McLaren Sport Series
has garnered all manner of praise since its launch last year, including a
group test victory
on these pages against two excellent rivals. Now McLaren is aiming to broaden the appeal yet further with a new
GT model
Want to play tennis in your McLaren? Now you can!
The 570GT works to McLaren's fairly simple naming strategy, meaning this has the same 570hp as available elsewhere in the Sports Series range but with a less focused edge than the S model. Those changes will be detailed shortly, but it's worth highlighting, this is still a very fast sports car and not some languid cruiser. The additional equipment for a GT compared to an S only adds 35kg, resulting in a kerbweight of 1,350kg. According to McLaren, this makes the 570GT capable of 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds, 0-124mph in 9.8 seconds and 204mph.
So what of those changes that make an S into a GT? The most obvious ones are outside, namely the revised rear deck and standard panoramic roof. The buttresses of the S are gone, McLaren extending the rear spoiler by 10mm to ensure downforce is unchanged. That roof comes with 'Sound & Solar film' to absorb radiation and provide additional insulation.
More luxury, more light, less noise
Beneath the roof lies another significant change for this version of the Sport Series: a Touring Deck. Or boot, as it might otherwise be known. It adds another 220 litres to the luggage capacity, making the total 350 - more than a Ford Focus, McLaren claims. It's leather lined and the hatch will open to the pavement in both left- and right-hand drive; all rather practical and not especially PH you might say, but that's partly the point. The GT aims to keep the supercar credentials of the S with additional usability and practicality, so that you might wish to take it away for the weekend.
To that end, the GT has a host of standard equipment that is optional on the S to make it that bit more comfortable. The stereo is upgraded (now eight speakers, with 12 optional), there are heated memory seats, soft close doors and a quieter exhaust. The roof aims to create a "light, airy cabin", which will be upholstered in leather where previously there might have been Alcantara.
There are hardware tweaks befitting of the GT's role as well, the ceramic brakes of the 570S swapped for steel rotors and the spring rates softened off too: at the front by 15 per cent and 10 per cent at the rear. The steering ratio has been reduced by two per cent and there are less track-focused Pirelli P Zero tyres fitted as standard. This car keeps the familiar Normal, Sport and Track modes for both chassis and powertrain though.
Now it will be a few weeks still before anyone drives a 570GT, but we did get a sneak preview of the car back in January. It's certainly a more luxurious McLaren, the extensive use of leather more akin to an Aston or something similar. It's very stylish too, the smoother rear deck arguably a more cohesive look than the buttresses on the 570S. Plus we were shown that many squishy bags can be fitted in, just to prove those weekend away credentials.
The GT is available to order now at £154,000, or £10,750 more than a 570S. First customer deliveries are due before the end of the year and hopefully there will be a chance for jammy media to drive it before then. Will it be the pick of the eventually three-car Sport Series range? Watch this space!
