Recently, you’ll recall, we featured the exciting McLaren 750 (see it here) and it’s a supercar deserving of the name, but wait: McLaren is not a brand to rest on its laurels so now we can reveal that the GT of old has been totally revamped and reimagined as the GTS. This new sports model continues the theme of offering supercar driving dynamics alongside daily usability and comfort, all underpinned by the Britain-based brand’s unique carbon fibre monocoque chassis and super-lightweight engineering philosophy. This is the car for people for whom the visceral qualities of the 750 are toned down for that a true grand touring experience.
The Looks
We’re on familiar territory here. The elegant exterior lines of the outgoing GT remain the basis of the car’s aerodynamic package and profile, but new visual enhancements mean that the GTS is even more assertive in appearance. At the front of this new version, the ‘hammerhead’ signature styling has been updated with a new lower front bumper section. This area of the car features newly sculpted air intakes that are more pronounced, with wider intakes to channel more air into the car’s radiator system.
The front intake air blades can be optioned in gloss visual carbon fibre, reflecting McLaren’s racing DNA and giving the GTS a more aggressive look. On the rear bumpers (fenders), new, taller air scoops, which are also available in gloss visual carbon fibre, are sited on the car’s shoulders. Like the redesigned front end, the enhancements on the rear bumpers (fenders) are functional, enabling greater airflow into the sublime 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine.
The muscular visuals and surfacing of the GTS include a large rear diffuser and dual exhausts, the latter also part of a package that delivers a raw supercar soundtrack on demand with the optional Sports Exhaust system. As standard, the McLaren comes with a gloss black finish on the exhaust finisher, mirror caps and window surrounds, for a stealthy appearance by default.
To round it all off, new GTS badging, including new side badges, can be tinted with a black finish by selecting the Stealth Badge Pack option. Visual carbon fibre options include an underbody carbon pack, which encompasses the front splitter, side skirts and rear bumper (lower section) and diffuser. Exterior details such as the front air intake blades, the rear bumper air intakes and mirror caps can also be finished in carbon fibre to order.
The standard wheel for the GTS is a 10-twin-spoke alloy, offered in Silver, Gloss Black or Gloss Black Diamond Cut, alongside an exclusive Tungsten option. Other options are available to order. All wheel designs can be combined with new optional titanium locking wheel bolts, which are 35% lighter than the standard bolts, helping to reduce unsprung mass in a small way. Pirelli supplies P ZERO tyres developed specially for the GTS, offering high-performance and levels of grip, alongside refinement in equal measure.
The Cabin
It’s also business as usual in the refined, high-quality cabin which uses a mixture of materials selected to deliver a snug nest of performance and luxury. Machine polished and knurled aluminium switches and controls are placed around the interior, including for the steering wheel-mounted gear-shift paddles, alongside gloss black surrounds for the infotainment screen, gear-selector on the centre console, air vent housings and window switches. Optional visual carbon fibre packs include a satin carbon finish steering wheel clasp and extended gear-shift paddles and interior surrounds, along with sill finishers with McLaren branding.
As standard, the Comfort seats of the GTS are upholstered with Nappa leather trim alongside a leather trimmed steering wheel. New ‘Performance’ and ‘TechLux’ interior schemes introduce a refreshed design. ‘Performance’ trim is sporty, sharp and technical with seats upholstered in ‘Softgrain’ Aniline leather and Alcantara in Jet Black or Barolo (deep red, like the wine), with contrasting piping. ‘Performance’ also includes ‘Power Adjust Heated Memory Comfort’ seats.
Alternatively, the new ‘TechLux’ interior scheme epitomises classical elegance, albeit with a modern McLaren twist. A choice of ‘Softgrain’ Aniline Leather interiors feature sophisticated colour highlights with a unique and newly introduced double piped pattern on the seats.
Across the dashboard, a 10.25 inch digital instrument display, offers crisp and sharp graphics and provides a clear view of vital driver information such as speed, gear selection and engine revs, and integrates with the standard navigation system to provide turn-by-turn directions. The GTS also features a seven-inch central touchscreen infotainment system, portrait in orientation. Sharp and responsive thanks to its powerful 10-core processor, it’s easy to use, with its smartphone-style menu and input method.
Satellite navigation with mapping and real-time traffic information, Bluetooth telephone connectivity and media streaming, plus DAB digital radio reception are standard. To cap it off, there’s a Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system comprising no less than twelve speakers, along with carbon fibre sub-bass woofers and ‘Kevlar’ mid-range drive units being optionally available.
Interior illumination by way of hidden-until-lit six-colour ambient lighting is offered, while the natural light afforded by a glass panoramic roof is available with an electro-chromic glazed panel, which replaces the standard carbon fibre composite gloss black roof. The panel allows a driver to select one of five light transmission levels at the touch of a button. In its darkest setting, the electro-chromic roof provides a 0.6% light transmission level.
The Road
With excellent all-round visibility from the cabin, the prestige McLaren GTS has a seven-speed transmission that provides smooth, seamless and rapid shifts in default-from-start-up ‘Comfort’ mode, ensuring relaxing yet brisk acceleration. Beyond this, a driver can enhance their supercar experience with two further driving modes via the Active Dynamics Panel.
‘Sport’ introduces heightened drama and urgency, with, for the technically minded, momentary ignition-spark-cut technology which delivers faster and more aggressive gear changes. ‘Track’ mode takes this to a higher level still, maximising the performance of the gearbox with minimal loss of torque between shifts. Manual control of gear-shifts is possible using the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters in any of the drive modes.
The tuning of the electro-hydraulic steering system, the standard-fit suspension featuring adaptive damping with proactive damping control, and the powerful carbon ceramic braking system are all unique to the GTS. These elements optimise the mid-mounted position of the V8 engine and the car’s lightweight construction for an authentic supercar driving experience, with balance and agility prioritised, but not at the expensive of comfort and ride quality when required.
The steering of the GTS delivers a level of feedback and feeling unmatched by rivals, as has been the case with all modern McLaren motors. Precise and accurate, as would be expected in a supercar, the system automatically increases its level of assistance at low speeds, for ease-of-use during low-speed manoeuvres such as parallel or bay parking. Featuring McLaren’s adaptive damper technology, Proactive Damper Control, suspension characteristics alter between the aforementioned three Active Dynamics modes – Comfort, Sport and Track. This ranges from maximum compliance in Comfort, ideal for more relaxed driving, to much more robust damper control in Track mode, for dynamic drives.
At the heart of the car is McLaren’s glorious 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine tuned for this model to produce 626bhp (635PS / 467kW), an increase of 15PS over the outgoing GT. The lightest vehicle in its class the GTS will whisk the lucky driver to 62 miles per hour (100 kph) in a scant 3.2 seconds.
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