The McLaren GT is a spectacular car behind the wheel and while it does have some creature comforts it’s still more supercar than GT car.
It only makes sense then we talk about what’s…well not under the hood, but right behind us….this is a 4L twin-turbo v8, and if that sounds familiar let’s remember this isn’t Aston Martin we’re talking about
Correct this engine was actually designed and built in Woking specifically to create a shorter engine to free up some room in the back, which we will cover later, but tell us about the power figures
Peak hp is 612 and peak torque is 465 – torque is a bit lower than what we are accustomed to seeing with Mclaren due to using smaller turbos compared to the 720s and 600LTs, but something they focused on with this powertrain was creating more linear power and torque and its quite apparent as you near redline. (do turbos take a second to wind up?)
and this is where it gets interesting because not many GT cars can claim those power figures so mid engined and over 600 hp certainly sounds supercar to me,
So mated to this glorious v8 we have a dual clutch transmission. You get McLaren’s 7 speed DCT here and the engine and gearbox vary in aggressiveness with your three drive modes
Absolutely, this is still a GT so you have a comfort mode and a sport mode, BUT this is still a McLaren so you get a track mode – the cool thing about the DCT other than being very well programmed, is that you can up and downshift on the same paddle (they’re connected)
Yes and each of those 3 drive modes affect the suspension in a manner that is implied in their name. You’ve got a dual wishbone independent suspension with adaptive damping. So you’ll get more travel, more rebound when dialed back into comfort mode and a tighter less forgiving experience in track.
The different drive modes will also reconfigure your Digital Dash to showcase what information would be the most important given the drive mode, for example, comfort prioritizes speed and track prioritizes your tach and gives you shift lights
In comfort it’s soft, but you’re still reminded this falls more on the supercar end of the spectrum (reference LC?)*
And then in track your powertrain is as snappy as can be, but it’s not as harsh as you might think – it’s still liveable
Last thing and then I’ll let you drive, but I want to talk about steering. This being a mid engined car there’s next to no weight over the front axle which means initial turn in and corner entry can be as aggressive as you can stomach and then the midengned balance is incredibly neutral in a corner and you can get on the throttle a little earlier than you think because the balance is there, the carbon chassis is solid, and the damping lets you know exactly where the limit is. 3,232 lbs weight
We talked about power numbers but we didn’t talk about what that meant: 0-60 in 3.1, now that is staggeringly quick, and worth mentioning that it is quicker than its counterparts in this GT segment as well. (who**)
Yes so the Continental GT gets to 60 in 3.3 seconds
The Db11 gets to 60 in 3.4 seconds
The DBS gets to 60 in 3.2 seconds
Ok, launch this one more time for the people and let them hear it
This is rated at 15 city, 21 highway for a 17 combined and a range of 400 miles with a full tank of gas. Which is actually better MPG than some of its competitors in this GT segmentation as well and it also offers more miles per tank.
We mentioned when Matt was behind that they really tried to provide a linear sense of torque and you do get 95 percent of the engine’s 465 pound-feet of torque available between 3,000 and 7,250 rpm, the sensation you get is incredible.
But lets dial it back into comfort and talk about how this does day-to-day and as a GT car.
So I think there are a few categories
- Comfort
- Convenience
- Space
- Ride quality
Visibility – virtually no blind spots which is perfect because unfortunately blind spot monitoring is not even an option on the 21 GT.
Exterior Design
Paint (serpentine elite – $4500)
Styling inspired the Corvette (if I was Mclaren I’d be pissed)
Carbon fiber monocoque (3300 lbs)
Headlights (i prefer these to the 720 – they look like the McLaren logo)
Black painted multispoke wheels ($1200) 20 inch up front 21 in rear
carbon ceramic brakes are still available as an option on the McLaren GT..
Classic midengine profile shape is incredible
Massive cooling vent in the side
Wide rear hips
No active aero, but molded in duckbill
Sick taillights
Dual exhaust
Interior Design
Did you have any trouble stepping over than mile and a half of carbon fiber monocoque?
Doors go up so what’s the front wheel look like?
No apple carplay, it had something to do with their portrait-style touchscreen, 7.0in
Bluetooth
Manual seat adjustments but we do have nappa leather, electric seat adjustments is additional option
Too many sports cars we test have side bolsters that are uncomfortable. The McLaren GT’s seats are ideal for long drives.
Packages such as the Pioneer and Luxe will add features such as power-heated seats, ambient interior lighting, and various interior color schemes.
Between the two seats is an adequate center console for storing sunglasses and other items you need inside the vehicle. The interior of the McLaren GT is very user-friendly.
Some safety features it lacks that other GT competitors have is adaptive cruise control, adaptive emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, these are not even available options on the McLaren GT (I do believe a back up camera is though).
The ceiling of the McLaren GT features a magic glass that can darken or lighten at the touch of a swipe pad. We love natural light in the cabin, but on really hot days you need a break
Did they do a good job of creating space in the interior, because its something they were really trying to focus on.
Bowers & Wilkins audio
McLaren GT Practicality
Storage in the doors for sunglasses
Just un 15 cu. Ft in the back and just over 5 cu ft in the front, On paper, the over 20 cu.ft. of cargo room is objectively impressive – and even more than some of its front-engined competitors – although it should be noted that the usability of the space is restricted due to the contours and shapes of these spaces.
A lot of effort went into keeping the trunk cool, the rear glass is IV treated to keep solar rays out, while the trunk bed has a metal heat shield and insulated material built in as well, they also have external airflow pass through the trunk area to try and keep things cool
McLaren GT Conclusion
The McLaren GT is nothing short of a revolutionary vehicle. It has the power, speed, dynamics, and prowess of every McLaren before it, but manages to possess a poise, ease, and comfort that no McLaren has before. If 203 miles per hour in the lap of luxury sounds like your speed, this is the supercar you need to get your hands on.
In the end then this is a compromised GT. But the thing is, so are all the rivals, albeit for different reasons. Small wonder the cars most rich people really use for long trips are SUVs. But for people who love driving, this McLaren will do the GT job like nothing else.