McLaren GT

While a classic GT should be a four-seater, but the McLaren GT is a two-seater with a really luxurious cabin, even though there is a slight space crunch on the insides. There is a lot of top-quality leather with an impressive fit and finish which goes from strength to strength. The upholstery is standard, with soft-grain luxury leather and Alcantara options available.

The cabin ambience is plush and pretty upmarket and easy access to the cabin is ensured by the upward-rising, outward-twisting doors. The touchpoints are pretty firm and are designed for communication. There is a big boot under the glassy tailgate with careful insulation and cool-air ducting and another boot space under the bonnet with combined capacities of up to 570 litres.

Other features include a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, steering-mounted paddle shifters, and a seven-inch portrait-oriented infotainment system as well as dual-zone climate control, a McLaren four-speaker sound system. 

The McLaren GT is designed to impress and the automakers have claimed the car to be their own take into the GT segment, without putting it up as a competitor against any of its rivals. The two-seater carbon-fiber tub is extremely lightweight, weighing just under 1530 kgs, and is built with McLaren’s special carbon-fiber MonoCell II-T (Touring) monocoque. 

The shape of the car, in simple words, is long, shallow, and sleek. The GT is intricately styled with characteristic touches from McLaren. The aggressive stance of the vehicle is enhanced by the slim half-moon-shaped headlights, a scalloped rear section under the rear spoiler, and slim LED tail lights blending with the rear diffuser and tailpipes. The car features 15-spoke cast alloy wheels and is nearly 4.7 metres long. The proportions make the overall design of the car appear graceful, with some of McLaren’s hallmark designs like the dihedral doors.

McLaren claims that the GT is 130 kg lighter than some of its closest competitors and the car is known for its superior handling, stability, and impressive driving experience enabled by the double-wishbone suspension and adaptive dampers with Proactive Damping Control. The system uses sensors to scan l roads, and predicts road surfaces, and optimizes the suspension in just two milliseconds. The comfort factor is superior as the suspension is optimised for vertical load and tyre contact patch. 

There are three driving modes – Comfort, Sport, and Track. The 20 inches wheels in front are wrapped with 225/35 Pirelli P Zero tyres, while the 21-inch wheels at the back have wide 295/30 rubbers offering adequate stability at high speeds and while braking. 

The performance of the GT is a key highlight and the car is powered by McLaren’s M840TE 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that can make 612 hp of power at 7,500 rpm and deliver 630 Nm of peak torque between 5,500 to 6,500 rpm. It is claimed that over 95% of the torque is available from 3,000 rpm to 7,250 rpm which makes the car go flying in the lower-middle and mid-ranges.  

The engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission system(McLaren’s Seamless Shift Gearbox). The car can go from 0-100 kmph in 3.2 seconds, and 0-200 kmph in 9.0 seconds and can reach a top speed of 326 kmph. The power-to-weight ratio of 405 PS per tonne makes it a real power-packed package. 

Braking power is adequate to make the 600 hp beast come to a stop within the reasonable notice. The car comes with standard safety features like front and side airbags for driver and passenger, Brake Assist, EBD, Vehicle Stability Control System, Parking Sensors, Crash Sensor, Front, and Side Impact Beams, and of course, Traction Control.

Although an unconventional GT, the McLaren GT is a very practical, unusually comfortable, and very powerful Grand Tourer from the British car makers. If you want to enjoy the ultimate driving experience and superior refinement and comfort, then the McLaren GT is worth your choice and its price.