The latest member of the McLaren line-up, the McLaren GT, is set to make its bow in Singapore next week, and is targeted at customers who love long distance trips.

Photos: McLaren

SINGAPORE

Great news for McLaren fans in Singapore who enjoy regular long road trips up the highways of Malaysia (and beyond maybe). McLaren has unveiled its latest addition to its line-up, the McLaren GT, a car which the company says is a “classic Grand Tourer” that will “redefine the rules of Grand Touring”.

Up until now, most of McLaren’s offerings have been fairly hard-edged two-seater sports cars that are more at home on the track than taking on long journeys on the road. The McLaren GT breaks away from that mould, and while it retains most of the McLaren performance formula (mid-engine twin-turbo V8, carbon fibre tub, two-seater only), the GT is optimised for comfort and refinement.

So different is the McLaren GT, the company says that it will not slot into the usual Sports, Super or Ultimate Series range, as is case for all of McLaren’s existing models. Instead, the GT will sit in its own category, and will challenge the likes of the Aston Martin DB11, Ferrari Portofino, and Bentley Continental GT in the grand touring stakes.

The GT’s Monocell II-T carbon fibre monocoque features a new upper rear structure that is designed to allow for more luggage capacity, and the result is a 420-litre space under the glass tailgate, which combines with 150 litres of capacity in the front for a total of 570 litres of storage. The rear loading space is said to have enough room to accommodate two pairs of skis (up to 185cm long), or a single large golf bag.

Other comfort-oriented design elements include the large rear three-quarter windows that help to bring in more light into the cabin and improve all-round visibility. The interior too has been given a touch of luxury, with unique-to-this-model electric heated seats that have been designed to offer the best combination of comfort and support, and a revised version of McLaren’s infotainment system, with faster and more accurate navigation software. Further down the line, McLaren will offer the option of cashmere as an upholstery choice, an industry first.

Under the skin, McLaren has used its engineering prowess to tweak the GT and allow it to achieve the desired levels of comfort. Softer engine mounts and increased sound insulation help to reduce noise and vibration, and McLaren claims that the GT is the most refined model it has ever made.

The GT’s suspension setup is also bespoke to this model, and combines hydraulic dampers with advanced software, called Proactive Damping Control, that uses sensors to read and react to road conditions, and adjust the suspension accordingly for maximum comfort.

Power comes from a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 620bhp and 630Nm of torque, which is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. 0-100km/h comes up in about 3.2 seconds, and the McLaren GT can go on to a top speed of 326km/h.

If you can’t wait to get your hands on the McLaren GT for your road trip, don’t worry. McLaren Singapore is planning to launch the GT here at an event next week, and while pricing has not yet been finalised, expect a retail price of above $700,000 without COE, give or take.

UPDATE: McLaren has revealed the GT’s retail price and availability following its launch event held on 28 May 2019. The GT goes for $760,000 excluding COE, and the order books are open now, with deliveries set to begin towards the end of 2019.