4 September 2019
In the world of the supercar the concept of comfort is a relative one, and what usually prevails is the driving experience. Performance and comfort hardly ever go hand in hand, although there are examples of cars in which they do. Probably, the sports car that has been best able to reconcile comfort and performance is the Porsche 911, but things could be about to change. The status of the iconic German auto is under threat from the British McLaren GT, the Grand Tourer presented a few months ago and on the market at the end of this year. The twin-turbocharged V8 4 liter engine, an evolution in “touring” key of the M840TE powertrain already used in models like the 720 S, provides the performance of a supercar, with an output of 620 PS at 7500 rpm. The GT is able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and from 0 to 124 mph in just 9, while the top speed is 203 mph (326 kph). 630 Nm (465 lb/ft) of torque is delivered between 5500 rpm and 6500 rpm, with over 95% of this available from 3000 rpm up: a fluid delivery that confirms the desire to make the vehicle comfortable, avoiding frequent recourse to the 7-speed SSG transmission, unless you are putting the GT through its paces on the track. The internal spaces are also those of a super sports car that does not renounce comfort, commencing with the “dual” luggage bay: at the rear there is a trunk with a capacity of 420 liters, large enough to hold a golf bag, while at the front there is a space of an additional 150 liters, giving an overall capacity of 570 liters, practically the volume of a middle-range station wagon. The space between asphalt and underbody is 4.3 inches (110 mm), and 5.1 inches (130 mm) when the vehicle is raised with the lift function, sufficient to cope with daily driving conditions without any particular problems. Higher than the McLarens of the Sport Series range (600 LT, 570 S, 540 C), the GT also has a softer suspension system and electronically controlled shock absorbers (Proactive Damping Control), that adapt to the road conditions. For the first time on a McLaren, the pleasure of driving is extended to the level of infotainment as well, with a much more up-to-date multimedia system than on previous models. The interface between vehicle and passengers is the 7-inch touch screen at the center of the dashboard, while the instrument panel, which is also digital, has a diagonal measurement of 12.3 inches. The satnav system uses HERE maps, along with live traffic updates. A wide range of customizations are available for the interior: from fine leather to soft cashmere upholstery. The GT can already be ordered and the first cars will be delivered at the end of the year. The list price for the American market starts from 210.000 dollars and for the British one from 163,000 pounds.
