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by Tim Barnes-Clay Motoring Writer at
www.carwriteups.co.uk
New McLaren 570GT
The letters ‘G’ and ‘T’ are used far too often on cars. And, yes, I’m referring to a grand tourer rather than a gin and tonic. Some automakers think that by sticking a ‘GT’ badge on the boot lid it makes their product instantly irresistible. Many are wrong about that. But McLaren isn’t. Indeed, the 570GT is so far from wrong, it’s untrue.
McLaren’s 570GT is one of the best cars the British fi rm makes and it’s undeniably the most multitalented sports car, too. You can probably tell I was utterly blown away with the 570GT when I tested it on British bitumen recently. Fundamentally, McLaren has taken the awesome 570S and has injected it with an extra dose of civility. The result is the 570GT – a machine that’s as refi ned as possible without swapping for a smaller power unit and additional seats.
The 570GT even looks like the 570S, but there are some major diff erences between the models. The latter’s fl ying buttresses have been replaced by curved bodywork that comprises a glass hatch. There’s a respectable 220-litres of load space under there, meaning the 570GT has a genuine practical edge to it. The car also has a glass roof that makes the cabin airy and full of mood-enhancing light.
The engine, normally on display in the McLaren 570S, is tastefully concealed under a leather fl oor in the 570GT. While, inside, the car gets extra soundproofi ng, soft-close doors and electric heated seats. If that’s not enough to start justifying those letters ‘G’ and ‘T’, the 570GT is equipped with a more hushed exhaust system and softer suspension. The steering is also milder than the 570S’.
These changes make the McLaren 570GT a car you could use every day. The ride is pliable enough to make our pothole-ridden roads bearable, and motorway cruising din is subdued enough so that your ears don’t bleed.
But, just because you could use the GT on a daily basis doesn’t mean this is a lacklustre McLaren. Oh no. In every other way, the 570GT does everything else a full-fat McLaren does. And, most importantly,
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it looks one of the meanest, sexiest cars out there. It’s a major head-turner, that’s for sure.
With just a quick stab of the 570GT’s starter button, the twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 lump barks into life. Depress the gas pedal and the increase of velocity is hard-hitting, due to the 570 horses under the lid. And snapping up and down the cogs via the paddle- mounted gears-shifters is a real smile-inducer. Zero to 62mph is done in an insanely rapid 3.4 seconds, while the top speed is a licence-losing 204mph.
Regardless of the additional luxuries added to the GT, this McLaren’s cabin stays broadly the same as in the 570S’. It’s a work of genius in contemporary sports car interior design and a long way from the chaotic button-fest of the Ferrari 488 or the unemotional ambience in Porsche’s 911 Turbo. You sit near to the ground but erect in the 570GT, so visibility is very good. And, as mentioned earlier, it’s comfortable enough to be used as a real-world form of transport.
While the alterations from the 570S to GT could be seen as fairly minor, they make a substantial diff erence to the McLaren driving experience. The British sports car maker has constructed a machine that is as calm as possible, without kicking any of the theatre to the kerb.
PROS ‘N’ CONS • • • •
• Cost X
FAST FACTS (McLaren 570GT - as tested ) • Max speed: 204 mph •
0-62 mph: 3.4 secs
• Combined mpg: 26.4 •
• Max. power (PS): 570 • CO2: 249 g/km •
Price: £154,000 To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e. fi
ona@thewireweb.co.uk Engine layout: 3799cc twin-turbocharged V8 Stunning Looks √
Unforgettable Drive √ Lightening Quick √ British Built √
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