McLaren's History is Defined by Racing

Mark Roberts, McLaren Design Operations Manager, who visited Japan for this announcement, spoke about the company's history: "McLaren is a very famous brand in motorsports, and motorsports are in our DNA. From there, we have evolved to create the world's most impressive supercars." McLaren's origins date back to 1963. Its founder, Bruce McLaren, was a mechanic and a successful racer. As a team, McLaren has achieved numerous successes, including victories in F1, Can-Am, the Indy 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the McLaren F1.

Furthermore, McLaren consistently introduces cutting-edge technology to the world of motorsports and has also adopted lightweight monocoque bodies molded from carbon composite materials for its road cars. "McLaren is a cutting-edge manufacturer, incorporating carbon fiber into all of its current road car models," he stated.

Mark Roberts

Design Pursuing Elegance Alongside Aerodynamics

McLaren Automotive has declared its intention to announce a new model every year since 2010, when it separated from the parent McLaren company. "Last year, in particular, was a highly stimulating year with the release of the675LT Coupe", the675LT Spider", the570S", the540C Coupe", and theP1 GTR", Roberts recalled.

In 2016, they debuted the "570GT." "As the name suggests, it's a grand tourer with a concept suited for long distances. It offers comfort without sacrificing driving enjoyment," he explained, describing the model's characteristics. "This car possesses six key elements: design, aerodynamics, lightweight construction, usability, craftsmanship, and driving."

Regarding the design, Roberts commented, "It's surprising how little the finished car differs from the initial original design sketch." He elaborated, "The car maintains a simple design through its elegant and straight lines."

Aerodynamics are also a significant feature. By equipping a rear spoiler 10mm higher than that of the 540C Coupe, it achieves aerodynamic performance similar to the coupe's unique flying buttresses. "From an aerodynamic perspective, a large rear wing could generate considerable downforce, but this car also has the aspect of an elegant GT, so a large rear wing wasn't a viable option," he stated, revealing that they explored the optimal shape, leading to the current design.

Usability and Comfort are Key for a GT

Roberts chuckled, "Nothing is more directly linked to economy and speed than lightweight construction. And it's achieved almost for free." Aluminum is used for many body panels, and carbon fiber for the chassis. This chassis, shared across all Sports Series models, is lightweight at just 75kg yet offers excellent rigidity. The result is a remarkable dry weight of 1,350kg.

Naturally, as a GT, practicality and ease of use are paramount. The 570GT, in particular, emphasizes ease of entry and exit. "To achieve this, we narrowed the sill width and lowered its position. Furthermore, McLaren's signature dihedral doors, through repeated improvements, also contribute to ease of ingress and egress," he said. Visibility is also excellent, with all controls within the driver's reach, further enhancing usability. For storage, it features lidded boxes in the doors, a glove box, and cupholders, along with an enlarged center console. A 220-liter luggage space is available at the rear. It opens sideways, "making it easier to load and unload luggage," he noted.

Roberts highlighted another feature he particularly favors: "This is my favorite part – the panoramic roof. It offers a wonderful view not only during the day but also at night."

On the fifth point, "craftsmanship," he emphasized the time invested in manufacturing: "While a regular car might be completed in about 15 hours, our cars, being handcrafted, take 11 days to build." The interior boasts a high-quality finish with extensive use of leather. Comfort features are also abundant, including electrically adjustable seats with memory function, front and rear parking sensors, and an electric steering column to improve ingress and egress.

Furthermore, compared to the 570 Coupe, it features a quieter exhaust system. Lightweight materials are installed between the luggage compartment behind the seats, known as the touring deck, and the bulkhead to absorb and suppress noise, enhancing cabin quietness. Simultaneously, bespoke Pirelli P Zero tires, designed to reduce road noise by up to 3 decibels, contribute to the comfortable ride.

Regarding the "driving" aspect, Roberts explained that in addition to McLaren's inherent high performance, the car is "tuned for weekend drives and even longer journeys." By reducing the steering ratio to temper its responsiveness and retuning the suspension, he stated, "The comfort is further enhanced alongside overwhelming performance."

The 570GT is more user-friendly and comfortable than previous models. With its arrival, McLaren aims to further enhance the appeal of its Sports Series.

McLaren 570GT | McLaren 570GT
Weight | 1,400 kg
Engine | 3,799 cc 90-degree V8 Twin-Turbo
Max Output | 419 kW (570 ps) / 7,500 rpm
Max Torque | 600 Nm / 5,000-6,500 rpm
Transmission | 7-speed Dual Clutch (SSG)
Drivetrain | MR
Suspension Front/Rear | Double Wishbone
Tires Front/Rear | 225/35R19 / 285/35R20
0-100 km/h Acceleration | 3.4 seconds
0-200 km/h Acceleration | 9.8 seconds
100-0 km/h Braking | 3.1 seconds, 33 meters
200-0 km/h Braking | 133 meters
Top Speed | 328 km/h
Fuel Economy (EU) | 10.7 L/100km (approx. 9.35 km/L)
Luggage Capacity | 220 Liters
Steering Position | Right
Price | ¥27,527,000