A U T O M O B I L I A . A R C H I T E C T U R E . P H O T O G R A P H Y. D E S I G N

MCLAREN’S 570 HP PORSCHE FIGHTER, THE 570S TO HIT SHELVES THIS FALL (SPECIAL NYC AUTOSHOW FEATURE)

McLAREN 570S

570SMcLaren’s new 570 hp econobox is set to fight the Germans on their own turfImages. McLaren Copy. Angus MacKenzie

At US$185,000 the new 570S is strategically bred & priced to compete with Porsche’s 911 Turbo

DAYS AHEAD OF THE BIG APPLE

INFUSED NEW YORK AUTO SHOW...

McLaren decided to go with the pre-

unveil of its latest addition to the family

- the wee 570S. For months, the sons

of Bruce have been busy teasing out

detail shots of the econobox but as of

last week, the new entire car dropped

the drapes.

Sporting a detuned twin-turbo 3.8

litre V8, the newest baby to the family

produces 570 euro horsepower (PS)

and 562 Canadian and ‘Mercan

horsepower. The new engine, that

features 30 percent new componentry,

develops roughly 100 less hp than the

650S but still good for 600 NM of torque

(442 ft.lb). Performancely speaking, the

car is just a tad slower to the 100 km/h

mark at 3.2 seconds...no slouch...and

is good for a 0-200 km/h run of 9.5

seconds with a top speed of 328 km/h.

Smaller than the 650S, the new 570S is the first

model in the marque’s “Sport Series”. The new

series joins ranks with the Ultimate Series and

Super Series...all of which will be on display down

by the river at the NYC show.

According to my good friends from McLaren

(aka the press release), “...a unique carbon fibre

MonoCell II chassis has been newly designed with

more of a focus on day-to-day usability, offering

improved ingress and egress from the cabin.” That

new monocoque weighs less than 80 kg, which

in combination with the revised structure, and

aluminum body panels, produces a car with a dry

weight of 1,313kg (2,895 lb). The Sports Series

also features its own newly-developed suspension

system including Normal, Sport and Track modes.

The car’s architecture, courtesy of Frank

Stephenson & Co, is not much different than the

650S. Carbon fiber tub, rear engine, 7 speed SSG

gearbox, and styling cues are all definitively of the

same genetic family. McLaren refers to something

called a “shrinkwrapped” design when referencing

the coupe’s styling and aerodynamic qualities.

Smaller than the 650S, the new 570S is the first model in the marque’s “Sport Series”

570S sports a detuned twin-turbo 3.8 litre V8, good produces 570 562 ‘Mercan horsepower

A ‘floating door tendon’ is designed to channel air into the side intakes & underneath flying buttresses to increase cooling & downforce

A few key design elementes of note...

the intake section along the door panels

has been revised. A new “floating door

tendon” houses the door button but

also evokes a 3D impression. Very nice.

Grille workings give the car a more smiley

face appearance with the lower hoodline

grinning up farther under the signature

headlights. Slightly revised rear haunches

and flying buttresses make the car stand

apart from the 650S, while evoking P1 like

influences.

Going back in time, those floating door

features are designed to channel air both

into the side intakes and underneath the

flying buttresses, thus ensuring drag is

minimized while also optimizing cooling

opportunities and downforce forces.

Whereas McLaren notes the 570S to be

the latest to sport the brand’s new styling,

its similarity to its stablemates is anything

but evolutionary. Don’t get me wrong,

she be a stunning piece of McLaren

CAD monkeying, it’s just there’s really

no bif bam pow surprise when placed

next to the rest of the family. Inside the

570S things in and around the dash are

different, like the console and gearbox

button configuration.

However, given McLaren is still a relatively small boutique mfc

still working on securing market share, for them to produce

completely different models at this point in their business

cycle would be difficult and costly.

According to Mike Flewitt, McLaren’s

Chief Executive Officer, “The new

Sports Series is aimed at a new

audience for McLaren. It’s the first

time we’ve competed in the sports

car as opposed to the supercar

market,” notes Flewitt. “As with all

McLaren models, we have prioritized

performance, driving engagement and

exhilaration. It is a totally driver focused

car, with excellent ergonomics and

visibility, and a class-leading driving

position. This is also the most day-to-

day usable, practical and attainable

McLaren we’ve ever made.”

Smaller than the 650S, the new 570S is the first model in the marque’s “Sport Series”

McLaren refers to something called a shrinkwrapped design when referencing the coupe’s styling & aerodynamic qualities

Which brings us to the point of the car. While the

650S and new 675LT are designed to play with the

likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini, the new 570S is

strategically bred to compete with those German

kids from Porsche.

The 570S will retail from US$184,900 in base trim. In

Canada, add on another 25%. This price point puts

the baby McLaren squarely in the Porsche’s GT3 RS

and 911 Turbo S market point. Should make for a

right interesting round of head-to-head bouts on the

‘Ring. The 570S with global deliveries starting later

this year..

While we wait on my 650S, P1 & 570S test drives,

I invite you to take this time to peruse my driving

impressions & photo interpretations of McLaren’s

brilliant 12C.

Source: McLaren

The 570S can do 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, and is good for a 0-200 km/h run of 9.5 seconds with a top speed of 328 km/h