When you're talking about a GT, I'm thinking of a Jaguar XK. Big, front-engined coupe with a lot of power. Then you can travel very far very quickly.
And when I'm thinking of a McLaren, I'm thinking of a genuine mid-engined supercar. Something with a lot of carbon, a very 'sharp' car, if you will.
And yet, these two completely different cars meet today in this car. This is the McLaren 570 GT.
A car which still has the same carbon tub and the same 3,8-litre V8 from the 570S. But, this has to be the comfortable cruiser. How do you transform a supercar to a GT?
Let's begin with the luxury and comfort this 570GT has access to. After all, that's one of the things where this car has to distinguish itself from the S.
First of all, it's got more equipment. What stands out the most is the touring deck behind me. Fully finished in leather, looks pretty good. The rest of the car looks good as well. The leather is meant to make the GT more luxurious.
The touring deck has also got this glass door. The door opens, dependant of which side the steering wheel is, in the opposite direction. So if you've got a left hand-drive car, it opens from the right. This makes loading easier when you're on the sidewalk or something.
There's 220 litres of luggage space, so it's not really a MPV, but you can fit a weekend bag in there, and that's just right for the audience McLaren is targeting here.
Other specific things worth mentioning; this glass panorama-roof. There are some technical things, but I'll get back to them.
Overall, it's a pretty nice car to be in. However, there are some things which aren't really "GT", they're really "McLaren" though.
I mentioned the carbon tub before, that's a good base for the car, because it's stiff and light. But it has some disadvantages as well, because the sill is very high.
and if you combine that with the wing doors, you'll have to fight a little bit to get into the car. Not really what you'll see in a Jaguar XK or a Porsche 911, where you can get in and drive off.
No, this requires some practice. Another disadvantage is that the tub slopes a little bit. My left foot and the right foot of the passenger won't have a lot of space. So the seating is a little bit awkward.
And one other thing, which is really annoying. This glass roof is pretty and all, but we're driving on Tenerife right now and it's about 20 degrees, and it really is a greenhouse in here. It heats up incredibly quick.
The airconditioning has to work overtime to cool it down even a little bit, but it doesn't really work. Of course, you can call it "British Charm", you can also say the competition delivered something better.
But, there are a lot of things in which this McLaren does succeed. And that's the McLaren in this GT. Because, the faster you go, the better it gets.
It's not as loud as the S-model because of another exhaust-system. It also has a different suspension, which means softer springs. Even here, on the Tenerifian roads, which aren't the best, it can hold it's ground. It's no Mercedes S-Class but you can absolutely drive long distances with this GT.
But, you'll always know there's more to it. So, when you're playing with these buttons... Put it in sport, then you start going faster... Well, they've closed a mountain road especially for us,
so we can push it to the limit. That's when you know it really is 'the' McLaren under the GT's. There's so much more to it than just a GT. The steering gives you good feedback, there's a little bit more roll, because the suspension is softer.
But when you spur it on, it goes. And that howl of that 3,8-litre V8, I mean it's not as loud but that doesn't mean it isn't as nice to listen to.
And the faster you go, the better it gets. These special Pirelli-tires are less sticky than those on the S, but you can still have fun. And because it's not as hyperactive, you're getting the feeling you're getting more from the car.
This is why you forgive the GT for it's little flaws. After all, it still is such a sensational machine.
It seems like McLaren has successfully applied the same trick Porsche has been using for years with their 911. The 570GT isn't really different from the 570S, but it's good enough to claim it's own place,
and that's why it's quite desirable. Because as a GT, it really takes a special spot in the GT-market. Sure, there are competitors which don't have as many disadvantages, or aren't as remarkable,
but on the other hand; the McLaren absolutely is great fun to drive. It's a great car. If you're going to spend 250k on a car, you'll expect it to give you a kick. And that's what this car does best.