McLaren 570S Spider 2018

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2018 McLaren 570S Spider

Новый Паук Макларен 570S сочетает в себе исключительную динамичность и изысканность 570S купе с дополнительной возбуждение открытом автомобиле. Ручной сборки в Уокинге, Англия, Паук 570S является наиболее достижимой Паук Макларен хоть и приносит атрибутами элитных автомобилей, таких как углеродного волокна строительства, среднемоторная компоновка и высочайшую производительность впервые роскошный спортивный кабриолет сегмента.

Двух-местный, задний привод Паук Макларен 570S-это третий кузов в портфолио спортивных Макларена серии, выстраиваются рядом с купе и GT. По сравнению с купе, Паук 570S добавляет аккуратно интегрированы, убирающейся жесткой крышей, которая при опускании обеспечивает еще более захватывающий и волнующий опыт вождения. Два-кусок крыши, который спроектирован с использованием технологии доказали в McLaren 650s Не и модели 675LT Паук — изготовлен из легких композитных панелей и создает целеустремленный, аккуратный вид, следует ли поднять или опустить.

Самое главное, нет производительности компромиссов по отношению к 570S купе, с пауком сохранении той же электрификации темп, динамические качества и впечатляющей утонченностью. Шасси MonoCell II углеродного волокна в основе всей спортивной серии автомобилей не страдают какой-либо сокращением численности или скованность в кабриолет, или требует каких-либо дополнительных конструктивных мероприятий. Это позволило инженерам McLaren проектирования и разработки Паук 570S без опасения, что потенциально серьезной проблемой со стальных или алюминиевых конструкций.

2018 Паук Макларен 570S

«Паук Макларен 570S является наиболее достижимой Спайдера McLaren на сегодняшний день и добавляет еще одно измерение к Макларен спортивная семья серии. Это кабриолет без компромиссов; ее центральным расположением двигателя макета и углеродного волокна MonoCell II шасси гарантирует те же захватывающие динамические характеристики и исключительную вовлеченности водителя в 570S купе, но с дополнительным убирающимся жесткий верх, что обеспечивает дополнительную возбуждение крыши вниз автомобилей.» Майк Флевитт, Главный Исполнительный Директор McLaren Автомобильной

Электрически управляемый с места водителя с помощью одного простого управления, крыша складывается без особых усилий, чтобы уложить под красиво сделанные шторки, которые автоматически поднимается, чтобы разместить опустил панелей и возвращается в закрытое положение с помощью мягкого закрывания технологии. Крыша может быть открыта или закрыта всего за 15 секунд, при движении автомобиля на скорости до 40км/ч (25миль / ч).

Застекленная дефлектор ветра могут быть электрически поднимать и опускать при нажатии кнопки, что обеспечивает дополнительную универсальность с крыши вверх или вниз. Дефлектор снижает ветра, бафтинг, когда крыша опущена, и при желании может быть опущена, когда крыша приподнята для обеспечения дополнительной звуко-и свежий воздух в салоне. Владельцы, желая получить еще больше отличительных выхлопа нового Паука можно указать дополнительную спортивную систему с ЭСУ для канала звук выхлопа в сторону салона, через площадь под автомобильный крышка.

Выдвижной хардтоп предназначен, чтобы выдержать суровые условия и значительно более погода и исчезают устойчивостью, чем ткань, но с его рабочего механизма, добавляет всего 46кг весу Паук; это единственная разница в весе между новым кабриолетом и купе 570S.

Производительность суперкара

Сочетание легкого углеродного волокна в строительстве и невероятно мощный 3.8-литровый Твин-турбированный двигатель V8 Макларен, означает, что новый 570S Spider является одновременно мощнее и легче, чем сопоставимые автомобили с откидным верхом, с внушительной мощности к весу 419PS за тонну (легкий сухой вес).

Расположенный позади водителя, Твин-турбированным двигателем Макларен M838TE производит 570PS при 7400 об / мин и крутящий момент 600 нм оборотах между 5000 и 6500 оборотов в минуту. В сочетании с быстрым, но ровным семиступенчатой бесшовные переключения коробки передач с запуском технологии управления, в результате получается роскошный спортивный кабриолет с суперкару разгон с места до 100 км/ч (62 миль в час) он разгоняется за 3,2 секунды и до 200 км/ч (124 миль) всего за 9,6 секунды.

