neck, the chassis is unshakeably clamped to the road with no pitching, diving or squat, and the gear changes fast and furious when you want them to be. The toggle paddles are unique in that you can change up or down with either paddle.
Stop off at the chiropractor afterwards, though. Why? Because driving the 620R on the road is intense, emotionally and physically. The ride is utterly unyielding, it picks up ridges and bumps you can’t even see. It transmits everything to the cabin unfiltered.
On a track that’s ideal. In the real world, combined with the aural assault, straining to see out of it at junctions and the stress of guiding it through traffic, it can all leave your nerves frayed and your energy drained.
Because while some might say this is a race car for the road, it's not. It's a race car for the racetrack that can be driven on the road – there and back.
Stock up on energy drinks, you'll need them when you get to the track, because that's where you'll be heading, of course. Once you're there, you can swap the wheels for another set shod with custom-made slicks at special request from Pirelli to fit over 20-inch rims. Suddenly the adrenalin will be coursing through your veins and the 620R will finally make sense.
Because while some might say this is a race car for the road, it’s not. It’s a race car for the racetrack that can be driven on the road – there and back. But you won’t want to take it to work or the shops and your better half will hate it. It’s raucous, rude and rock hard.
It cares little for your comfort and aims only to chalk up fast lap times, each one quicker than the previous. You almost feel like if you're not able to do that, it'll eject you and carry on by itself.
The 620R does not compromise. It doesn't play to the gallery either. Its efficiency chastises sentiment. It's not one for flattering you, drawing you in, making you feel special. It's there only to reward your competence and skill. If that's not what you're about, look elsewhere.
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”
RESULTS
6.30pm: Longines Conquest Classic Dh150,000 Maiden 1,200m.
Winner: Halima Hatun, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer).
7.05pm: Longines Gents La Grande Classique Dh155,000 Handicap 1,200m.
Winner: Moosir, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Longines Equestrian Collection Dh150,000 Maiden 1,600m.
Winner: Mazeed, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm: Longines Gents Master Collection Dh175,000 Handicap.
Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Longines Ladies Master Collection Dh225,000 Conditions 1,600m.
Winner: Cosmo Charlie, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Longines Ladies La Grande Classique Dh155,000 Handicap 1,600m.
Winner: Secret Trade, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
10pm: Longines Moon Phase Master Collection Dh170,000 Handicap 2,000m.
Winner:
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
If you go
The Flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.
The trip
Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.
MATCH INFO
First Test at Barbados
West Indies won by 381 runs
Second Test at Antigua
West Indies won by 10 wickets
Third Test at St Lucia
February 9-13
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info-box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Happy Tenant
Started: January 2019
Co-founders: Joe Moufarrej and Umar Rana
Based: Dubai
Sector: Technology, real-estate
Initial investment: Dh2.5 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 4,000
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Mobile phone packages comparison
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More coverage from the Future Forum
UAE gold medallists:
Omar Al Suweidi (46kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (50kg), Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi (60kg), Omar Al Fadhli (62kg), Mohammed Ali Al Suweidi (66kg), Omar Ahmed Al Hosani (73), all in the U18’s, and Khalid Eskandar Al Blooshi (56kg) in the U21s.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Napoleon
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Price: upon application
On sale: now
