By Tycho de Feijter for 6th Gear Automotive Solutions.
Haarlem, May 2019.
This is the new McLaren GT. McLaren says it is not a pure-bred supercar, but a Gran Tourismo in the classical sense: a fast car to traverse continents in comfort. To make the GT more comfortable than its supercar brethren, McLaren made the cabin wider and a bit taller, softened the suspension, and improved the sound deadening.
The also calibrated the gearbox so it shifts more relaxed; slower and without that supercar ‘bang’. McLaren however is most proud of something completely different: luggage space. McLaren figures that those who want their car comfortable also want to take some stuff around, like a suitcase or a golf bag.
Therefore, McLaren created a luggage capacity of 570 liters, divided by 420 liters in the rear and 150 in the front. A regular McLaren, like the 570S, tops out at 350 liter. The extra space allows a driver to take a weekend bag, two big suitcases, and a golf bag. The latter can be loaded on top of the rear deck. This will reduce rear-visibility somewhat, but McLaren apparently thinks customers don’t care.
Power of the McLaren GT comes from a 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8, good for an output of 612 hp and 630 Nm. The engine is mated to a seven-speed DCT. The GT’s body is largely made out of carbon fiber, keeping curb weight down to 1535 kg. And that, means speed: 0-100 is gone in 3.2 seconds, 0-200 in 9 seconds, and top speed is 326 km/h.
Happily, McLaren has fitted a proper brake-by wire system to slow their new GT down. At the front, the GT is fitted with 367 millimeter cast iron discs with 4-piston calipers. At the rear, braking power comes from 354 millimeter cast iron discs, again with 4-piston calipers. With this brake system, the McLaren GT brakes from 100 km/h to zero in 30 meters. Even more impressive is the distance it takes to go zero from 200 km/h: just 118 meters. McLaren may say all they want about the GT not being a supercar, but that is supercar braking!