Максимальная скорость составляет 328km/ч (204mph) с крышей стоит на месте — идентичны 570S купе, и даже с крыши спустили, новый Паук может достигать 315km/ч (196mph). В дополнение к этому высочайшую производительность система стоп-старт, что способствует общей эффективности; Макларен 570S Паук возвращается официальных экономии топлива 10.7 л/100км (26.6 миль на галлон) в смешанном цикле nedc, а выбросы CO2 всего 249g/км.

Исключительный контроль над телом

Новый Паук Макларен использует гоночный автомобиль в стиле, подвеска с двойными поперечными рычагами-круглый, со стальными пружинами, двойной клапан адаптивные амортизаторы и стабилизаторы поперечной устойчивости калибруется в соответствии со строгими спецификации как 570S купе. Контроль над телом является исключительным и в целом поездка невероятно чистым и полезным, сохраняя впечатляющий комфорт. Доступ к панели активной динамики добавляет еще один уровень личного выбора, позволяя водителю выбирать из нормального, спортивного или дорожка режимы, для постепенного жесткости или мягкости подвески. Такая универсальность гарантирует, что Паук, как и на удобство в повседневном использовании, как на гоночной трассе.

С электрогидравлическим усилителем мощности, углерод-керамические тормоза и Пирелли П Зеро™ Корса шины являются стандартными, в то время как последняя версия программного обеспечения шасси и повышает удовольствие от вождения и повышает безопасность. Первоначально разработанные для Формулы 1™, тормоза рулить помогает поворотах и уменьшает недостаточную поворачиваемость, тонко применяя тормозное усилие на внутреннее заднее колесо, как водитель поворачивает в угол. Производительность Антипробуксовочная система калибровки Макларен обеспечивает точное управление в экстремальных ситуациях, в то время как ESC (Электронный контроль устойчивости) система включает в себя «динамический» режим с пониженным вмешательства и увеличение ‘driftability, позволяя водителям пользоваться Макларен 570S Паука динамический потенциал с уверенностью.

Индивидуальный дизайн

Захватывающий дизайн кузова усилен задний спойлер, законченный в темно-серый палладий (в видимом углеродного волокна отделка производится за дополнительную плату через специальных операций McLaren) и 12 мм выше, чем задний спойлер 570S купе. Чем выше спойлер обеспечивает дополнительную прижимную силу, чтобы компенсировать аэродинамические изменения, связанные с Паука, имеющие различный задний верхняя часть тела дизайн, обеспечивая исключительное аэродинамический баланс в целом это равные купе.

Разработаны идеальное положение вождения, что ставит водителя в центре действий, сложные салона сочетает исключительный уровень мастерства, качества и технологии; ручной сшитые Кожаные сиденья, дверей, приборной панели и центральной консоли сидит бок о бок с 10-дюймовым TFT основных приборов и установленным в центре, 7-дюймовый сенсорный экран Айрис, посредством которых климат-контроль и информационно-развлекательные функции управляются.

Клиенты могут выбрать один из стандартных шести направлениях-регулируемая или дополнительным восьми-полосные регулируемые электрические сиденья с памятью, с роскошной кожей nappa или ориентированных на производительность алькантара® отделкой доступны за дополнительную плату. Легкие карбоновые скорлупой спортивные сиденья, такая же, как установлены на Р1™, также может быть указан.

Три новых цвета кузова празднуют введение Паука, Кюрасао голубой, Вега синий и сицилийский желтый присоединения существующих спортивных палитра серии и предоставление клиентам Паук на выбор 20 цветов в общей сложности. Новые оттенки резко демонстрации сложных форм из алюминия кузова и уникальный в своем классе двугранный дверей, особенно при сочетании для дополнительного визуального воздействия с дополнительным палладий темно-серый контрастная отделка на крыше, стойки лобового стекла и задних опор.

Все новые 10-спицевые облегченные кованые сплава конструкции колеса (19-дюймовые спереди, 20-дюймовые сзади) была разработана в качестве опции для нового Паука 570S. Для дальнейшей дифференциации, новый цвет тормозного суппорта, жидкость черного цвета, также доступна.

Можно заказать сейчас из более чем 80 Макларен розничной торговли по всему миру, каждый Паук Макларен 570S собирается вручную на производственном центре McLaren в Уокинге, Англия.

