McLaren 570S: Another Macca arrives on the sports car scene

McLaren 570S: Another Macca arrives on the sports car scene

Yes, you could say it’s a baby P1 but importantly, this is the British upstart’s showing of exactly why Ferrari, Porsche and Audi should take them seriously.

If ever you thought McLaren Automotive, makers of such cars as the MP4-12C and the evil looking P1 Hybrid hyper car were one or two hit wonders then you need to recalibrate your expectations. Hot on cock tails of the 675 LT, a lustier version of the 650S thanks to its longer than usual tail (thus the LT in its name) comes the new 570S, the numbers explaining the rounded off power output in Horses. It’s the first product of a new series of projectiles that this British manufacturer will put under the banner of ‘Sport Series’ and the V8 powered 570S is the first car to arrive prior to the naming strategy.

It is a RWD with a mid-engine layout of tipping a hat to the classic sports and also features the company’s USP of a carbon fibre built MonoCell. With the arrival of the 570S McLaren is poised to enlarge its presence on the field of play and also to appeal to a wider audience; the 570S looking for a home with a driver who wants the super car look, the noise, drama but not being a ragged edge racer.

Essentially it’s a three-tier pecking order at play here with the new Sport Series cars sitting below the 650S as entry-levels somewhat. The new 570S joins the 12C as V8 powered alternatives with the aim of lesser aggression for road use with a clear intent of retaining the ethos of McLaren by offering race-pace at an affordable price, around two thirds of the McLaren 650S. Think of the Sport Series as apt rivals to Audi R8 V10, 911 Turbo and Aston Vantage.

But that’s not all. At a later stage will be another variant of the Sports Series and a less hairy 540C; the C stands for ‘Club’ which will be even cheaper and accessible to buy. The 650S and 675LT spearhead the mid-riff ‘Super Series’ tier for now with the P1 championing the ‘Ultimate Series.’

570S specs

3.8-litre V8 Twin Turbo
419kW/600Nm
7-speed SSG Transmission
1313kg
100km/h – 3,2secs
200km/h – 9.5 secs
Top Speed – 328km/h