McLaren Automotive, the creator of luxury high performance sportscars and supercars, has unveiled its latest model – the all new McLaren GT— in Sydney, Australia. Lighter, faster and highly engaging to drive, the new McLaren GT challenges the conventions of the Grand Tourer category.
The McLaren GT reimagines the spirit of traditional Grand Touring, offering the engaging drive McLaren is known for, as well as the space, comfort and usability expected of a GT. Featuring DNA honed from the McLaren Speedtail, the McLaren GT embodies stunning design, high-quality innovative materials, true supercar performance and McLaren driving dynamics and engagement. A car that, the new GT redefine the rules of the segment.
“The McLaren GT is an exceptionally refined vehicle with class leading elegance and sophistication. The dynamic performance of this vehicle utilises the next generation of our pioneering Optimal Control Theory to deliver levels of ride comfort. It has been designed for drivers with a sense of adventure, who are seeking both performance and continent-crossing capability. The McLaren GT is the perfect companion for the great Australian road trip and we’re confident our customers will agree,” said George Biggs, Managing Director of Asia Pacific and China, McLaren Automotive.
For the first time, the new GT also features storage space in both the front and rear of the vehicle, with the ability to easily house a golf bag or two pairs of 185cm skis and boots as well as luggage, plus a further 150 litres of storage at the front, enabling the new McLaren GT to accommodate a total of 570 litres.
The interior is a cosseting space designed to delight on longer journeys, but with all the essentials for focused, high performance driving; the seating position, location of controls and forward visibility are as important here as they are in any McLaren. The streamlined, electrically adjusted and heated seats, which are unique to the McLaren GT, have been engineered to meet the requirements of Grand Touring, optimised for long-distance comfort, with the perfect amount of support in combination with superb lateral control.
The GT’s sophisticated styling is combined with true supercar performance for the Grand Touring segment, reaching 0-200km/h (124mph) in 9.0 seconds and a top speed of 326km/h (203mph).
Technology and modern craftsmanship share equal prominence in the new McLaren GT, with the finest high-quality materials complemented by features such as the most sophisticated McLaren infotainment system to date; hidden-until-lit ambient lighting and the option of an electrochromic glazed panel in lieu of the standard carbon fibre composite gloss black roof, darkening or lightening at the touch of a button. Machined and knurled aluminium switches and controls – including the steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles – contrast with gloss black surrounds for the infotainment screen, window switches, gear-selection console and air vent housings. A 12-speaker, Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system featuring carbon fibre sub-bass woofers and Kevlar mid-range drive units, is available.
Though comfort, space and usability are hallmarks of Grand Touring, no McLaren would be complete without abundant performance. The McLaren GT features a 620PS 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 mated to a 7-speed SSG transmission that delivers linear, seamless and relentless acceleration. The performance statistics speak for themselves: 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in 3.2 seconds, while 0-200km/h (0-124mph) is dispatched in 9.0 seconds. One of the most defining elements of the new McLaren GT – and arguably what will cement its position as the new segment leader – is its dynamic prowess. The suspension, steering and brakes are all bespoke to the car and are optimised to provide an outstanding Grand Touring drive experience with inherent balance, responsiveness and precision, and with ride comfort setting new McLaren standards.
The local arrival of the McLaren GT coincides with the recent launch of McLaren’s first bespoke luggage collection, designed exclusively for the McLaren GT by McLaren Special Operations. The McLaren GT Luggage Set has been developed to conform to the brand’s highest’s standards of engineering, quality and exclusivity, and consists of four pieces, the garment case, the weekend bag, the cabin bag and the full-size golf bag. The McLaren GT Luggage Set is now available to order through McLaren retailers.
The fourth vehicle from McLaren’s £1.2billion Track25 business plan, the McLaren GT is priced from AUD$399,995 plus on-roads. For more information, please contact McLaren Sydney (02 8892 8165), McLaren Melbourne (03 8420 8888), McLaren Gold Coast (07 5509 7110), or McLaren Adelaide (08 8126 6880).
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.