2018 McLaren 570S Spider

2018 570S Spider

«McLaren’s Sport Series 570S finally loses its top without compromising performance. 570S Spider is 46 kilograms heavier than the Coupe, and it takes just 15 seconds for the retractable roof to open or close. Acceleration from zero to 62 mph matches that of the Coupe with just 3.2 seconds. But there’s a ‘downside’ to it, with the rood down top speed is limited to 315 km/h instead of 328 km/h. For more info check out the press release below:» Ed.

The new McLaren 570S Spider combines the exceptional dynamism and refinement of the 570S Coupé with the extra exhilaration of open-air motoring. Hand-assembled in Woking, England, the 570S Spider is the most attainable McLaren Spider ever and brings supercar attributes such as carbon-fibre construction, a mid-engined layout and extreme performance for the first time to the luxury sports convertible segment.

The two-seat, rear-wheel drive 570S Spider is the third bodystyle in McLaren’s Sports Series portfolio, lining up alongside the Coupé and the GT. Compared to the Coupé, the 570S Spider adds a neatly integrated, retractable hardtop that when lowered delivers an even more immersive and exhilarating driving experience. The two-piece roof – which is engineered using technology proven in the McLaren 650S and 675LT Spider models – is constructed of lightweight composite panels and creates a purposeful, sleek appearance whether raised or lowered.

Most importantly, there are no performance compromises versus the 570S Coupé, with the Spider maintaining the same electrifying pace, dynamic excellence and impressive refinement. The carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis at the heart of all Sports Series cars does not suffer any reduction in strength or stiffness in convertible guise, or require any additional structural actions. This has allowed McLaren engineers to design and develop the 570S Spider without concerns that are potentially a significant issue with steel or aluminium structures.

“The McLaren 570S Spider is the most attainable McLaren Spider to date and adds yet another dimension to the McLaren Sports Series family. This is a convertible without compromise; its mid-engined layout and carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis guarantee the same thrilling dynamic performance and exceptional driver involvement enjoyed in a 570S Coupé, but with the added attraction of a retractable hard-top that delivers the extra exhilaration of roof-down motoring.”

Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive

Electrically operated from the driver’s seat using one simple control, the roof folds effortlessly to stow beneath a beautifully crafted tonneau cover that rises automatically to accommodate the lowered panels and returns to its closed position with the assistance of soft-close technology. The roof can be opened or closed in just 15 seconds, at vehicle speeds of up to 40km/h (25mph).

A glazed wind deflector can be electrically raised or lowered at the push of a button, providing further versatility with the roof up or down. The deflector reduces wind-buffeting when the roof is down and if desired can be lowered when the roof is raised to allow additional sound and fresh air into the cabin. Owners wanting to enjoy even more of the distinctive exhaust note of the new Spider can specify an optional sports system that features an ESG to channel exhaust sound towards the cabin, via the area beneath the tonneau cover.

The retractable hardtop is designed to withstand the severest conditions and is significantly more weather- and fade-resistant than fabric, yet with its operating mechanism adds just 46kg to the weight of the Spider; this is the only variance in weight between the new convertible and the 570S Coupé.

Supercar performance

The combination of lightweight carbon fibre construction and an incredibly potent 3.8-litre, twin-turbocharged McLaren V8 engine, means that the new 570S Spider is both more powerful and lighter than comparable convertibles, with an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 419PS-per-tonne (lightest dry weight).

Positioned behind the driver, the twin-turbocharged McLaren M838TE engine produces 570PS at 7,500rpm and torque of 600Nm between 5,000rpm and 6,500rpm. In combination with a rapid yet smooth seven-speed seamless-shift gearbox featuring Launch Control technology, the result is a luxury sports convertible with supercar acceleration from standstill to 100km/h (62mph) in 3.2 seconds and to 200km/h (124mph) in just 9.6 seconds.

Top speed is 328km/h (204mph) with the roof in place – identical to the 570S Coupé – and even with the roof lowered, the new Spider can reach 315km/h (196mph). Complementing this extreme performance is a stop-start system that contributes to overall efficiency; the 570S Spider returns official fuel economy of 10.7 litres/100km (26.6mpg) in the NEDC combined cycle and CO2 emissions of just 249g/km.

