It’s been almost three years since the McLaren GT debuted worldwide during the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Since then, Woking’s Grand Tours have not seen many significant changes or updates. However, its closest competitors must have worked hard. Delivered with the Porsche 911 Turbo S, the Bentley gave us a new Continental GT speed, and stuffed a V8 under the hood of Aston Martin’s DB11.
Coincidentally, in the last six months I’ve found myself behind the wheels of the McLaren GT’s closest competitors. I got on the last British supercar from Lot. Fortunately, the GT has a lot going for it, such as its powerful twin-turbocharged V8, silky smooth suspension and a unique driving position in its segment. Even with a price that easily exceeds $ 250,000 with options, Oaking’s best makes a strong case for why it should be the top dog.
McLaren GT Design
At a glance, it would be easy to dismiss the new 2022 McLaren GT as another supercar However, peel off its skin and you will find a car that is significantly different from its closest competitors and its siblings. It all started with the GT’s carbon-fiber chassis called the Mono Cell II-T. Although the brand’s current road-going vehicles have a chassis feature made from this lightweight material, the GTs are unique. McLaren’s engineers have added a new top structure that expands internal storage and passenger space. The result is a 20.1 cubic foot luggage room with front storage compartment. This means more than enough space to hold luggage during a road trip.
Quantitatively, these changes in the name of the interior space also affect the exterior of the vehicle. Thanks to its front and rear overhangs as well as its new structure, the GT is over 15-feet tall, making it one of the largest McLarens currently sold. Despite its size, the GT is far from heavy. Thanks to the lightweight material, the chassis of this Grand Toure weighs only 192 pounds, bringing the total carb weight to 3,384 pounds.
Its appearance is then less distorted, more draped over its purposeful structure. However, this does not mean that the GT is not a stunning thing to see. Its bumpers and sides still have plenty of clever arrow work. These elements simultaneously carry air through and through the vehicle, taking in its huge side pods and the upper part of the rear. Despite all the clever science in the game, the GT accomplishes its arrow goals nicely. You won’t find a hard, extra angular line anywhere in its bodywork.
On the other hand, the styling of the GT is somewhat consistent, indicating a clear departure from the current segment trends. However, it will be a winning strategy in the long run. Thanks to its designer restraint, the GT doesn’t have to shout or have five spoilers to get attention. Instead, it draws attention and invites you to scan around to see if you can see all its intricate details, before you enter.
McLaren GT Performance
It’s a good thing the McLaren GT looks like a supercar because it definitely behaves like one. It is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that produces 612 horsepower and 465 ft-ft of torque. Thanks to its low carb weight, the GT can rocket 60 miles per hour in 3.1 seconds before continuing at a maximum speed of 203 mph. Its speed comes down initially to its unlimited seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. With its lightning-fast change and instant response, it is one of the best in the business. Like its more powerful siblings, the rear wheels of the 720S, GT get all the power.
On the road, it’s hard to say that the GT represents a McLaren that focuses on something other than direct motion. The GT is still one of the fastest cars I’ve ever tested. Peak torque comes in at 5,500 rpm, 95 percent of which is available at 3,000 rpm. As soon as you lower your legs, there is only a fraction of a second before the turbos wake up and you are in hyperspace. GT hard accelerates. However, its transmission is not stuck around. The whole experience is non-stop. Carving a ravine at the upper end of the Rev Range where the GT survives. Its Turbo V8 provides instant feedback via an optional upgrade exhaust of my tester, even interested in singing a beautiful song.
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Although it captivates in a straight line, the GT is more than willing to dance through the corners. Despite being a bit longer than a 720S, you can’t tell on the road. GT behaves quite similarly to his more powerful siblings. It provides excellent front-end agility and a level of stability that will force you to swear that there is a wing outback. The body roll is also non-existent, mainly thanks to GT’s active chassis control. It scans the front road and adjusts the vehicle’s adaptive dampers as fast as two milliseconds. The result is a car that never seems to lose its temper and thus builds confidence in its driver.
Speed aside, the GT is an exercise in sensations as well. Thanks to its electro-hydraulic steering, you get constant feedback from the road. As far as modern supercars go, McLaren still has the best steering in the segment. The brakes aren’t even half bad. They are carbon ceramic, expected for the price point. However, they feel like they are out of a race car. Push the paddle, and you won’t get much stopping power. It takes a good confident stump to lower the GT. This firmness allows for easy pedal modulation and quick response as soon as you start the ABS trigger. Combine these components with the power and handling properties mentioned above, and you’ll find a car that’s fun on a silver platter.
While GT will happily build canyons without caring for the world, this is probably not the most impressive aspect of it. Despite the sharpness of the curves, a change in drive mode makes it one of the most comfortable sports cars I’ve ever driven. Full stops, independent suspensions, and adaptive dampers add pure magic, even embarrassing some modern luxury cars. Even the dilapidated roads of Los Angeles cannot phase out the GT. With this car you can drive 10 hours across multiple states in complete comfort. On the highway, this supercar glides on imperfections in such a way that it really shouldn’t be able to. If I had to plan a cross-country road trip, the GT would be my weapon of choice.
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McLaren GT Interior
The suspension of the McLaren GT lifts all the heavy so that its interior can improve. Thanks to its modified structure, there is ample space for passengers and luggage alike. I bet most people can find a comfortable driving position on the GT. Fortunately my tester featured the most comfortable seat option available. Although they lacked some side ballstarming, they were nicely cushioned and quite comfortable on long drives. Thanks to the large glass windows and an auto-ventilated electrochromic roof, the GT’s cabin looks airy and open, a supercar can probably go as far as claustrophobic.
Build on quality; It is clear that McLaren’s interior was nailed down. I last drove the GT in 2020 during the lockdown. That particular press car had a few flaws, especially the premature wear on its leather surface. This was a significant improvement since I returned to the GT in 2022. Without any fuss, noise or imperfections, it is safe to say that British carmakers have made great strides towards overall quality. Even less street noise was passing through the cabin. At speed, the GT is as cool as it is comfortable.
Technically, the GT lags behind some competitors in terms of smartphone connectivity. Neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto are available as optional extras Although McLaren’s infotainment system is intuitive and easy to use, it sometimes lags behind when switching to different menus. On the plus side, the digital instrument cluster in front of the driver is nice, providing lots of information and tons of consistency through the car’s various driving modes.
McLaren GT Pricing
The McLaren GT starts at 200,000 in the US but, with optional extras, my tester price tag exceeds 250,000. This makes it directly compatible with the Porsche 911 Turbo S, Bentley Continental GT, and Aston Martin DB11, starting at around 200,000. It is impossible to choose between these machines at this price point because they are great at what they set out to achieve.
Within its segment, the GT and Turbo S are probably the most similar, dealing with easy curves and large highways with absolute ease. However, the form factor of the GT helps to set it aside. With a more traditional supercar layout, having a foot inside a GT feels more special than its competitors. In addition, the GT is the perfect car for most occasions, thanks to a suitable supercar and the ability to tiptoe in a grand tour. So I won’t take it on track to find the fastest time, it’s what inspires me the most to go out and drive, and if the goal is to rack up fun miles, the GT is the right tool.
