McLaren lifts lid on 570S Spider 15 | 06 | 2017
McLAREN HAS LAUNCHED its new 204mph, 562bhp V8 570S Spider. It’s available to order now from McLaren Glasgow, with prices starting at £164,750; that’s a £19,445 premium over the coupe. (Related: McLaren 720S debuts in Scotland)
The fourth model in its Sports Series range, McLaren claims the new open-top matches its coupe-bodied counterpart in terms of performance. That’s despite the Spider tipping the scales 46kg due to its folding hard-top.
Power comes from the 562bhp twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 which — as with the 570S coupe, 570GT, and less powerful 540C — sits behind the driver. Driven through the rear wheels, and mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox, the Spider covers 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds.
Top speed. Well, with the roof in place it maxes out at 204mph; take the top off, and you’re restricted to a paltry 196mph!
The clever roof design consists of two panels constructed from lightweight composite materials. The roof mechanism has been borrowed from the convertible versions of the 650S and 675LT, and takes 15s to open or close. It can be operated at speeds up to 25mph, and a wind deflector pops up at the push of a button.
Built around a sturdy carbon fibre monocoque, McLaren says the Spider is just as rigid as the coupe.
The supercar designers have also had to make few subtle styling tweaks to the Spider, essentially because of the slightly different profile at the rear. Most noticeably, the spoiler sits 12mm taller than it does on the coupe, to ensure a similar aerodynamic balance between the front and rear.
The Spider also gets a new ‘Exhaust Sound Generator’, which channels exhaust noise towards the cabin via an area under the tonneau cover. It’s available as an option.
Inside the cabin, it’s identical to the coupe, with the same 10in digital instrument cluster and seven-inch touchscreen. Six-way adjustable seats are standard, but you can also choose from eight-way electrically adjustable seats, or P1 hypercar-inspired carbon fibre buckets.
The Spider also gets three new paint colours, plus a new 10-spoke alloy wheel design and unique black paint finish for the brake calipers.
The new McLaren 570S Spider will make its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed at the end of the month.
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Jim McGill