Mclaren 570S Spider
First UK drive of thrilling new Sports Series model
WHILE Mclaren is struggling in Formula One, its road car division goes from strength to strength. With the latest Sports Series models such as the 570S and 570GT being joined by the Super Series 720S model, and the P1 already enjoying iconic status, the brand is becoming a huge hitter at the top end of the car market.
Now, Mclaren is introducing the next Sports Series model into its range: the 570S Spider. It’s the company’s lowestpriced convertible, but at £164,750 it actually rivals cars at the very top of other brands’ ranges, including the Audi R8 V10 Spyder. It’s easy to tell where this convertible Mclaren competes just by looking at it; the complex curves and lines mean it’s more eye-catching than the Audi, although perhaps a bit less subtle.
The way it looks is in part down to what’s at the core of the car, a Monocell carbon fibre chassis that’s shared with the other 570 models. It’s light but extremely strong, so the only extra weight over the Coupé version is the weight of the roof mechanism (46kg). That’s a crucial point for the Spider, because it means the car feels just as composed and impressive on the road as its fixed-roof sibling.
You get the same 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 with 562bhp and 600Nm of torque, too, and the only difference in performance figures is that the Spider takes one tenth longer to cover 0-124mph than the Coupé – but as it completes the sprint in 9.6 seconds the car is hardly short on acceleration. The 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds is identical to the Coupé’s; this car is blisteringly fast by any standard.
The V8 isn’t as characterful as the best supercar engines, such as the Audi R8’s V10, but with that maximum output arriving at 7,500rpm, it’s hardly a disappointment. Thanks to the two turbos, it’s an incredibly flexible unit that can be left in gear as you wind through a series of corners, never wanting for more power. But if you want to shift down and hit the top end, it’s really exciting and sounds appropriately ferocious.
There’s even a small rear window you can open to hear more of the exhaust note with the roof up; we found that fun when the top was in place during a shower. You can drive at up to 25mph while you’re opening or closing the roof – useful in traffic – and it takes 15 seconds to do so. With the hood down there’s little wind buffeting, and refinement with it up is nearly as good as in the Coupé.
Even without extra chassis strengthening, the magic of that carbon fibre tub is clear in
“Chassis absorbs bumps in the surface well enough that the car doesn’t lose composure”
the 570S Spider. In Normal mode, which can be selected on the centre console control alongside Sport and Track, the Mclaren soaks up bumps in the road admirably. But even in the Sport setting it’s usable on the road, as it firms up without feeling like it’s bouncing off imperfections.
Even through a fast corner, the chassis absorbs bumps in the surface well enough that the car doesn’t lose composure – but there’s still almost no roll in the body as it does so. It’s this chassis set-up that really makes the Mclaren feel special; it achieves that rare balance between precision and compliance in the way it drives.
Just as impressive is the car’s electrohydraulically assisted steering, which is as good as it gets for such a system. You can feel the front wheels’ movements on the road surface with a light touch of the rim, but as the wheel doesn’t flick or grab at you, it gives a huge sense of confidence in the front-end. With the incredible grip levels, you can really lean into a corner and enjoy the feedback through the steering as well as from the chassis beneath you.
Another thing you’ll notice compared with many modern sports cars is the Mclaren’s brake pedal feel, which is superb. You need to put on plenty of pressure, but because more movement and effort are needed, the whole process is more involving, and almost as enjoyable as getting back on the throttle.