First to the country club with genuine grand tourer

MCLAREN tends not to compromise on speed and dynamics, but now the British carmaker has something for those wanting everyday usability.

Enter the Mclaren GT, the company’s first true Grand Tourer.

Not only can it cross countries in comfort, but it can also take your sporting kit, the 420 litre rear luggage compartment designed to fit a golf bag or skis and when it’s time to embark on that epic road trip, it will swallow a decent amount of luggage. Owners can also stash 150 litres of kit in the “frunk” upfront.

Even the low-speed steering and braking settings have been optimised for everyday use, as have the ride height and ground clearances.

It might be more usable than other Mclarens, but the GT is also designed to be more dynamic than the average GT car and, to that end, it sports a lightweight Monocell II-T carbon fibre structure, aluminium body panels and rear-mounted

456kw, 630Nm 4-litre twin-turbo V8.

And there’s no guessing who gets to the country club first – with launch control activated, you can expect to get from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds and to 200km/h in just nine seconds flat, while the top speed is listed at 326km/h.

To find the best balance between comfort and control, the GT gets a new Proactive Damping Control suspension system.

The new infotainment system is said to be Mclaren’s most sophisticated to date, featuring Here navigation mapping and real-time traffic information.

Other niceties include a 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, hidden-until-lit ambient lighting as well as machined and knurled aluminium switches and controls, while buyers can opt for an electrochromic glazed roof panel that can darken or lighten at the touch of a button. | IOL Motoring