McLaren 570S Spider

Exceptional body control

McLaren’s new Spider employs racecar-style, double-wishbone suspension all-round, with steel springs, twin-valve adaptive dampers and anti-roll bars calibrated to the same exacting specification as the 570S Coupé. Body control is exceptional and the overall drive incredibly pure and rewarding, while retaining impressive comfort. Accessing the Active Dynamics Panel adds another level of personal choice, allowing the driver to choose from Normal, Sport or Track modes, for progressively softer or firmer suspension. This versatility ensures that the Spider is as at ease in everyday use as it is on a race track.

Electro-hydraulically assisted power steering, carbon-ceramic brakes and Pirelli P ZERO™ CORSA tyres are standard, while the latest chassis software both enhances the driving experience and increases safety. Developed originally for Formula 1™, Brake Steer aids cornering and reduces understeer by subtly applying braking force to the inside rear wheel as the driver turns in to a corner. Performance Traction Control calibrated by McLaren provides precise control in extreme situations, while the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system includes a ‘Dynamic’ mode with reduced intervention and increased ‘driftability’, allowing drivers to enjoy the 570S Spider’s dynamic potential with confidence.

Tailored design

The breath-taking body design is enhanced by a rear spoiler, finished in Dark Palladium grey (a visible carbon fibre finish is available at additional cost via McLaren Special Operations) and 12mm taller than the rear spoiler of the 570S Coupé. The higher spoiler provides additional downforce to offset the aerodynamic changes resulting from the Spider having a different rear upper body design, ensuring exceptional aerodynamic balance overall that is the equal of the Coupé.

Designed around a perfect driving position that puts the driver at the centre of the action, the sophisticated cabin blends exceptional levels of craftsmanship, quality and technology; hand-stitched leather on the seats, door casings, dashboard and centre console sits side-by-side with a 10-inch TFT main instrument cluster and a centrally mounted, 7-inch IRIS touchscreen through which climate control and infotainment functionality are managed.

Customers can choose from standard six-way-adjustable or optional eight-way adjustable electric memory seats, with luxurious Nappa leather or performance-oriented Alcantara® trim available at additional cost. Lightweight carbon-fibre-shelled sports seats, the same as those fitted to the McLaren P1™, can also be specified.

Three new exterior colours celebrate the Spider’s introduction, with Curacao Blue, Vega Blue and Sicilian Yellow joining the existing Sports Series palette and giving Spider customers a choice of 20 colours in total. The new hues dramatically showcase the complex forms of the aluminium bodywork and unique-in-class dihedral doors, particularly when combined for added visual impact with an optional Dark Palladium grey contrast finish on the roof, windscreen pillars and rear buttresses.

An all-new, 10-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheel design (19-inch front, 20-inch rear) has been crafted as an option for the new 570S Spider. For further differentiation, a new brake caliper colour, Liquid Black, is also available.

Available to order now from more than 80 McLaren retailers worldwide, each 570S Spider is hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, England.

The new McLaren 570S Spider will make its public debut on 29th June at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, West Sussex, UK and the first cars are scheduled to be delivered to customers in August.

BestCarPhoto

2018 McLaren 570S Spider

2018 Паук Макларен 570S

Производительность суперкара

Исключительный контроль над телом

Индивидуальный дизайн

2018 McLaren 570S Spider First Drive | A sweet breeze

McLaren’s new convertible gains wind, gives up nothing.

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The McLaren 570S Spider is madness. Not the car itself, which is a cogent convertible design based on the already handsome coupe. What is crazy is that a 562-horsepower machine that hammers to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds is only considered a sort-of, kind-of supercar. The Spider will be McLaren’s volume model in its lowest-priced, lowest-tier Sports Series designation. As such, it is the company’s starter supercar.

Should you have $208,800 in your Venmo account, you won’t give up anything except that fixed roof. There’s no perceivable performance demerit when it comes to this retractable hardtop, as it was developed alongside the regular 570S from the onset. The 0-to-60 time is a non-discernable one-tenth of a second slower, and it still gets to a 204-mph top speed when the roof is up. If you insist on a top-velocity hurtle with wind bathing the cabin, it would only limit you by 8 mph.

It gains only 101 pounds, bringing it to 2,895. One assumes that the real-world difference is negligible. To find out, we flew to Barcelona, enjoying a full day scuttling over gloriously curvy roads in an otherwise remarkably unpopulated part of the world. I recently spent a week with the regular 570S, so my ass was as calibrated as one could hope. Would there be any failings of the Spider over the coupe?

