“We wanted to create a pure Grand Tourer that combined unique, typically McLaren styling with great space and roominess to travel in total comfort but with great performance.” The words of Robert Melville, head of McLaren design, describe the ideas that moved the pencils of the styling team to create the new GT. Long and wide, the car appears almost “stretched”. “The width of the GT is emphasized by the characteristic hammer line, which runs horizontally across the front, through the grille and draws the eye to the most extreme parts of the vehicle. That’s why it looks decidedly flat and elongated,” Melville explains. We drove the McLaren GT through the Swiss Alps and found it to be very comfortable to drive and a true grand tourer, but the 620-horsepower 4.0 V8 also gives it a sporty feel when you want to go fast.
The rear, elongated and elegant, is characterized by a fixed integrated wing, a wide diffuser, large and protruding exhaust pipes: a functional requirement to ensure that the high-temperature gases emitted are not too close to the bodywork. The volumes are modern and elegant and flow seamlessly from front to rear, passing through the cabin slightly shifted forward. “The body is sophisticated and sculpted and expresses power and comfort. This GT can literally ‘cradle’ the occupants while driving long distances, also thanks to the materials used.”
Inside we find large glass surfaces that give great brightness to the passenger compartment. The perception of the overall dimensions of the car, 4.70 meters long and 2 meters wide, is very good thanks to the thin A-pillars, a factor that makes it easy to drive in the city and in the narrowest streets. In front of the steering wheel, which as on all McLarens has no controls, there is a 12.3-inch digital display with aeronautical-inspired graphics, while in the center of the dashboard stands the tablet for controlling infotelematic functions. “As befits a grand tourer, cabin elegance was a priority for the new McLaren GT from the beginning,” says Melville. Materials are quality, and there’s a choice of cashmere upholstery for the trunk lid and the doors and part of the center tunnel. Speaking of luggage compartment, the new McLaren GT can count on a rear compartment of 420 liters plus a front one of 150 liters reaching a total of 570, like a station wagon.
“We have the largest compartment in the class, where you can even stow two golf bags horizontally. To achieve this, we lowered the exhaust system and the engine, working synergistically with the engineers,” says Melville. Space, sportiness and comfort: “Three characteristics for a great GT”.
