Automotive review: The new McLaren GT

The McLaren GT is new. It’s swanky. And surely, it is quick, coz it’s a McLaren! But the question is, “Does it live up to its name i.e., GT or Grand Turismo?” Is it a car that you’d pick out of your multi-million-dirham garage to travel the long haul, in comfort and with an acceptable amount of luggage?

To answer this question, we loaned one for roughly 48 hours — carefully avoiding the Dh 875,000 retail price — drove the nuts out of it and here we are to spill the beans on the matter.

Supercar architecture

The McLaren GT, like every other modern McLaren, is an evolution of the one before it. It’s got a sharp, short and tapering snout. It sits low to the ground and has a tear drop shape that helps it cut through wind with ease. Place it next to the wild 720S and the family resemblance becomes apparent, but it comes off as a lot more restrained, thanks to the conventionally-styled LED luminaires in the front and the fixed spoiler in the rear, as opposed to the active one on the 720S, amongst other things. Also note that the 20-inch and 21-inch wheels, front and rear, are some of the biggest we have seen on any supercar, which, in ways, emphasises its dynamic abilities.

Now, the key fob itself is an interesting one! The GT has frunk (front trunk) and a trunk. And you can open either by clicking the right part of the car graphic on the key fob. That level of detail deserves appreciation! You can unlock the car by pressing the McLaren logo on it, and by pulling the concealed handles the doors swing upwards, almost like ‘Lambo doors’, dare I say. This is a party trick that never gets old and drew attention wherever I went.

Once inside, the car’s luxuriousness becomes apparent. The dual-tone interior is generously upholstered with soft nappa leather. And the flat-bottom steering wheel with its aluminium trims and the perforated metallic speaker covers for the ‘Bowers and Wilkins’ system add some jazz to the cabin. The portrait orientation of the 7-inch infotainment screen is also a welcome change from the usual.

From a visual point of view, the GT proves its supercar worthiness.

Supercar performance

On the move, in Comfort mode, there is little intimidating about it. They’ve adjusted the throttle mapping to provide a more linear (almost delayed) power delivery to make it less ‘supercar scary’. But as you dip into the gas pedal, everything gets amplified, the steering becomes more direct, and the exhaust noise gets louder and then you truly get a sense of the beast within.

With launch control activated, the 620 PS GT can sprint from the start to the quarter mile mark in 11 seconds, hitting the 100 km/h mark in just 3.2 seconds on the way. And it makes a lovely raucous bark as the rpms rise and drop.

Around corners and long sweeping curves, the GT feels planted. It grips so well even with 225/35/R20 (front) and 295/30/R21 (rear) tyres, which are relatively skinny for a supercar. It also gives you the opportunity to kick the rear out, with a generous application of the throttle. Similarly, even under heaving braking, the GT displayed great composure, all thanks to the cast iron discs (367mm front; 354mm rear) that are clamped by callipers (4-piston front & rear). If for any reason you find an inadequacy or wish to do track time, you can always opt for the carbon ceramic discs.

Once again, it establishes its supercar worthiness, this time dynamically.

GT quotient

But to earn the GT badge, this new McLaren must pass the ultimate fire test — it has to be spacious, comfortable and convenient. Let’s see if it fulfils some of the mandates…

This McLaren was grown in every direction to make it more accommodating. It is almost 4.7 metres long, the equivalent of a mid-size saloon and it is almost 2.1 metres wide, the equivalent of a mid-size SUV. Just from these numbers, you know it will have more internal space than its siblings. And as anticipated, it can accommodate two 6-feet tall adults comfortably. Unfortunately, some rivals provide a 2+2 layout (4-passenger), and hence, it falls short. Also, the door cut-outs are a squeeze and there is some theatre involved in entering and exiting the vehicle. Thankfully, they have leather plastered all over the door sill which makes it easier to slide in and out.