Our test car was outfitted in a new hue, a deep Vega blue, with a dark finish on the roof and body accents. The Spider retains the same roofline as the hardtop and it is instantly recognizable as a variation. McLaren has finally settled into its own design language, with highly identifiable rear tail lamps and those unique 3D «tendon» doors first seen on the 570S coupe and which have now migrated to the 720S. It’s an architectural-leaning language that translates beautifully into a roadster.

With the top down, the Spider gets more attention than the coupe, and perhaps even more than the 720S, which I tested recently in Rome. Perhaps people simply feel drop-tops are especially exotic. Around the summer bustle of Barcelona, kids jumped up and down and attractive women on scooters gave us the thumbs up. There’s worse places to be noticed. The top goes down in a snappy 19 seconds at speeds of up to 25 mph.

We charged away from the nude beaches near the port and headed northwest, toward the elevations of the Castelltallat mountain range. The EU has laid mile upon mile of excellent tarmac throughout this remote countryside, where traffic lights are nearly nonexistent and most of the traffic is of the tractor variety. It’s the kind of place you dream of driving a convertible, sun browning your nose as you scroll through miles of rolling roads. We never saw a police car.

Under light throttle loads, the 570S is a chilled-out supercar. Like its coupe brother, the Spider is easy to live with. The damping is forgiving in every suspension mode. Even mid-corner bumps won’t unsettle the chassis. You can roll over speed bumps without scraping the underside and a resultant heart attack. The 570S is simply not strung as tightly as Secretariat, so it handles real-world roads in a real-car fashion. It flows over ridges in the road without tramlining or any chatter. I could imagine commuting to work in this thing – if I worked as a Hollywood agent.

The driving position is excellent and the interior materials good. Still, it’s the regular car conveniences where McLaren stumbles. The idiosyncratic seat controls, wonky sport/chassis mode controls, and the dodgy and slow infotainment. If you owned the car, you’d get used to them, but they irritate. The Spider does introduce a new problematic wrinkle as the digital screen washes out when exposed to direct sunlight. It’s even worse if you’re wearing polarized sunglasses. You need a navigator to help parse the navigation.

But when it’s time to get supercar serious, the Spider is remarkably prepared. Rigidity comes from the carbon-fiber tub, which McLaren dubs the MonoCell II and weighs only 165 pounds. This means that the Spider doesn’t need any extra body stiffening. Everything below the beltline is exactly the same as the coupe, including dampers and springs. Only the calibrations were tweaked due to the roof mechanism’s greater weight and slightly higher center of gravity.

The car wears either Pirelli P Zero or P Zero Corsa tires, and carbon-ceramic brakes are standard. The carbon stoppers are wondrous in full-attack mode, but can feel dull and resistant before they’re warmed up, especially around town. None of the Sports Series models get the hydraulic chassis treatment that comes with the higher-tier cars like the former 12C or 650S. The 570S isn’t likely to see a track day, however, so the system is not missed. The adaptive dampers and standard anti-roll bars do just fine. It also retains true-to-god hydraulic steering, something that’s highly welcome and that McLaren says isn’t likely to change anytime soon.

And of course, the powertrain is the same. The rear wheels are powered by the 3.8-liter, twin-turbo V8, with the aforementioned 562 hp and 443 pound-feet of torque, working with an Italian-produced seven-speed double-clutch. It lacks the absolute linearity of a naturally-breathing engine such as the one in the Lamborghini Huracan, but it’s as close as a turbo setup gets.

When gorgeous roads appear before us – a mix of sine-wave esses, closing-radius turns pinching around cliff walls and fourth-gear sweepers – the 570S gets down to business. I found that the best setup is manual mode, sport suspension and track powertrain. The middle chassis setting allows enough travel for choppy road surfaces, and the amped-up powertrain mode means the engine responds with gusto, but never feels temperamental or jumpy, like too many modern sports cars. McLaren is unbeatable when it comes to these minute calibrations.

And man, you can just slam through roads, choosing to either maximize rolling speeds and smoothness or grab-it-by-the-scruff and lob it through corners. The car’s balance abets the former driving style; its power-and-brake combo the latter. Either way, it’s a delight.

As for the question of coupe versus convertible, my ass-o-meter couldn’t discern a handling difference, and I’m decently keyed into what’s going on underneath me. In most ways, the top-down Spider simply enhances the experience. The aural extravaganza blossoms behind your head and you get a more visceral sense of speed and the roads – and the occasional whiff of flowers or cow shit, too.

