We test the McLaren 650S Spider. Cinematography by Ivan Flores, editing by Jennifer Hahn. (video link)

OK, we’ll admit it—there was a lot of excitement in the office leading up to our time with the McLaren 650S Spider. And why not? This is a proper carbon fiber supercar, built in the same factory as one of the most successful and storied Formula 1 teams. It’s from the same company that built the legendary McLaren F1, a 240mph three-seater that to many—including yours truly—remains the greatest car ever to turn a wheel. We were the first publication to get any time with McLaren’s latest press car, fresh off a boat from the UK with a mere 350 miles on the digital odometer. The following few days were extremely memorable, and the Volcano Red convertible earned its position as our favorite car of 2015.

McLaren has been building road cars for more than 20 years now. We shan’t bore you too much with talk of the F1, save to say it was the first completely carbon fiber road car, and it came with a fantastic 6L BMW V12 engine, three seats, and a top speed that wasn’t equalled until the Bugatti Veyron appeared with another 400hp. Sadly, just over 100 were ever built (the plan was to make 300), and today you’ll need quite a lot of money to buy one. Recently, one sold for $ 12 million—not bad for a car that was selling for less than list price in the late 1990s.