2018 McLaren 570GT first drive review
- Excellent performance.
- GT cabin layout offers genuine space increase.
- Amazing handling.
- Engine sounds uninspiring.
- Firmer suspension detracts from GT character.
- Sport Package doesn't come cheap.
When McLaren launched the 570GT back in 2016 it was designed to do something different.
Unlike the rest of the Formula One team turned supercar maker’s range which was designed to be exploited on a racetrack, the GT - as the name implies - was about grand touring.
So instead of the rear window giving a view of the 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 like the 570S, the 570GT got a new luggage shelf and rear-opening hatch to make it a more practical two-seater supercar. It also got a softer suspension tune and slower steering rate for a more relaxed drive, and to give it a point of difference compared to the sportier 570S.
Initially it was a successful plan but there came a time when customers decided they wanted the best of both worlds - the comfort and extra space of the GT but the more dynamic handling of the S. So, what else was McLaren to do but accommodate their customer’s requests and so the 570GT Sport Package was born.
It keeps the same design elements of the 570GT, with the rear hatch, luggage shelf and tinted glass roof, but swaps out the softer mechanical package for the same tune as the 570S. That means a new steering rack, dampers and suspension uprights that are tuned to the same settings as the 570S, as well as wearing new Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres for better grip.
Of course it doesn’t come for free, it’s a $13,100 extra on top of the $415,000 asking price for the 570GT. That’s a total of $428,100 for the 570GT with Sport Package, compared to $395,000 for the 570S.
McLaren Australia has introduced the Sport Package as part of the 2018 model year updates for the Sport Series range (which includes the 570S Coupe and Spider as well as the 540C). The biggest difference for the 2018 570GT, apart from the option of the Sport Package, is the addition of carbon ceramic brakes as standard.
Drive recently got a brief taste of the updated 570GT with the Sport Package, and handily we got to drive it back-to-back with the 570S Spider. Although it would have been nice to have a standard 570GT for comparison too, our test drive was enough to get an impression of what the upgraded machine is like.
Firstly, it must be said that the standard 570GT with its ‘softer’ suspension is hardly a wallowing, rolly-polly machine. It’s still a finely-honed supercar from a company that has proven to be fast learners in the cut-throat world of fast machinery.
Driving the new 570GT, it feels responsive like few other cars can match. The steering is so direct you almost need to slow your movements down for fear it will react too sharply.
McLaren has done a superb job tuning the suspension on all of its models so even though the Sport Package stiffens up the GT it isn’t so extreme as to make it uncomfortable. Instead it just feels sharper and helps the car feel more responsive to whatever input you give it.
As for the rest of the car, the 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine provides enormous performance, with 419kW and 600Nm, but does so without the delightful soundtrack most of its rivals can offer. Obviously the screaming V10 of the Lamborghini Huracan and Audi R8 is a mechanical symphony and Porsche’s 911 has an iconic flat-six soundtrack. The McLaren, by contrast, sounds a little flat and lacking in aural drama.
The cabin of the 570GT remains its biggest selling point. The leather-lined luggage shelf behind the driver may be small compared to some grand tourers but for a two-seat, mid-engined, supercar it offers up meaningful extra storage space.
McLaren’s decision to create its own bespoke switchgear has paid off with a cabin that feels unique in the supercar world. From the smartphone-style infotainment screen to the indicator stalks, the 570GT interior feels suitably special and premium.
While we’d need a longer, more thorough drive before delivering a definitive verdict, the addition of the Sport Package certainly gives the 570GT a new character for those who demand a more engaging drive.
2018 McLaren 570GT pricing and specifications
Price: From $415,000 plus on-road costs
Engine: 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol
Power: 419kW at 7500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 5000-6500rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, rear-wheel drive
Fuel use: 10.7L/100km