But the very best thing is the 570S’s mortal nature. This is no race car for the road, which you could never hope to exploit. Rather, the McLaren is fit for real-world enthusiasts who drive in the real world. You don’t need an extra 200 horses. In the right setting, you can get 8/10ths from the 570S and still know that your talent will run out before the car does.

In this sense, I like it even better than the 720S. That car has the hydraulic suspension and 710 hp, and it is a handful under full throttle on a legal street. Frankly, it’s a handful on a racetrack, best approached studiously and conscientiously.

In comparison, the 570S is carefree and insouciant. A starter supercar? Hardly. But definitely one geared to taste the wind.

Related Video:

Featured Gallery 2018 McLaren 570S Spider: First Drive

Image Credit: McLaren

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McLaren 570S Spider 2018

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McLaren 570S Spider (2018) Review

The 570S represents the (current) entry point for those seeking supercar thrills from the renowned Woking-based marque that made its name in the world of Formula One. What happens when you’re able to take the roof down, does the experience get even better?

We like: Unburstable power delivery, ease of use, styling, sound with the roof down.

We don’t like: Choppy ride when traversing bumpy roads at speed.

Alternatives

The archrival: The Ferrari 488 Spider is an obvious candidate to challenge the 570S Spider. The Maranello-made roadster has the edge in the performance stakes, but that’s not going to change that many minds at this end of the market.
The rear-driven Lambo: The Huracan LP580-2Spyder offers howling naturally aspirated thrills from its 5.2-litre V10 engine. If it’s ultimate aural stimulation (at the cost of some driver involvement) you’re after, the Huracan is a winner.
If you only have R3.5 million to spend: The Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet equals the competition in the power stakes but doesn’t have the same dramatic, make-a-statement styling.
«Bargain» Audi ragtop: Well, with an asking price of just over R2.9 million, the R8 5.2 V10 Spyderquattro offers genuine mid-engined wind-in-the-hair excitement, even if some will bemoan that it offers only 397 kW and 540 Nm (as opposed to 449 kW/560 Nm of the Plus hard-top derivative).

What is it?

McLaren’s road car company has been producing sport, super and hypercars at a prolific rate since it began with the somewhat inelegantly-named MP4-12C back in 2011. This 570S Spider represents the roadster version of the «entry-level» model in South Africa and the 570S is said to make up part of McLaren’s Sport range, which the Woking-based marque reckons means the car «is suited for everyday use as opposed to a weekends-only supercar».

The name 570S comes from the power output of its engine, which is tuned to deliver 562 hp or 570 PS. That’s 419 in kilowatt speak.

Gone is the active aero rear wing, which has been replaced with a slightly more subtle rear lip.

The Spider version uses a retractable hardtop roof that can be raised and lowered at below 40 kph. What’s interesting is that the assembly adds only 45 kg to the weight of the car and has no effect on rigidity. McLaren’s carbon fibre tub is designed like that of an F1 car, so it doesn’t require a fixed roof to stop the chassis from flexing.

The 570S Spider continues to use the same 3.8-litre V8 twin-turbo unit across all its models (albeit in very different states of tune) and is mid-mounted behind the cockpit.

How does it fare in terms of…

Eye-catching looks?

It’s not that McLaren doesn’t care how its cars look, but the brand’s primary aim is to instil driving appeal and deliver an overload to the senses with its road cars. Still, if you’re spending R5m (approximately how much the Spider costs) then you probably want it to pull a crowd in a parking lot or turn heads as you drive through town.

Classic supercar looks and a loud paint finish give the McLaren appreciable kerb appeal.

The 570S Spider with its roof down has classic supercar looks. It’s not overdone with aerodynamic winglets and panels, it doesn’t even have the active rear wing anymore, just a solid lip at the rear to add a bit of rear traction. The sheet metal is smooth, rather than creased and jagged. The only elements that detract from the sinuous design are the front side fenders that stab inwards like a crab’s pincers, it’s a little odd and much more pronounced than they were on the 12C.

Nevertheless, in this striking blue hue the 570S is a selfie station for passers-by; several road users whipped out their smartphones to get a blurry pic of the «baby Mac».

Action-packed drive?

