BOULEVARD BRUISER
INTRODUCING THE MCLAREN 570S SPIDER
What better way to spend a beautiful summer day in Barcelona than to experience the new drop-top from McLaren? In the city renowned for its avant-garde design and architecture, WILHELM LOOTS discovered how the new 570S Spider makes a statement all its own.
Hand-assembled in Woking, England, the new two-seat, rear-wheel-drive 570S Spider is the third body style in McLaren’s Sports Series portfolio, alongside the Coupé and the GT. As such, the new 570S Spider brings supercar performance and, for the first time, carbon fibre construction to the luxury sports convertible segment. Of course, the use of carbon fibre in vehicle production is nothing new to McLaren as it pioneered the carbon fibre chassis way back in 1981 with the McLaren MP4/1 Formula One car, and in 1993 with the iconic McLaren F1.
BLUE SKY DRIVING
Apart from showcasing leading carbon fibre technology, the 570S Spider is, as a whole, nothing less than a technological marvel. The two-piece roof, constructed of lightweight composite panels, creates a purposeful, sleek appearance whether it is raised or lowered. Electrically operated from the driver’s seat using one simple control, the roof folds effortlessly to stow beneath a beautifully-crafted tonneau cover.
The roof itself is a masterpiece of engineering, completing either of its opening or closing cycles in just 15 seconds, at vehicle speeds of up to 40 km/h. An electrically-operated glazed wind deflector can also be raised to reduce wind-buffeting when the roof is down, or lowered when the roof is up, to allow for maximum enjoyment of the car’s heavy metal meets new age synth soundtrack. And, if that’s not enough to satisfy your desire for the McLaren’s distinctive exhaust note, you can opt for the sports system that channels exhaust sound into the cabin via the acoustic area beneath the tonneau cover. Having driven the 570S with and without this add-on, we highly recommend the latter option as it guarantees an experience of pure aural ecstasy.