McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept
The team at McLaren sure know how to keep busy. McLaren Special Operations, MSO for short announced yesterday that they will launch latest concept at this week’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The McLaren 570GT by MSO concept is a unique take on the British sports-car maker’s “affordable” grand touring car. The main tweaks appear to be subtle but important design, technology, and luxury features that McLaren claims will be made available to MSO customers in the future.
There’s a new titanium exhaust system, which is not only 30 per cent lighter than the stainless steel item it replaces but apparently sounds much better too. The new exhaust gets a set of new gold (yes gold) heat shields. Reminds us of the similar treatment in the famed McLaren F1.
There is also the new electro-chromatic glass roof, which has five levels of tint, from clear to dark. Pretty cool tech that McLaren no-doubt stole from Mercedes who’ve been doing that for years.
The McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept makes its first appearance at this weekend’s Monterey Car Week in California.
McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept Press Release
McLaren Automotive has released details of the new McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept ahead of its debut on the famed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach golf course at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the world’s highest-profile competitive display of collector’s cars. The McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept will be displayed on the concept lawn where previously McLaren has displayed many of its concept and future models, not least the McLaren P1TM.
The McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept further accentuates the McLaren interpretation of a GT car. Previewing a collection of enhancements created by McLaren’s bespoke division MSO which was itself launched at Pebble Beach in 2012, the car is the first example of the recently-introduced 570GT to receive the attention of McLaren’s finest team of craftsmen and designers. They have added styling, feature and material enhancements such as an Electro-Chromic Roof that are all destined to become available through the MSO Defined portfolio.
Firstly, the McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept delivers an improved aural experience both for the driver and onlookers thanks to its new MSO Exhaust system. Manufactured from titanium and consequently 30% lighter than the standard stainless steel system, the MSO Exhaust takes learnings from the McLaren 675LT project, delivering a progressively richer and more characterful tone more immediately as the revs rise than the standard exhaust. The MSO Exhaust’s heat shields are also finished in a golden titanium nitride tint, visible through the rear air ducts, which naturally change colour to a blue/purple as the system heats and cools through its cycle.
Externally, the McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept is finished in Elite ‘Pearl White’ paintwork. Complementing the Pearl White finish is an MSO Piano Black package, delivering a deep gloss black finish to exterior details including the wheels, side skirt, front and rear and door inserts, as well as interior details.
Recognising the heat of the Californian summer, the McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept features an Electro-Chromic Roof. Currently in development for the 570GT, the Electro-Chromic Roof takes the standard-fit glass roof with UV-protective interlayer and adds a further electro-chromic interlayer. Using a touch-sensitive headlining, the Electro-Chromic Roof can be adjusted through five defined points from almost clear to a rich, dark tint, adding a further level of comfort, privacy and protection for occupants.
Completing the exterior treatment of the McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept are MSO Defined Full-Length Sill Panels in Gloss Carbon Fibre. These beautifully complex, gloss-lacquered option cover the entire length of the 570 GT’s sills.
Internally, the 570GT by MSO Concept features a ‘By McLaren’ luxury interior in Saddle Tan with an integrated 12-speaker Bowers and Wilkins Hi-Fi system. Harmonising with the enhanced exterior carbon fibre content, the Concept features the MSO Defined Carbon Fibre Interior Pack in Gloss Lacquer. To complete the bespoke nature of the Concept, interior components, interior door inserts and tunnel sides are all finished in a rich gloss lacquer.
Paul Mackenzie, Executive Director of McLaren Special Operations, commented: ‘This is the second consecutive year that McLaren Special Operations has used the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to demonstrate our capabilities on Sports Series cars. Last year, soon after the launch of the 570S, we showed the 570S ‘by MSO’ which featured the uniquely formulated Mauvine Blue paint finish coupled with a bespoke interior finished in Carbon Black leather with coordinating detailing, carried through from the exterior colour. This year, closely following the reveal of the GT addition to the Sports Series family, we showcase the breadth of McLaren Special Operations personalisation work, this time focussing on bespoke engineering design and components. With its Electro Chromic Roof especially, the McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept would be well suited to the needs and demands of customers in sunnier and warmer climates.’
The McLaren 570GT by MSO Concept builds upon the recently-introduced 570GT – the most luxurious and refined McLaren to date. Offering up to 370 litres of storage, plus a suspension and steering that’s finely-tuned to deliver longer-distance comfort, the 570GT is the most road-biased McLaren to date with a focus on day-to-day usability.
The front luggage area provides 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.
Under the skin, the long-distance comfort is created by fine tuning of the suspension, including 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. In addition, the electro-hydraulic steering system offers a two percent reduced ratio, specifically designed to smooth out driver inputs at high cruising speed.
The 570GT is fitted with the McLaren-developed 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 M838TE engine. Power and torque output is 570PS (562bhp) and 600 Nm (443lb ft) respectively and power is delivered to the rear wheels via a seven-speed seamless-shift transmission with adjustment through Normal, Sport and Track settings to produce one of the most rewarding and engaging driving experiences in the sports car class.
In common with all McLaren models since the introduction of the MP4-1 Formula 1™ car in 1981, the 570GT uses a carbon fibre chassis. The MonoCell II debuted in the 570S Coupé, and is shared across the Sports Series models. Weighing just 75kg, the lightweight yet extremely stiff chassis contributes to a dry weight of 1,350kg (2,976lb).
This delivers breathtaking performance more commonly seen in the supercar segment: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds, 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph) in 9.8 seconds, with a top speed of 328 km/h (204 mph). Despite supercar performance figures, there have been no sacrifices to the everyday drivability and practicality of the 570GT which returns 26.6 mpg (10.7 l/100 km) on the EU combined cycle and emissions of 249 g/km.
