McLaren GTS replaces the GT with more power, less weight

AFTER nearly five years on the market, the McLaren GT makes way for its replacement, known as the GTS.

The newest offering from Woking boasts a number of enhancements, which cover areas such as the design, equipment, and perhaps more excitingly, performance.

While the overall shape of this grand tourer remains unchanged, the front fascia now incorporates wider, more pronounced air intakes to channel more air into the radiator system.

On the rear fenders, new, taller air scoops sit on the shoulders to enable greater airflow into the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine.

Alongside new colour options such as Mantis Green, Tanzanite Blue and Ice White, the GTS can be had in an exclusive colour called Lava Grey. It incorporates a shimmering red fleck that catches the light to create a distinctive effect.

There are two alloy wheel designs to choose from, both of which can be fitted with titanium bolts said to be 35% lighter than standard bolts. The wheels are wrapped in Pirelli P Zero rubbers developed specifically for the GTS.

As for the interior, customers can now opt for Softgrain Aniline leather upholstery with double piping and contrast stitching.

In addition to the visual upgrades, McLaren has reduced the weight of the GTS through the use of composite roof and upper structure at the rear, both made of carbon fibre. This makes the car 10 kg lighter, with a kerb weight of 1,520 kg.

With an output of 635 PS, which is 15 PS higher than its predecessor, and 630 Nm of torque, the GTS only takes 3.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h and 8.9 seconds to reach a speed of 200 km/h. The maximum speed is 326 km/h.

Higher output does not necessiate that practicality has to be compromised. In fact, the GTS is more practical than the model it replaces as the lift system can now raise or lower the nose in only four seconds – more than twice as fast as before.

Additionally, the GTS has a boot space of 420 litres accessible via a front-hinged, electrically-operated glass tailgate. It also has a 150-litre storage space within the nose, giving it a total cargo space of 570 litres.

The electro-hydraulic steering system has also been retuned to deliver a more accurate level of feedback. The steering’s level of assistance is also increased at low speeds for easier low-speed manoeuvres.