This comfortable supercar isn’t for poseurs, but is brilliant for real-world drivers
WORDS CHARLIE CALDERWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN BRADSHAW
FUTURE CLASSIC
The history of the mid-engined GT isnʼt an extensive one. The Maserati Merak and Bora did it, and you could argue that the Audi R8 and Honda NSX made pretty good GT cars, but thatʼs about it, and from a British perspective thatʼs odd. Sure, mid-engined supercars are the pinnacle of driving dynamics, but most people on these islands are unlikely to have any roads nearby that really suit them. It makes sense, then, for your supercar ambitions to extend beyond posing outside Harrods to a car that works on back-roads and is capable of trips to some truly special routes further afield.
The McLaren GT does that first by adding extra luggage space, in the form of a strangely shaped ʻbootʼ that stretches over the engine before dipping down towards the back of the cabin. Thereʼs the ʻfrunkʼ, too, which is a similar size to that found on other McLaren models. Combined, itʼs enough for two people to take a whole week away, rather than just a weekend.
The biggest change, though, is in the GTʼs chassis. Itʼs softer and has a higher ride height than more focused McLarens – with the nose lift enabled, itʼs as lofty as a Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Thatʼs all relative, though: this is still a low car with extremely high levels of grip, but it is also supple, well-insulated and usable, and potholes and speed bumps arenʼt the existential threat they are to many supercars. The GT can be hustled down a bumpy back-road with confidence, yet itʼs also a brilliant motorway car, so long drives arenʼt remotely intimidating. Itʼs quiet enough, too, with comfortable heated seats, and it can return fuel economy in the low 30s when cruising along in top gear.
The Lam
