Kicking off the McLaren Sports Series, McLaren unveiled the McLaren 570S in 2015, and even though it has been almost a decade, it's one of the best sports cars ever built. The 570S took inspiration from existing and discontinued McLaren hypercars and Supercars at the time. It takes different bits and pieces from McLaren's best and most iconic, for example, the 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 from the McLaren P1 and the lightweight nature of the discontinued 12C, McLaren's evolutionary sports car. Incorporating a lightweight chassis, even lighter aluminum bodywork, and a magnificent engine and transmission in the car's engineering enables the McLaren 570S to achieve a 3.2-second 0-60 time. Considering it was produced as an entry-level sports car in 2015, that's pretty decent, and it gets better since the top speed in the 570S maxes out at 204mph! McLaren introduced a convertible version of the 570S, the 570S Spider, in 2017, and it's the model to get if you're aiming to get a 570S. The 570S Spider retains the dynamic attributes and refinement of the 570S Coupe but adds the excitement and thrill of open-air driving. Roof operation only takes 15 seconds and can be done at speeds up to 25mph. Today, you can easily pick up a McLaren 570S for around $140,000, and prices can go as low as $100,000 or as high as $180,000, depending on the specs and model year. Newer and 570S Spider models tend to sell for more than older models and Coupes. Is the McLaren 570S a better purchase than the Porsche Turbo, Audi R8, or the highly coveted Mercedes AMG GT? Read on to find out.
The McLaren 570S was the first and most powerful car that McLaren unveiled in their new Sports Series shortly after they unveiled three production tiers: Sports Series, Super Series, and Ultimate Series. Originally unveiled at the 2015 New York Auto Show, the McLaren 570S retained McLaren's focus on aerodynamics and weight-saving construction. Despite being an entry-level sports car, the McLaren 570S has some of the best McLaren engineering details, including race-derived technologies. McLaren described it as having supercar performance in a package that is very much a pure McLaren, and we wouldn't have it any other way. The race-derived technologies are mainly evident in the chassis construction, which is meant to be as lightweight as possible and is made of carbon fiber. Additionally, McLaren claimed that the 3.8-liter engine in the McLaren 570S got 30% newer components, hence an increase in performance. In the 570S Spider, the convertible top is constructed out of lightweight composite panels to reduce the weight-adding effect, keeping it to a minimum. Like every McLaren, the 570S is designed to provide an engaging driving experience on the road and track, hence the refinement in chassis rigidity and suspension, which improves handling in all driving scenarios. The driving modes, Normal, Sport, and Track make the driving experience more engaging by enhancing engine and transmission response and suspension feel accordingly.
Marking McLaren's entry into the luxury sports car market, the McLaren 570S has a spacious and subtly luxurious cabin you often don't get in sports cars. According to the car's chief engineer, Paul Burnham, the interior of the 570S features beautiful craftsmanship, advanced technologies, and a light space that enhances comfort and, most importantly, an exciting driving experience for the driver. Practicality and comfort are not as good as in the McClaren 570GT, but it's refined well enough to make it usable. Interior space is roomy enough, and the seats recline back further to a maximum of 28 degrees due to optimized interior surfaces, and this applies to both the 570S Coupe and 570S Spider. But don't let the subtly luxurious nature and refined comforts of the 570S trick you into thinking it's a less capable sports car. Unleashing the potential of its lightweight construction, the McLaren 570S will beat almost any sports car and supercar in its class or within its price range. If you want to drive it on the track, put some good tires on and activate track mode to unlock a driving experience that will have you yearning for more with every lap. On the road, it's just as comfortable to drive as most cars you'd buy to commute with. And when you need some extra juice to avoid getting late for school pickup in the evening, you have 562 horsepower at your disposal.
Behind the driver's seat in the McLaren 570S sits a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged, sending all its 562 ponies to the rear wheels via a McLaren-specific 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. The engine is strategically placed at the rear not only because it's where it should be in a sports car but also because it helps in weight distribution, thus resulting in better handling. Without any occupants, the McLaren 570S has a front-to-rear 42:58 weight distribution, with extra weight at the rear assisting the car to maintain traction. How heavy is a McLaren 570S? The 570S Coupe weighs 3,201 pounds, and the 570S Spider weighs an extra 102 pounds due to the convertible top. McLaren used a race car-derived double wishbone suspension in the 570S with steel springs, twin-valve adaptive dampers, and anti-roll bars. This suspension setup delivers exceptional body control and provides excellent feedback in any driving condition. The driving modes, Normal, Sport, and Track allow drivers to control suspension stiffness depending on driving conditions and personal preferences. Many sports car and supercar owners will admit to driving their cars in the most hardcore suspension settings for that race car feel, and in the 570S, you can do precisely that.
