When you think of a GT car, you often envision a sports car with race track features and an enhanced engine. But the McLane GT is different. Other than just focusing on speed alone, the company wanted to develop something that offered superb driving comfort and ride quality and could be used as a daily driver. Unlike other GTs, McLaren’s mid-mounted V8 has proven itself over the years. Extra cabin space, a lower-hung sports car design, and excellent performance are just some of the great features of the McLaren GT. The GT retains its McLaren DNA. It may have a toned-down version of the V8 engine found in the 720S but that doesn’t mean it’s not impressive. This one produces 612 horsepower. This is why the McLaren GT 0-60 mph in a staggering 2.8 seconds. We take a closer look at the new GT and discover what sets it apart from others in its space and why you should consider it if you are in the market for a sports car daily driver.
When the GT was first launched alongside the 720S and the 570S line, the company aimed to attract a different kind of clientele. Now that the 570S line is out of production, the GT model sits in a space of its own. The new McLaren hasn’t changed from the previous model years. There was the addition of new colors in the 2023 model and add-ons such as a branded armrest and a stealth package as optional. But McLaren isn’t known for its trim levels and the same holds for the GT. Though there are plenty of tech, titbits, and amenities to keep the buyer occupied in the GT. When you buy the GT, you will get a 3-year warranty. Not only that, you also get a 10-year anti-corrosion warranty as well. But then, you don’t have to worry about carbon fiber rusting. And as if that was not enough you can even extend the warranty to up to 12 years.
The truth is that while it is marketed as a grand tour, GT McLaren looks and feels more like a supercar. And while there are no crash tests, which let’s be honest who’s going to crash a McLaren, one can only assume that the sturdy carbon fiber frame will keep you safe. That said the GT does offer stability control, hill hold assist, traction control as well as cruise control. However, keep in mind that you will not get any radar guidance with the cruise control. The car rocks some 20-inch wheels at the front with 21 inches at the back. The headlights and taillights are all LEDs and there is also a fixed spoiler at the back set above the single bar LED light. There are also some good-sized exhaust tailpipes and a rear diffuser. Plus there are plenty of options available to the buyer such as the rear privacy screen for anyone who wants extra.
It is those transformer-like dihedral doors that open to allow you to access the inside the GT. This is not something you see every day with other grand tourers. Another standout design feature of the GT is the passenger cabin. Most GTs in the space will accommodate four passengers with some even accommodating up to six. However, being a McLaren, it offers space for just two. McLaren went the extra with their GT model when it comes to interior styling and choice of materials. There is plenty of quality leather and Nappa leather. But you can also go for the microfiber and cashmere, for extra, of course. Simply put, once you step inside the cabin, you are instantly reminded you are in a McLaren. It is plush and luxurious plus the driving position and forward as well as rear visibility is great. If you’d like a sky view, you can also order the GT with a panoramic roof. That said, you will not get massage seats or ventilated seats. For your infotainment and connectivity, the GT comes with a 7-inch touchscreen with SiriusXM satellite radio. According to McLaren, the company took inspiration from private jet screens to develop the one in the GT, though some sources claim it performs less than ideally being unresponsive at times. You get a standard 4-speaker entertainment system with the option of upgrading to a 12-speaker Wilkins or Bowers System. On the downside, the McLaren lacks a few driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, or blind spot monitoring but it does come with a backup camera as standard. For such a highly priced vehicle the rear-view camera has less than impressive resolution.
The GT features a rear-wheel-drive system that is powered by a twin-turbo 4-liter V8 mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. This motor can generate up to 612 horsepower and 465-pound feet of torque. And sure, the GT McLaren is much longer than the now out-of-production 570 line. However, it isn’t deafening and doesn’t look as aggressive. More like a car for a cultured, elegant, and stylish individual to go about their day. As anyone familiar with the 2023 model year McLaren GT specs knows, the car is capable of some blinding speeds. The McLaren GT 0-60 sits at under 3 seconds. To help in that amazing acceleration are some cool features such as launch control. As for the ride quality, it is simply phenomenal which isn’t at all surprising considering it’s a McLaren. This makes it a great daily driver. For the 2024 model, McLaren claims that it will do 15 miles to the gallon in the city and 22 on the highway.
Compared to the 570S, the GT offers much better cargo space. It has up to 15 cubic feet of storage. This translates to around 150 liters in the frunk. This is far more than what you’d find in a Porsche 911 for example and according to McLaren it can fit a golf trolley. A cool feature is the 12-volt socket situated inside the frunk. Plus, there’s an extra 5 cubic feet in the frunk bringing it to a total of 20 cubic feet…not bad. There are places to store your luggage around the car thanks to the location of the engine. Behind the rear hatch is a 420-liter space situated above the engine and while this might seem like a lot it is designed shallow which could limit the type of items that you could carry there.
One wouldn’t expect a sports car to perform well in a city setup, but McLaren has it all figured out. Thanks to the low-lying dash, the short nose, and the thin pillars, it offers remarkable forward visibility. The large rear windscreen also gives plenty of rear visibility. And it’s not just being able to see, it's also how it handles. The ride is incredibly supple, the steering is responsive at just the right balance of heavy and light and the suspension system works great. Not to mention that when you press down on the brakes, they won’t bring the car to a jerking stop but slowly ease into it. As for the suspension, McLaren decided to keep the soft front suspension springs and anti-roll bars from the 2023 model something you don’t expect to find in a GT McLaren. This allows for adaptive damping which makes for a smooth ride around corners. This is especially true when coupled with the hydraulic steering wheel. And apart from not getting radar-guided cruise control, the ride along the highways is superb too. That clever suspension system absorbs any bumps in the roads and the comfortable seats mean that you can sit back and enjoy the ride. Plus, you can turn the 7-speed dual-clutch auto transmission to auto and just focus on enjoying the ride. But how does it perform on twisty roads? This is where the McLaren proves it is just that… a McLaren. The responsive steering offers great feedback and acts exactly how you want it to allowing you to make the right and accurate turns. The suspension also plays its magic and performs exceptionally well thanks in part to the adaptive dampers.
There are plenty of sports cars but few can evoke feelings of controlled power quite like a McLaren. Sure, the GT is marketed as a grand tourer but it's more like a hybrid between a GT and a sports car offering the best of both worlds. Ready to get your hands on a McLaren? Let Exotic Car Trader handle the paperwork for you so you can focus on getting your car and taking it out for a spin. As for the McLaren GT price, there are no multiple trims to consider that you get confused with which costs what. The 2024 McLaren GT starts out at $209,000. So why would you pay such a sum for a car that costs nearly twice the price of a Corvette? Simple, exclusivity!
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