McLaren

Motorshow, News, Sports Car, Coupe

McLaren 570GT to be debut in Geneva

News Editor ·

McLaren will debut the new 570GT at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

The McLaren 570GT joins the 570S Coupe and 540C Coupe as the third model in the recently announced Sports Series family. Described as practical enough for everyday use, the two-seat, mid-engined sportscar is the most refined and road-biased McLaren yet, designed with a focus on day-to-day usability and long distance comfort. It offers ‘increased levels’ of practicality and comfort, while remaining a true McLaren.

A standard fixed glass Panoramic Roof provides a bright, open cabin running through to the large rear opening glass hatch. With the increased glass area of the 570GT, cabin temperatures is regulated and maintained by an enhanced dual-zone air conditioning system as well as an 18 percent transmission glass tint.

Targeted towards longer journeys and weekends away, the ‘spacious and ergonomically-optimised cabin’ features a pair of eight-way electrically adjustable sports seats, upholstered in leather as standard. The control interfaces for the air conditioning, telephony, navigation and audio systems are managed through the centrally-mounted touchscreen, while vehicle setup is configurable via the TFT LCD digital instrument cluster.

The front luggage area remains unchanged from the Coupe, providing 150 litres of stowage, while a further 220 litres of space is available behind the seats on the leather-lined Touring Deck. This additional space is accessed via the side opening Glass Hatch bringing the total storage space for the 570GT to 370 litres. The Glass Hatch opens on the kerbside whether left- or right-hand drive and is framed by carbon fibre providing significant torsional rigidity.

Power comes from the McLaren-developed 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine which debuted in the 570S Coupe. With 562bhp and 600 Nm, power is delivered to the rear wheels via a seven-speed seamless-shift transmission with adjustment through Normal, Sport and Track settings. The settings include bespoke gearchange calibrations with comfort (Normal), Cylinder Cut (Sport) and Inertia Push (Track) technologies all available.

Sharing the newly developed suspension system with the other models in the Sports Series, the 570GT emphasises long distance comfort through further fine tuning to the system which includes a reduction in spring rate stiffness of 15 percent at the front and 10 percent at the rear. Independent adaptive dampers can be dynamically adjusted through Normal, Sport and Track settings, and are coupled to front and rear anti-roll bars.

The 570GT uses a carbon fibre chassis, weighing in at 75kg, contributing to a dry weight of 1,350kg (2,976lb), which equates to 422PS per tonne - for a 0-62 mph time of in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 204 mph. The 570GT returns 26.6 mpg (10.7 l/100 km) on the EU combined cycle and emissions of 249 g/km.

The 570GT is priced from £154,000 in the UK, with first deliveries due to commence late in 2016.

Convertible, News

McLaren reveals 675LT Spider

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McLaren has revealed the latest chapter in the history of the 'Longtail' name with the 675LT Spider.

The new Spider is only the second model to wear the LT badge and is 'in response to significant customer demand' according to McLaren. The preceding 675LT Coupe focused on light weight, enhanced aerodynamics, increased power and track-focused dynamics, and now McLaren has revealed the 'most focused, fastest and exhilarating open top model to ever wear a McLaren badge'.

The 675LT Spider is powered by a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 powertrain from the Coupe sibling, with 675PS (666bhp) delivered at 7,100rpm and 700Nm (516lb ft) available between 5,000-6,500rpm. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes just 2.9 seconds, and 124mph is achieved in 8.1 seconds - giving away only 0.2 seconds to the more aerodynamically optimised and lighter Coupe - top speed is 203mph.

Staying true to the 'Longtail' ethos, established by the McLaren F1 in the late 1990s, the 675LT Spider has been developed with a focus on light weight and optimised aerodynamic performance. The special nature of the model is supported by the extensive use of carbon fibre for the bodywork. As with the 675LT Coupe, the front bumper with larger splitter and end plates, front under body, side skirts, side intakes, lower side intakes, rear bodyside lower, rear fenders, rear deck, rear bumper, diffuser and 'Longtail' Airbrake are all carbon fibre.

