Power and Poise
When you combine exquisite design with superlative engineering, the result is the McLaren GT.
Ernest Hemingway once wrote: “My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.” What you will see and feel with the McLaren GT can be simply expressed as the very best of British luxury design and motorsport heritage.
The GT is a beautifully proportioned supercar that delivers prodigious dollops of power, a glorious, operatic V8 engine soundtrack and a surprisingly smooth ride that is perfect for daily driving.
Inside, the GT pampers you with chic leather upholstery and Alcantara and aluminum accents that feel more equestrian club lounge than supercar. The seats are comfy and supportive, and visibility is excellent, especially around the front of the vehicle. It also offers a newly designed infotainment system that can be optioned with a high-end Bowers & Wilkins hi-fi. A high-definition, vertical touchscreen sits elegantly on the center console and features some useful shortcut buttons for easy use when driving.
The cabin is roomier, more practical and more refined than any McLaren before it. The dramatic wing doors are fitted with an automatic, soft-close function and the optional nose-lift kit allows you to quickly raise the front of your GT to clear curbs or raised driveways.
Powering this sleek-looking grand tourer is a mid-mounted, 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that develops 612 hp, can sprint from zero to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and boasts a top speed of 203 mph. Married to a quick-shifting, seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox, it offers addictive amounts of power delivered to the tarmac through the rear wheels.
The aluminum paddle shifters located just behind the steering wheel have an authentic mechanical feel and the three drive modes can be matched to the mood of the driver. For a supercar, “comfort mode” is pleasingly compliant, comfortable and soaks up all the bumps in city traffic, while “track mode” quickens your throttle response and stiffens your suspension for sportier driving.
In addition to the GT’s impressive acceleration, what really stands out for those who love to drive are the way it handles, the stopping power of its brakes and its exhaust note. The steering is well-weighted and pinpoint accurate, the brakes have superb feel and invoke confidence and the song this V8 engine sings makes it feels like legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti is sitting behind your left ear.
If you enjoy having your five senses tingle when you drive, then the McLaren GT’s aesthetics, acoustics, acceleration and appointments will deliver a full smorgasbord of thrills. It truly is the ultimate grand tourer.
McLaren | cars.mclaren.com
Words: Peter Lyon
Image: Alfie Goodrich
