McLaren 570S: McLaren’s first Sports Series car OFFICIALLY revealed

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Just a day ahead of its debut at the New York Motor Show, the McLaren 570 S – McLaren’s first Sports Series car – arrives to take on the Porsche 911 and AMG GT S.

Having taken on the Italians with the 650S (well, the 12C to start with), the new McLaren 570S is aimed right at the Germans, and in particular the Porsche 911 Turbo S and the Mercedes-AMG GT S.

With a much revised version of McLaren’s 3.8 litre twin turbo V8 sitting under the skin, the 570S delivers 562bhp and 443lb/ft, enough to get to 62mph in just 3.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 204mph. It also comes with official economy of 25.5mpg and 258g/km.

Weight is kept down too, and the 570S weighs less than the 650S (and a lot less than  the 911 Turbo) – despite dimensions that are a bit bigger than its more powerful big brother – with McLaren claiming a class-leading power to weight ratio for the 570S thanks in no small part to its carbon fibre tub and aluminium skin.

McLaren say the key to the 570S is usability, with looks that mimic the 650S in may ways, just a bit less aggressive and more rounded, and an interior that’s more focused on comfort and equipment than the 650S (even if the 650S is already the most usable of supercars).

That means leather seats are standard, there’s a bit more storage space, the TFT Instruments change depending on mode, the 7″ IRIS touchscreen system is standard and comes with  Climate , Bluetooth and DAB and you’ll have a plethora of trim, paint and personalisation options too.

It’s a compelling package, and one that should have the AMG GT S, 9011 Turbo and R8 looking nervously over their shoulders.

But much will depend on price; the word on the grapevine is that the 570S is going to start at nearly £150,000, and at that price the 570S is going to be on a par with the 911 Turbo S – which is probably the plan – but £40k more than the, admittedly less powerful, Mercedes-AMG GT S.

Still, with the relatively modest numbers McLaren hope to sell, we can’t see the 570S being anything other than a runaway success, even if it won’t exactly spoil the party for the Germans.