Hot date with a glamour model
Drivers’ jaws hit the floor as I hit the open road in magical McLaren 570GT
Within a few minutes of my first time behind the wheel of the McLaren 570GT, I passed a group of teenagers.
The effect was electrifying as the youngsters stopped en masse, jaws hitting the f loor, eyes popping with excitement before all gave me the double thumbs-up.
It was to set the theme for the week to come. This car quite literally stopped traffic as drivers braked to get a better look.
There were things on the McLaren I could criticise but, for styling, it was 10 out of 10. The dramatic dihedral doors, which open outwards and forwards so the car looks as if it has wings when they are both open, left many a petrol station attendant speechless.
Of all the McLaren models, the 570GT is the most user-friendly, with a decent- sized luggage area beneath the bonnet and space behind the driver’s head accessed via the rear opening screen for additional luggage.
And to make sure the cabin is light, there is a panoramic glass roof. But make no mistake – this car is no softie. It’s still one of the world’s supercars with the sor t of handl ing and performance one would expect from a company who made their name in the world of Formula 1.
The 3.8- litre, 562bhp twin-turbocharged engine is capable of pushing this ultra- lightweight machine – constructed from carbon fibre with aluminium panels – to the heady speed of 204mph. And it will rocket you from standstill to 62mph in 3.4 seconds.
The interior is quite plush although minimal ist, with most functions operated on the central touchscreen.
The panels and dashboard are covered in stylish two- tone leather with saddle stitching and it has highbacked leather sports seats.
The height, at just under 4ft, means getting in and out is easy – if you are agile and not too tall. Once inside, the cockpit seems to wrap around you and everything is simple and functional.
The car uses a seven-speed automatic gearbox operated by just three buttons on the transmission tunnel – one for Drive, one for Reverse and one for Neutral.
Fire up the big V8 and the roar behind your head is both deafening and awe-inspiring.
Hit the open road and put your right foot down hard and it feels as if you have just been fired from a gun as you hurl towards the horizon and the trees and countryside around you become a blur.
The ride is f irm, even in normal setting, and the road holding from this rear-wheel-drive supercar is superb.
Having said all that, it’s still a car that’s happy pottering around town.
Would I buy one? In an instant – if I had a spare £154,000 kicking around.