We thought it best to head out to some of the Western Cape’s serpentine roads that sweep through the Winelands and flatten a selection of mountain passes with the Spider to assess what the average McLaren user’s driving experience would be like. The 570S may be the entry point to the McLaren nameplate, but nothing prepares you for just how intense 419 kW, 600 Nm and 0-100 kph in 3.2 seconds feel when out on the road with the roof down. The lightweight structure of the McLaren makes the test unit feel altogether different to mass-produced Audi R8s and Mercedes-AMG GTs. There’s no flex in the chassis; it doesn’t move around like an aluminium-steel car.

The baby Mac is best suited to flat, smooth tarmac. It can be tricky when the surface is less than ideal.

The experience becomes more direct, responsive and eye-widening as the revs climb. The farm roads outside Durbanville (where the roads are imprinted by a swell of truck traffic) upset the stiff chassis of the McLaren. As it moves up and down with the bumps in the road it has a tendency to track into the road’s impressions and give a slight tug on the steering wheel. You have to have your wits about you on those sorts of roads, especially at speed, where lots of steering corrections are required.

When we drove the Spider with zeal on better-surfaced roads, the baby McLaren opened a gateway to a whole new world of driving wonderment. With the instrument panel showing green lights for engine temp, gearbox temp and (most importantly) tyre temp you can start to test the waters of what the 570S has to offer. You can start to adjust the drive- and traction control settings or work your way up to maximum power and DSC in track mode as much as your bravery and driving skills allow.

Once it’s properly warmed up, especially the tyres, you can begin accessing the near limitless err limits the McLaren has.

The front end can feel light on turn in as there’s no weight from an engine to push it down, but once the tyres warm up the grip level is exceptional. The precision at which you can dictate the front’s direction is almost telepathic. The rear puts down the power smoothly and without aggression. Most rear-driven cars require a tentative prod at the throttle to get an understanding of how much rear traction is available, but with the McLaren, you can feed it in fast and confident that the back isn’t going to get frisky.

As you reel off one corner after the other you are likely to find yourself so deeply engrossed in the surplus of driving satisfaction on offer that the rest of the world seems to fade into a blur. The turbochargers whistle behind your left ear as they spool up (before the engine howl overwhelms them) and you warp towards a new destination.

When things calm down?

The modern wonder of suspension engineering allows a supercar otherwise capable of blitzing lap times at race-car speeds to wander around town in a comfortable, unfazed manner. Together with a brilliant 7-speed dual-clutch ‘box, slow speed town driving doesn’t represent the panicky, embarrassing situation it used a decade ago.

The 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 is used in every current McLaren up to and including the P1.

It’s also easy to get in and out of the 570S Spider in a dignified manner and the upward-opening doors add to the cool factor immensely. You will find that the bottom of the doors attracts some nasty stone chips so covering those leading edges with some sort of film is a must. There is a pair of storage bins for bags. The one in the front is only really big enough for a medium-sized luggage bag. The other is located underneath the roof cover and big enough for a pair of laptop bags. There is a sense of trepidation that the electric cover might crush whatever’s inside that recess as it the assembly closes, however, because it’s quite a thin loading area.

The wind buffeting in the cabin isn’t even that noticeable at freeway speeds, most of the turbulent air is deflected over or around the passengers. There is not so much of hint of scuttle shake or flex from the windscreen either, proving that that carbon fibre tub was always designed with a Spider variant in mind.

Verdict

McLaren predicts that the Spider version will account for most of the 570S sales. That’s probably why this junior supercar was designed from the ground up to be a Spider, rather than as an afterthought, which is often, but not always, the case with mainstream manufacturers.

It feels every bit as good to drive as the hard top; having the raw soundtrack of the twin-turbo V8 piped into your ears while driving with the roof down is a major bonus.

Comfortable seats for long stints in the saddle and a very simple instrument layout makes the McLaren a driver-focused tool.

The 570S Spider admittedly struggles to feel settled on less than optimal surfaces, where it can track and pull at the wheel as the surface dictates. Open it up on a smooth section of road, however and the McLaren comes to life with precision, agility and brutally fast acceleration that vividly separates it from humdrum sportscars.

What’s more, the real trump card of the McLaren 570S Spider is it’s day-to-day usability. It’s comfortable to drive in town, easy to manoeuvre in parking lots and simple to get in and out of despite its low-slung seating arrangement. There are very few drawbacks to owning it, provided you can afford the R4.5-million (starting) price tag.

Watch the McLaren 570S launch review video: