2018 McLaren 570S & McLaren 570GT (Ultimate Guide)

Entering the world of McLaren product ownership will set you back about $200,000 USD – unlocking its 570 models for purchase – and could be very well worth the price of admission.

The 570 family consists of the 570S and 570GT, with the latter being the more refined, luxurious, practical and road-going of the two trims. The GT shouldn’t be mistaken as a detuned and watered-down variant of the S – because it is not, with both cars sharing the same twin-turbo V8 engine – and for 2018, the GT shares even more DNA with the S, thanks to the new optional Sport Pack.

McLaren 570S & 570GT

At the outset, the 570 models don’t look particularly dissimilar from each other, or anything else in the McLaren line up for that matter. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it would take a keen eye and knowledgeable enthusiast to distinguish it from its stablemates, of which it shares the same sleek design cues and carbon-tub chassis.

The S trim comes in a coupe and spider (convertible) configuration, while the GT is offered only in coupe format with a panoramic roof and modified rear glass hatch that offers additional storage space. The GT trim also offers a plethora of customizations which allow for custom paint schemes, interior detailing and even one-off builds and bespoke options via the MSO (McLaren Special Operations) department.

Features and Highlights

Engine

Both the S and GT employ the same mid-mounted 3.8L twin-turbo V8 powerplant – delivering 562-horsepower @ 7,500 rpm and 443 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000-6500 rpm to the rear wheels – which is mated to a 7-speed SSG (seamless-shift gearbox) transmission.

The engine has been praised for its linearity, and although peak numbers are achieved after 5,000 rpm, the car also has plenty of low-end grunt and responsiveness. The end result is a 0-62 mph time of just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 204 mph (S trim).

Chassis

Thanks to the use of McLaren’s infamous carbon-tub chassis, the 570S weighs in as little as 1,350 kg, with the spyder and GT trim being slightly heftier with the benefit of extra equipment.

Carbon-ceramic brake discs and Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires come standard on all trim levels, and the aforementioned Sport Pack ($5,950 USD) exclusive to the GT, includes dynamic handling options which essentially give the GT an identical chassis setup to the S. Adaptive dampers allow the driver to control stiffness and rebound settings by offering Normal, Sport and Track modes.

Exterior

The 570 model, like all other McLarens, was designed to be aerodynamic perfection. The body is adorned with shrink-wrapped aluminum body panels, while the teardrop-shaped cockpit reduces drag and offers a one-off, McLaren-exclusive design cue.

The most notable stylings come in the form of the slimline ‘light blade’ LED tail lights, flying rear buttresses which seamlessly connect the roof to the rear, signature Dihedral doors, and contoured front nose.

The GT trim incorporates a higher rear lip spoiler compared to the S, with the most significant difference being that the GT has slightly taller roofline thanks to its panoramic roof and rear glass hatch which together, offer more stowage, headroom, luxury, and comfort.

Interior

A wide range of choices for colorways, designs, and finishes allows you to truly customize the interior for either of the trims.

The TFT Instrument Cluster and Intelligent Entertainment touchscreen continue to be the focal point of information relay, displaying vitals such as speed, engine rpm, gear selection, operating temperatures and infotainment controls.

For the audio system, a 4-speaker 240W and 8-speaker 320W setup comes standard in the S and GT respectively, with a Bowers & Wilkins 12-speaker surround system optional for both trims.

Verdict

Producing supercars that can capably negotiate the demands of everyday, real-world driving are nothing new, nor exclusive to one marque – but it should be said that McLaren leads the industry in this regard.

We now live in an era where consumers expect their new supercar or hypercar to be as comfortable fetching groceries as it is at carving out the racetrack – one car for every occasion. Throughout the entire line-up, McLaren shows remarkable consistency and innovation in its implementation of this increasingly important parameter.

For the 570 line, the GT now offers the best of both worlds with the introduction of the Sport Pack option. With every new update and revision, McLaren inches closer to perfecting the “everyday supercar”, and the new 570 models are amongst the latest and greatest examples of this.

In my opinion, this should make the 570S and particularly the 570GT, one of the most desirable new supercars in this new-age market.

Specifications and Performance Summary

Pricing and Model Info

Make	McLaren
Model	570
Generation	2016 – Present
Sub-Model	S/GT
Car type	Coupe (S/GT) or Spyder (S)
Category	Series Production Car
Built At	Woking, England
Base Price (USD)	$191,100

Chassis and Powertrain

Curb Weight	1,350 kg (2,976 lbs) for S Coupe
Layout	Mid-engine
Driven wheels	Rear-wheel drive
Suspension	Specially tuned adaptive dampers and springs
Brakes	Lightweight composite brake system with aluminum hubs and iron discs
Engine	V8
Aspiration	Twin-turbocharged
Displacement	3.8 Litres
Transmission	7-Speed SSG
Tires	Pirelli P Zero Corsa