“Form follows function.” ― Louis Sullivan
Design is at the heart of everything McLaren does. From their automotive production to the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. Every detail is considered as part of the brand’s no-compromise ethos. It should come as no surprise therefore that when McLaren produced the McLaren GT, the boundaries of what a ‘Grand Tourer’ are, were redefined.
‘GT’ typically stands for ‘Grand Tourer’. It is a model of car that seeks to combine comfort and power; features that make what is naturally a Supercar more amenable to everyday use. Functionality is paramount in GT cars so the driver can ultimately have control over the automobile in question, be that the handling, depending on road conditions, through to the engine’s ability to cover long distances efficiently. It all sounds rather mundane, doesn’t it? Well, not if you’re in the McLaren GT!
The superlight McLaren GT reimagines what it means to be a ‘Grand Tourer’. From its stunning design through to its practical performance on the road. This elegant automobile combines raw power with enough pleasantries to make it one of AGLAIA’s favourite cars to date.
A Balanced Design with the McLaren GT
As Rob Melville, McLaren’s Design Director notes, “Our pioneering design gives the GT a unique beauty and balance. The profile is sleek but purposeful. This is a car that invites you to drive. Traditional Grand Tourers are slower. Heavier. And simply less fun to drive.” There is simply nothing mundane about how this car looks. Nor is there anything included that isn’t there for a reason. This car embodies ‘form over function’. Or as the McLaren team put it, ‘everything for a reason’ design philosophy.
With its MonoCell II-T carbon fibre chassis, the car’s core provides maximum strength with minimum weight which enables the McLaren GT to operate with power, precision and efficiency. A key feature of this car is its iconic Dihedral doors. In simplistic terms, the door is attached to a rotating hinge resulting in the door opening out and swinging up in a vertical fashion. When you see the doors swing upward you’d be forgiven for thinking that the effort involved every time you sought to exit or enter the car would be quite substantial, but the design of the doors is such that a moderate push of the elbow on the inside of the door, when inside, effortlessly releases the door in an upward fashion. A further design feature that makes this car stand out from the gas guzzling crowd, even more so when you swing your doors upwards at the petrol station.
As you’d expect from a brand synonymous with creating Formula 1 cars and pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering, the McLaren GT is extremely aerodynamically efficient. With its sweeping, sculpted profile, it not only looks elegant, but it has some muscle about it too. In this instance, the racing green body colour, coupled with the carbon fibre vents and openings for the headlights provides a dramatic contrast that adds to the enviable design of the car.
The GT’s Exceptional Power
The mid-mounted McLaren 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine will propel you from 0-62 MPH in a mere 3.2s whilst maintaining an optimum weight distribution and a smooth linear acceleration. The result is an extremely efficient car. This efficiency is in part due to many of the car’s components being totally unique to the McLaren engine. Such as the new aluminium pistons and ultra-low inertia twin turbochargers. Innovative packaging also keeps the McLaren GT’s centre of gravity low for ultimate balance and handling.
As you’d imagine with a car capable of this much power (630Nm of torque produced from 5,500rpm to 6,500rpm for the petrol heads amongst you), its suspension, steering and tyres need to be exceptional to ensure the driver feels safe when operating. Which we can attest to them being. Along with its advanced Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system, the McLaren GT feels like an incredibly safe environment to operate in, whatever the conditions.
Stunning Interiors & Storage
The interiors of the McLaren GT feel minimalist in comparison to other supercars, but it continues to maintain a sleek and sophisticated feel. The central console is modest in size but not overbearing within the car’s cockpit. Its functions have not been overly complicated and look to meet the needs of the everyday driver. Simple additions, such as changing the ambient lighting through to some helpful shortcut buttons to get you to the functions you need quickly are welcome. It also has a playful nature to it with the paddle shift gears and ‘launch’ button, gentle reminders that you’re in a car capable of reaching a top speed of 204 MPH…should you so dare.
The cockpit and seats are particularly comfortable and spacious, you don’t feel like you’re sitting in an F1 style cockpit. It feels sufficiently luxurious, it feels like you’re encapsulated in what is a very well-made car. The seat adjustment buttons do take a bit of getting used to, hidden down to your left, but after a bit of trial and error, the ability to change what feels like all elements of the seat adds to the comfortable driving experience.
Finally, the boot. Often an afterthought in cars such as these, in the McLaren GT that doesn’t seem to be the case. There is a storage space in the bonnet that can fit two good sized carry-on style bags, notably one soft shell and the other hard shell. Whilst the boot space is deemed ample enough to hold a golf bag and two pairs of skis. For those a little less into their leisure activities, the weekly shop and some additional weekend extras will also fit quite comfortably once you’ve honed your spatial awareness to maximise the car’s various little hideaways.
In summary
Let’s not ignore the fact that McLaren cars first and foremost derive from a racing heritage. McLaren are the second most successful F1 team history. In fact, at the McLaren HQ in Woking, they hold claim to housing the largest collection of original motorsport trophies in the world – over 650 when we (they) last counted! So it should come as no surprise that
you get immersed into a world of automotive giddiness as soon as you see a McLaren GT, let alone step foot in one.
Unlike a typical F1 car, or some other supercars, there is a feeling of space and tranquillity when driving the McLaren GT. It has a refined driving position with excellent visibility in front and around you. It has adequate luggage space. The safety features of the car also put you at ease, despite the power and torque the car can generate with very little fuss. But beneath all of this is a ridiculously powerful, fast and exceptionally engineered car. Form really does follow function.
You cannot help but smile, even chuckle to yourself, as you put your foot down on the open road. It has the ability to stir up a childish excitement that might have been nullified from a day in the office or a week running errands. To put it simply, the McLaren label might say GT, but what this really stands for is ‘Good Times’ and the McLaren has that in abundance.
Edward Lumley is Editor-in-Chief for Of Wealth & Life and a Freelance Men’s Fashion Writer. Edward has written for publications such as FashionBeans, Harrods and a variety of online outlets specialising in Men’s fashion for the past eight years. Follow Edward on Instagram.
