Hand-assembled in Woking, England, the new two-seat, rear-wheel-drive 570S Spider is the third body style in McLaren’s Sports Series portfolio, alongside the Coupé and the GT. As such, the new 570S Spider brings supercar performance and, for the first time, carbon fibre construction to the luxury sports convertible segment. Of course, the use of carbon fibre in vehicle production is nothing new to McLaren as it pioneered the carbon fibre chassis way back in 1981 with the McLaren MP4/1 Formula One car, and in 1993 with the iconic McLaren F1.
BLUE SKY DRIVING
Apart from showcasing leading carbon fibre technology, the 570S Spider is, as a whole, nothing less than a technological marvel. The two-piece roof, constructed of lightweight composite panels, creates a purposeful, sleek appearance whether it is raised or lowered. Electrically operated from the driver’s seat using one simple control, the roof folds effortlessly to stow beneath a beautifully-crafted tonneau cover.
The roof itself is a masterpiece of engineering, completing either of its opening or closing cycles in just 15 seconds, at vehicle speeds of up to 40 km/h. An electrically-operated glazed wind deflector can also be raised to reduce wind-buffeting when the roof is down, or lowered when the roof is up, to allow for maximum enjoyment of the car’s heavy metal meets new age synth soundtrack. And, if that’s not enough to satisfy your desire for the McLaren’s distinctive exhaust note, you can opt for the sports system that channels exhaust sound into the cabin via the acoustic area beneath the tonneau cover. Having driven the 570S with and without this add-on, we highly recommend the latter option as it guarantees an experience of pure aural ecstasy.
DIFFERENT ROOF, SAME PERFORMANCE
The Spider combines the exceptional dynamism and refinement of the 570S Coupé with the incredible freedom and exhilaration of open-air motoring, the only trade-off being a slight weight premium of 46 kg over the Coupé. As a consequence of its different rear upper body design, the Spider’s rear spoiler sits 12 mm higher than that of the Coupé, with the effect of adding more downforce to compensate for the aerodynamic changes.
Surprisingly, the Spider matches the performance of the Coupé in every respect, from its electrifying pace to its dynamic handling. Even more impressive, thanks to the carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis that underpins the Sports Series, the Spider does not suffer any reduction in strength or stiffness, doing away with the need for any additional structural enhancements.
CLASS-LEADING HANDLING
Compliments of its race car-style, the double-wishbone suspension on all four corners – supplemented with steel springs, twin-valve adaptive dampers and anti-roll bars – the 570S Spider offers mind-bending body control without any chassis bending, of course. Driving experience and safety are further enhanced with McLaren’s Formula One-derived Brake Steer, which aids cornering and reduces understeer by subtly applying braking force to the inside rear wheel as you turn into a corner.
Even under extreme loading into corners – as we experienced on a nearly 600 km chase through the twisty, undulating, and mostly rain-soaked roads of Catalonia – the 570S Spider displayed exceptional handling without so much as a hint of over- or understeer. The electro-hydraulic steering is perfectly weighted and incredibly precise, making the overall drive as pure and rewarding as anything I have ever experienced. Ironically, the one “moment” I had was down to pure driver error as I failed to trust the Brake Steer to do what it was designed to do – to turn in and to complete the turn at speeds that defy your every expectation. The 570S Spider certainly gives new meaning to point and shoot, especially in Sport- or Track mode.
SUPERCAR PERFORMANCE
McLaren’s incredibly potent 3.8-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine makes the new 570S Spider more powerful than comparable luxury sports convertibles, and thanks to its carbon fibre construction, the nimble Spider boasts a class leading power-to-weight ratio. To add insult to injury, the Spider, which enters the market at a mere R3.7 million, is a steal compared to the Lamborghini Huracán Spyder (R4.75 million) and the Ferrari 488 Spider (R5.7 million).
The trusted McLaren M838TE engine produces 420 kW at 7,400 r/min and torque of 600 Nm between 5,000 and 6,500 r/min and is coupled to McLaren’s rapid yet smooth seven-speed seamless-shift gearbox (with launch control). The result is a boulevard cruiser with cruise missile acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, and on to 200 km/h in just 9.6 seconds. The 570S Spider also dispenses with the quarter mile in less than 11 seconds on its way to a top speed of 328 km/h with the roof raised, and 315 km/h with the top down. Trust me; the 570S Spider is a supercar that’s been cleverly disguised as a tame convertible.
SENSORY CHIC
Hand-stitched leather on the seats, door casings, dashboard and centre console, exemplify a sophisticated cabin that blends exceptional levels of craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology. A 10” TFT central instrument cluster and a centrally mounted, 7” IRIS touchscreen, along with the controls on the steering wheel and the centre island, are truly intuitive, all of which make for a perfect driver/car interface.
McLaren further celebrates the Spider’s introduction with three new exterior colours. Curacao Blue, Vega Blue, and Sicilian Yellow now join the 17 existing colours in the Sports Series palette. Our test cars in Barcelona were limited to one of the three new hues, all of which dramatically showcase the complex forms of the aluminium bodywork and the beautiful, unique-in-class, dihedral doors.
LAST WORD
The McLaren 570S Spider is a convertible without compromise and a supercar in every respect. It invites you to play as much as it forgives you in those moments when your human skills fail to match its technological prowess. The 570S Spider is an exceptional car that is guaranteed to further catapult McLaren to the top of that exclusive club that has traditionally ruled the supercar roost. We simply stand in awe, not only of the topless 570S but also of the astonishing accomplishments of McLaren Automotive since it was launched in 2010.
Report by WILHELM LOOTS | Images © MCLAREN AUTOMOTIVE
