Peter Palmer: 2017 McLaren 570 GT Debuts in Geneva

The 2017 McLaren 570 GT is the latest model to join the recently launched Sport Series lineup and will globally debut at 2016 Geneva Motor Show next month.

The 570 GT is designed to be “the most luxurious and relaxing of any McLaren to date” and is aimed for the affluent consumer who is shopping for a supercar that can be used everyday instead of a track-focused missile. When compared to the more hard-core 570 S, the 570 GT gets a glass hatchback at the rear and gains a second luggage compartment behind the seats. This adds another 7.8 cubic feet of cargo space to the already available 5.3 cubic feet of storage up front for a grand total of 13.1 cubic feet. McLaren will offer bespoke leather made luggage set to maximize the usage of the additional cargo space.

The 2017 McLaren 570 GT is fitted with a fixed, full-length glass roof as standard, which makes the cabin feel more roomier than that of the 570 S, which has a carbon-fiber roof as standard.

2017 McLaren 570 GT Right Front Three Quarters

2017 McLaren 570 GT Left Rear Three Quarters

Compared to the 570 S, the rear of the 570 GT was redesigned to make room for the glass hatch, thus ditching the coupe’s airflow-smoothing “flying buttresses”. In order to maintain the same aerodynamic effects of the 570 S, McLaren engineers added a substantial spoiler to the hatch. The carbon-fiber framed glass hatch is side-hinged, and the direction of its opening depends on whether the steering is on the left or the right side. The hatch was designed to ease proper curbside loading and unloading. The hatch, officially known as “Touring Deck” is modestly proportioned and is beautifully lined in high quality leather.

Mechanical changes are slightly different between the 570 S and the 570 GT. For a smoother ride, McLaren engineers have fitted the 570 GT with softer springs that are 15% less stiff at the front and 10% less stiff at the rear. Other suspension settings have been re-tuned to provide a more comfortable ride for long drives. The steering ratio has also been reduced to “smooth out driver inputs at high cruising speed.”

Like the 570 S, the 2017 McLaren 570 GT is powered by a twin-turbo 3.8 L V8, which produces 562 horsepower and 443 lb.ft. torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transaxle gearbox.

With the additional glass in the greenhouse, McLaren engineers claim that the 570 GT is 82 pounds heavier than the 570 S. Unlike the 570 S, the 570 GT is fitted with heavier iron discs instead of the coupe’s carbon-ceramic rotors.

McLaren engineers claim that the 570 GT will sprint to 60 mph from standstill in 3.4 seconds, which is two-tenths slower than the 570 S. Top speed of the 570 GT is aerodynamically limited to 204 mph, same as the 570 S.

The 2017 McLaren 570 GT starts at $199,850 and first deliveries are set to commence later this year.