Wednesday 14th June 2017

McLaren 570S Spider - official!

Well if the Audi doesn't do it for you...

---

It's definitely summer now. It might be too hot outside, aftersun sales are soaring and the automotive world is revealing its latest drop-top wares. So in just one morning we've had the Audi R8 Spyder V10 Plus and now this, the McLaren 570S Spider.

And there's nobody inside - magic!

Described by McLaren as a "convertible without compromise", the 570S Spider is the first drop-top version of the Sports Series range. And while a new McLaren is always exciting news, the Spiders are especially so. Why? It's that carbon fibre tub, meaning that you get open-top thrills while retaining the structural integrity of the car; not only does it mean very little wobble so typical of convertibles, it means the huge weight gain attempting to mitigate that is avoided too. You might well call it a win-win situation...

Similarly to the 650S, the 570S Spider only weighs a little - 46kg - more than the coupe, and McLaren claims "unchanged" structural rigidity. With identical power and torque to the hard top 570S, this car is said to be capable of the same 3.2-second dash to 62mph and 204mph top speed. Lower the roof - which takes 15 seconds at up to 25mph - and the top speed is still 198mph.

Underneath much is as you were from the Sports Series coupe, with springs, dampers and anti-roll bars all to the same specification. Carbon ceramic discs, Pirelli P Zero Corsas and the McLaren driving modes for powertrain and chassis are all carried over.

Sicilian Yellow one of three new colours

Indeed the most obvious differences would seem to be outside, beyond the obvious removal of the roof. The rear spoiler is 12mm taller than on the coupe, providing additional downforce to offset the altered design of the Spider. Other than that there's a new design of alloy wheel which will be unique to the Spider and three colour additions to the Sports Series palette: Sicilian Yellow, Vega Blue and Curacao Blue.

The McLaren 570S Spider will make its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this month, though the car is available to order now - prices start at £164,750. The first 400 built will be launch editions, too. So what'll it be - Audi or McLaren? Or Lamborghini perhaps? Or Mercedes-AMG? Spoilt for choice!

[Craigwww]

I just can't get excited about these. Just a bit 'meh'.

[Craigwww]

Maldini35 said:

I suggest you take a test drive

I've test driven the 650S and was very underwhelmed. I know they are fantastic driving machines and exceptionally fast but the aesthetics and way the car delivers the performance left me feeling like something was missing. Capable but a tad on the dull side.

[Craigwww]

Scooby P1 said:

I'm with you. 675LT aside I cannot get excited about McLarens.

I am seriously impressed however that a company that wasn't even building road cars a few years ago is now churning out so many models. But, I am a serious car geek who knows everything about almost every model but these super series maccas have me stumped. More because I simply don't care than lack of ability to keep track.

Agreed. I want to like them but try as I might, I never have an emotional response to them that compares to Ferrari or Lamborghini. I would take a Merc AMG GT-R or GTS over any model of Mac (bar the obvious).