McLaren

570S

The McLaren line-up is split into three tiers called the Sport, Super and Ultimate Series. The 570S is the first model to emerge from the Sport Series and has been described as a useable car – one look at its drop-dead gorgeous styling and it’s impossible to disagree with that statement. It features a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine and boasts excellent driving dynamics.

Test Drive

McLaren 570S Coupe

I’m a great believer that if you are going to break the bank and splash the cash on a supercar then it really has to stand out in a crowd – the McLaren 570S in dazzling Ventura Orange does just that.

The car is the first in the company’s new Sport Series which is part of a three-tier model range alongside the Super Series and Ultimate Series. And the 570S, which is billed as the most useable McLaren to date has been designed for both track and road use.

It’s powered by a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine delivering a whopping 562bhp. And that means it can complete the 0-62mph dash in a matter of 3.2 seconds and maxes out at a breath-taking 204mph. With combined fuel economy of 26.6mpg there will be regular trips to the petrol station, but who cares when you’re driving a car that looks this good! And don’t expect to make many friends in the ‘green army’ with carbon emissions of 249g/km.

So onto the nitty gritty details then – the McLaren 570S is priced at £143,250, which is a competitive costing compared to main rival models from Porsche and Audi. However, the test car featured a number of optional extras which added a further £41,370 to the asking price, so it was approaching the £200k mark.

On the styling front, the 570S is guaranteed to stop onlookers dead in their tracks. It boasts exquisite streamlining and the coupe is the first car to feature the latest McLaren ‘shrink wrapped’ design ethos with rear flying buttresses that increase downforce and specially designed door tendons that direct extra air to cool the mid-mounted engine.

There is full LED headlights, 570S specific carbon fibre aero blades, side skirts and rear diffuser, carbon ceramic brakes with orange brake callipers to match the bodywork, 19-inch alloy wheels, sports exhaust and S Spoke lightweight stealth wheels.

The dihedral or perhaps better-known gullwing doors open out and up, so be very careful in a car park (if you’re ever brave enough to leave the car parked up) as they can get you blocked in.

Once inside the car there is a wealth of technology to be explored. On-board techno treats include a Bowers & Wilkins 12-speaker sound system, carbon fibre racing seats, satellite navigation, a seven-inch colour touchscreen, a DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. The cabin area has been designed around the driver and offers more space than any earlier McLaren models. It is snug, but it’s certainly not cramped in any way.

Sitting comfy, then let’s begin. Touch the start button and the car bursts into life and the symphonic engine note is a guide of what’s to come. There is an Active Dynamics Panel that can alter the car’s settings between Normal, Sport and Track which can sharpen up the already super-efficient seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with its lightning fast gear changes.

But in all honesty, unless you are taking to the race circuit or driving along beautifully maintained roads, the Normal setting is the most efficient and won’t leave you clambering for a chiropractor’s phone number at the end of a lengthy journey.

Out on the open road, the 570S is beautifully poised and balanced with precise steering and outstanding grip – that means any tight bend can be attacked and conquered at pace … with confidence.

The acceleration is blisteringly fast and the all-round driving dynamics are guaranteed to leave you smiling hours after you have switched off the engine. You will feel the odd bump and dip along the way, but despite its lightweight construction, the McLaren feels reassuringly sturdy as it soars along.

There is even space for 150-litres worth of luggage under the bonnet and of course, the car is packed with a comprehensive list of innovative safety features to keep you on the straight and narrow no matter how hard you try to deviate from the path.