Originally announced in October 2015, the all-new McLaren 570S Spider made its anticipated world debut last weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.
As the third member in McLaren’s Sports Series, this two-seat, rear-wheel drive cabriolet combines the exceptional dynamism and refinement of the 570S Coupe with the extra exhilaration of open-air motoring. It’s also the most attainable McLaren Spider ever and brings supercar attributes such as carbon-fibre construction, a mid-engined layout and extreme performance for the first time to the luxury sports convertible segment.
The distinctive feature here, obviously, is the two-piece power retractable hardtop that’s engineered using technology proven in the McLaren 650S and 675LT Spider models. It’s constructed of lightweight composite panels and creates a purposeful, sleek appearance whether raised or lowered. Operated from the driver’s seat using one simple control, the roof folds neatly under a beautiful tonneau cover that rises automatically to accommodate the lowered panels and returns to its closed position with the assistance of soft-close technology. The one-way process takes just 15 seconds, at vehicle speeds of up to 40km/h.
As for performance, the new McLaren 570S Spider is a mere 46kg heavier than the 570S Coupe and houses the same 3.8L twin-turbocharged V8 engine mounted behind the driver. The latter produces 562 hp at 7,500 rpm and 443 lb-ft of torque from 5,000-6,500 rpm, sending this luxury sports convertible from a standstill to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds. Top speed is 328 km/h with the roof in place (identical to the coupe) and 315 km/h with the roof lowered.
“The McLaren 570S Spider is the most attainable McLaren Spider to date and adds yet another dimension to the McLaren Sports Series family. This is a convertible without compromise; its mid-engined layout and carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis guarantee the same thrilling dynamic performance and exceptional driver involvement enjoyed in a 570S Coupe, but with the added attraction of a retractable hard-top that delivers the extra exhilaration of roof-down motoring,” commented Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive.