Lightweight components are also found throughout the powertrain and chassis, all contributing to a dry weight of just 1,270kg. This weight is a full 100kg lighter than the already lightweight 650S Spider, and gives a power-to-weight figure of 532PS per tonne. Due to the inherent strength of the carbon fibre MonoCell chassis, no further strengthening - and associated weight increase - has been added through the removal of the roof, and the 675LT Spider is only 40kg heavier than the Coupe, all due to the retractable roof system.

The retractable hard top stows below a colour-coded tonneau cover, and the engine remains visible through a lightweight vented polycarbonate engine cover. At the rear, the lightweight titanium crossover twin exhausts exit below the active 'Longtail' Airbrake which is 50 percent larger than other Super Series models. This is integrated in to the design of the flowing rear wings and despite the larger size, carbon fibre construction ensures weight is actually reduced.

The 675LT Spider is priced at £285,450 OTR and strictly limited to only 500 examples, with first deliveries in summer 2016.

Supercars, News, Coupe, Sports Car, Convertible

McLaren reveals limited 650S Can-Am edition

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McLaren has unveiled a limited edition 650S Can-Am, of which only 50 examples will be produced globally.

Based on the 650S Spider, the new model was created by the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) department and honours the 50th anniversary of the inaugural 1966 Canadian-American Challenge Cup, or Can-Am, season. Taking its inspiration from the race cars of this age of motorsport, McLaren established itself throughout the 1960s and 70s as a 'world-beating force' in one of the most extreme forms of motorsport, winning five consecutive championships between 1967 and 1971.

The Can-Am was a no-holds-barred battle of power and speed around some of the most iconic circuits in North America and Canada. It attracted the best drivers of the time including Graham Hill, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart and, of course, Bruce McLaren. The championship started in 1966, only a year after Bruce McLaren Motor Racing was established and in the series that followed, the young Kiwi became one of most successful names in the sport.

McLaren says key to its success in the the Can-Am series was the use of the latest technologies and materials. This principle has been carried through to today's 650S Can-Am, where lightweight materials such as aluminium and mallite were used in the construction of yesterday's racers, the modern-day car features extensive carbon fibre not least in the construction of its lightweight MonoCell chassis.

A carbon fibre retractable hard top features for the first time while further carbon fibre is used for the bonnet, Airbrake, front splitter, rear bumper centre, door blades and 650S Can-Am branded sill cover. MSO has also created a unique set of lightweight forged alloy wheels inspired by those of the 1960s racers with a gloss-black finish on each of the five spokes and a diamond cut rim. Held in place by titanium bolts, the wheels are shod with Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. Carbon ceramic brakes with black painted callipers are standard equipment.

Further unique features inspired by the iconic Can-Am racers include carbon fibre louvered front wings and a new quad-exit, polished stainless steel exhaust system. The louvres are designed to reduce pressure over the front wheels and increase downforce, while the four circular tailpipes at the rear of the car housed within a new visual carbon fibre rear grille 'echo the aggressive throttle trumpets' of the historic models. They also provide the 650S Can-Am with a 'unique soundtrack'.

Like the 650S Spider, this limited production model is powered by a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 which producing 650PS (641bhp) and 678Nm (500 lb ft) of torque, for a 0-62 mph time of only three seconds and its top speed is 204 mph.

The 650S Can-Am is available in three colours. The launch colour, Mars Red, is directly inspired by the M1B raced by Bruce McLaren and his teammate Chris Amon in the debut season. The second colour, Papaya Spark, is described as a modern and metallic take on the famous Can-Am racing McLaren Orange. The final option is Onyx Black which is similar to the base colour used by many of the McLaren customer teams in the later seasons. Each is additionally available with a corresponding racing livery to give an even closer visual association with the historic Can-Am series, says McLaren.

Inside, the standard sports seats are upholstered with leather and Alcantara which complement the exterior. Carbon fibre features extensively throughout the cabin while a further bespoke Can-Am touch is the unique dedication plaque on the driver's door.

The new 650S Can-Am can be commissioned for a price of £255,850 with deliveries set to commence in the spring of 2016, 50 years on from the first race at Mont Tremblant, Canada.