Stock image of the 620R.
MANILA: Smuggled luxury cars that are seized in the Philippines don't end up in a good place. They are often sent to the scrapyard as have been reported in recent years.
Philippine Customs officials recently announced on social media that they had foiled a smuggling attempt on Aug 3 with the seizure of a rare Mclaren 620R that had been declared as a Porsche Cayman to evade hefty taxes.
The limited edition McLaren is valued at US$672,080 in the Philippines and attracts duties and taxes to the tune of US$342,000. However, the importer had declared only US$30,550 worth of taxes with the shipment, under-stating the dues by around 90%.
The 620R is based off a 570S GT4 and it debuted in December 2019. It's a road-legal version of a race car, and is endowed with the most powerful engine in the McLaren Sports Series.
The 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine doles up 610hp and 620Nm, enabling the supercar to sprint from 0-100kph in 2.9s (0-200kph in 8.1s) with a top speed of 322kph.
It develops total of 185kg of downforce across the aerodynamic bodywork at 250kph.
Mclaren will only make 350 units of the supercar. It retails from £250,000 (RM1.37mil) in the UK.
It would be a crying shame if the 620R goes from Woking to Manila to meet an undignified end under the weight of a bulldozer.
