McLaren GT Finally Breaks Cover

McLaren Automotive has revealed its unique interpretation of a modern Grand Tourer: the new McLaren GT. Sleek, elegant and muscular, the superlight new GT challenges the conventions of the Grand Tourer category with a compelling blend of beautiful design, high-quality innovative materials, true supercar performance, and McLaren driving dynamics and engagement.

"The new McLaren GT combines competition levels of performance with continent-crossing capability, wrapped in a beautiful body and true to McLaren's ethos of designing superlight cars with a clear weight advantage over rivals. Designed for distance, it provides the comfort and space expected of a Grand Tourer, but with a level of agility never experienced before in this segment. In short, this is a car that redefines the notion of a Grand Tourer in a way that only a McLaren could," said Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive.

Positioned alongside the established Sports, Super and Ultimate Series families, this is a new McLaren for a new audience and provides an alternative to existing products in an expanding market segment. In re-imagining the spirit of traditional Grand Touring--long-distance driving in comfort, at higher speeds and with room for luggage--McLaren has also redefined the modern GT ownership experience with a car that is lighter, faster, and more engaging than existing products in the segment, with greater space, comfort, and usability. 

Like all McLarens, the new GT has a carbon-fiber structure that possesses exceptional strength and rigidity while enabling unparalleled driving dynamics and lightest-in-class kerbweight. At 1,530 kg, the McLaren GT is more than 130 kg lighter than its closest core competitor and literally hundreds of kilograms less than other cars in the segment. With 612 hp from its 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine, the power-to-weight ratio of the superlight new McLaren GT is a remarkable 399 hp per ton.

The bespoke MonoCell II-T monocoque--the T denoting 'Touring'--incorporates a carbon fiber rear upper structure that adds minimal weight but allows the creation of a 420-liter luggage area below the front-hinged, full-length glazed tailgate. The tailgate has a soft-close function as standard and can be optioned as electrically powered.

The low height of the engine and positioning of the exhaust system has allowed the volume, shape and usability of the luggage bay to be optimized. A golf bag or two pairs of 185 cm skis and boots as well as luggage can be carried with ease, while a further 150 liters of storage at the front means the new McLaren GT can accommodate a total of 570 liters.

As befits a Grand Tourer, ambient refinement was a priority for the new McLaren GT from the outset. Unique engine mounts that are half the stiffness of those in the track-focused McLaren 600LT help to minimize structure-borne noise, while low-frequency sounds emitting from the carbon fiber structure are reduced rather than amplified into the cabin in the way that they are in the McLaren Senna; in Comfort mode, the new McLaren GT is the most refined McLaren ever.

At almost 4.7 meters, the new McLaren is longer than any of the cars in the McLaren Sports or Super Series. The front and rear overhangs extend further than is traditional for McLaren, but the 10-degree approach angle at the front (13-degree with vehicle lift engaged) means the new McLaren GT can cope with the most aggressive traffic calming measures. In combination with underbody clearance of 110 mm (130 mm with vehicle lift), this ensures the car is eminently usable in all urban situations; not only is it competitive with all rivals, but in 'lift' mode it is the equal of mainstream sedans.

The width and stance of the new McLaren GT are emphasized at the front by the signature 'hammerhead line' that runs horizontally across the nose and draws the eye out to the sides of the vehicle. At the rear, an integrated fixed rear wing, large diffuser, and substantial exhaust tailpipes are reminders that this is a Grand Tourer with supercar performance.

The source of that performance is a new, 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged engine, designated M840TE. Further expanding the family of McLaren V8 engines, it is bespoke to the new McLaren GT and has the immense power and torque and superior exhaust sound quality that are the hallmarks of a true Grand Tourer. The torque of 630 Nm is produced between 5,500 rpm and 6,500 rpm, with more than 95-percent of this available from 3,000rpm to 7,250rpm. The new engine is mated to a seven-speed SSG transmission to deliver linear, seamless and relentless acceleration.

The performance statistics speak for themselves: with a launch control function optimizing acceleration from a standing start, 0-100 kph is achieved in 3.2 seconds, 0-200 kph is dispatched in 9.0 seconds. The maximum speed of the McLaren GT is 326 kph.

The new McLaren GT is available to order now from McLaren retailers worldwide, with customer deliveries commencing towards the end of 2019. UK pricing starts at GBP163,000 (nearly PHP11 million) including taxes.