If you are 90’s kid, the most relatable recollection you will have when we say ‘McLaren’ is that of the iconic F1, the legend that changed the hypercar scene globally making way for everything after that. In the more recent times, the F1 has been succeeded by the equally outrageous P1 that once again left a new benchmark in the hypercar world. Then there is McLaren’s legendary motorsport history that has ‘glory’ written all over it. With so many bombshells to its name, it is a given that McLaren isn’t just another car maker but a hyper one at that. But then, the company has just developed a “Sports car”, and it is their most affordable offering to go on sale. Ever!
Called the 570S, the folks at Woking at McLaren headquarters have been developing its most affordable offering as part of the new and more accessible ‘Sports Series’. Being the smallest McLaren, the similarities with the bigger 650S and the P1 are evident that easily shows up in the design. Starting from the shape of the LED headlamps to the entire aerodynamic set-up, the 570S reminisces the 650S in more ways than one but still manages to stand out as dynamically different. At the rear, the differences are evident with the boomerang-shaped tail lamps that look sweet and the redesigned rear pillars that not only aids in engine cooling but also provides additional 8 kgs of downforce.
While the 570S does look like a mini 650S, it is actually larger in terms of overall dimensions being 18 mm longer and 187 mm wider than the former which translates into a roomier and luxurious cabin. The sports car comes with a dry weight of 1313 kgs courtesy of the carbon chassis. In terms of overall dimensions, the 570S is equivalent to a certain Porsche or an Audi but just manages to stand out far more effectively with its design compared to other sports cars.
Beating the Audi R8, Mercedes AMG GT, and the coveted Porsche 911 Turbo at their own game, the McLaren 570S is targeted to offer superlative levels of performance taking notes from its older siblings. Power comes from the same 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 that has been plonked bang in the middle of the carbon monocoque chassis and kicks out 562 HP of power or 570 metric horsepower (hence the name) and 600 Nm of torque, paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Just to give you perspective, the 570S packs in the weight of an average hatchback while offering over three times the power output for you to play with.
While this may be the baby McLaren, the 570S is still capable of bonking your brains out and does the 0-100 kmph in 3.2 seconds, with the 200 kmph coming up in 9.5 seconds and can hit a top whack of 330 kmph. On the inside, there is an abundance of suede and leather along with the larger TFT screen while you continue to get the usual Normal, Sport and Track modes to choose from. The suspension is a familiar setup with adaptive dampers at the front and the more conventional (by McLaren standards) anti-roll bars at the rear. The McLaren blokes say that the 570S has a faster steering ratio than the 650S and the range between the modes too is wider.
With all that power and a McLaren badge up front, the 570S officially gives you the bragging rights of the highest order. Priced at £145,000 (Rs. 1.34 crores excluding taxes in India), the McLaren 570S is £50,000 cheaper than the new 650S that offers adjustable aero components, a tad bit of more power, additional exotic materials inside the cabin and some more carbon fibre. But if you do not want something too outlandish and want to drive the McLaren far more often, the 570S just makes a compelling case for itself or does it?
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