The McLaren 570S was the first car that McLaren competed with aggressively in the sports car segment, so they had to make it stand out among competitors that had been around long before. The car's design borrows a lot from McLaren supercars, mostly the 650S, under which McLaren positions the 570S. Aerodynamics was the main focus point when McLaren designers brainstormed on designing the 570S, and they didn't miss even one bit. The front bumper has a sharp design intended to enhance airflow over and under it and towards the massive carbon fiber air intakes that direct air to the radiators and the front brakes. At the rear end sits a wing that provides additional downforce, and in the 570S Spider, it's larger to offset the aerodynamic changes due to the bulkier rear upper body design that houses the roof. A massive diffuser is mounted below the rear bumper, giving the rear end an aggressive look, especially with the square-like exhaust tips on each end adopting the curvature of the diffuser. At a glance, the exhaust tips are almost unnoticeable.
Inside the McLaren 570S, you get luxurious Nappa leather seats with electric adjustability and memory functions that are comfortable to sit in even on long road trips and track days. Some units have Alcantara seats, which offer more grip and look slightly better than the leather. Some buyers optioned their 570Ss with seats similar to those in the McLaren P1. These aren't as comfortable as the standard seats, but they offer incredible grip and keep you firmly in place, especially in high-speed corners. The McLaren 570S had tons of interior customization options, so don't rush into buying one simply because you want it. With a bit of patience, you could get one with an interior that best matches your taste. The Dihedral doors make exiting and entering the cars easy as they open upwards and towards the front fenders. McLaren intended them to do just that, but they also give the car a fantastic appeal, especially when viewed from the front. What's the point of having unique doors on a car if you can't flex them?
Despite being a discontinued model, the McLaren 570S has pretty decent tech features that keep it at par with newer supercars and sports cars. You get a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen display that gives you access to the vehicle's features, including individual customization options for the driving modes. The infotainment screen also displays vehicle stats and features like WI-FI tethering, satellite navigation, and Bluetooth telephone connection. On the driver's side of the dashboard, a 10-inch LCD instrument cluster displays vehicle stats and activated assists such as ABS, traction control, oil temperature, gas tank levels, and the rev counter and speed. As standard, the McLaren 570S got a 240-watt 4-speaker audio system, but you can find one with an upgraded 8-speaker McLaren Plus Audio Plus sound system, which was standard in the McLaren 570GT. MclLaren also offered a 12-speaker and 1280-watt Bowers and Wilkins sound system for buyers who wanted the best sound system available for the 570S, but it's pretty difficult to find units with this sound system as it wasn't cheap.
With supercar performance and styling to back it, there's no reason you shouldn't buy a McLaren 570S. It's one of those cars that remain highly relevant and covetable even after discontinuation despite better models being available. The only disadvantage you might not get over is the outdated infotainment display, but it's nothing an updated aftermarket display can't fix. McLaren 570S prices average around $140,000 for Coupe and Spider models, sitting right at the sweet budget spot for anyone looking for a high-tier sports car. However, you might have to pay slightly higher prices for newer and Spider models, ranging from $150,000 to $190,000. How is the McLaren 570S compared to the 570GT? The 570S offers a better driving experience due to its race car-inspired suspension and steering but lacks practicality and some comfort features. On the other hand, the 570GT has excellent practicality but is not as engaging to drive as the 570S. Nonetheless, both are great cars and since prices are similar, it all comes down to personal preference when deciding which to buy. If you are currently in the market for a McLaren 570S, you can buy one on Exotic Car Trader. Be sure to watch out for our McLaren 570S listings, and you might find a spec that matches your taste. Also, if you have an eye for McLarens, check out our McLaren listings.
The McLaren 570S is among the few sports cars that stand out amidst the chaos surrounding newer sports cars, with every manufacturer spewing one out every two weeks, leaving buyers and enthusiasts confused about which one to buy. Its low-key performance and handling will have you wanting to spend more time in the car testing its limits, which are quite hard to reach, but the journey to get there is an unequaled and rewarding driving experience.
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