The McLaren GT made its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, providing us with our first opportunity to see and hear it in action.
In the lead-up to the debut of its new supercar, McLaren said it was encouraged to build it thanks to feedback it received from owners of the 570GT who loved the practicality of their ride but wanted more performance.
The British manufacturer could have easily squeezed more power from the 570GT’s engine and call it a day. They, however, decided to build an entirely new car.
Sitting at the heart of the GT is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine producing a hefty 612 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. According to the official specs, this, along with the seven-speed SSG transmission and launch control system, allows the GT to reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 3.1 seconds, 124 mph (200 km/h) in 9 seconds and hit a top speed of 203 mph (326 km/h).
To ensure the car is fitting of being called a grand tourer, McLaren designed it to be larger than any other Sports or Super Series model. Consequently, it is 4.7 meters long, offers 14.8 cubic-foot of luggage space below the tailgate and a further 5.3 cubic-feet of space up front. The practicality is enhanced by the lift system, which increases ground clearance to 5.1 inches (130 mm).
Last, but not least, while the engine of the GT is, basically, the same unit found throughout the McLaren range, this video shows that it does sound unique thanks to a bespoke exhaust system.