Can Brit brute McLaren dominate the local high-performance market?

EVERY segment of the automotive market has its benchmarks. If a new hot-hatch is released it will be compared with the Volkswagen Golf GTI. A new luxury SUV - Range Rover. High-performance sedan - BMW M5.

It is the way it has always been and it is the way it will always be. Or is it?

With cars like the manic P1 and 650S, McLaren introduced its most feisty models first, but is now turning its attention to more affordable volume propositions and a Sports Series.

When it comes to the prestige sportscar market, Porsche’s venerable 911 is unquestionably the one to beat, but even the most potent competitors have only ever managed to temporarily match its granite constitution and sales.

The key to its 50-plus years of domination is not only bullet-proof German engineering, but a combination of bullet-like performance, unmistakable looks and, critically, choice.

Browse the 911 catalogue and you’ll be spoilt by a whopping 20 variants to choose from, extending from a two-wheel drive naturally aspirated coupe costing about $200,000, through four-wheel drive convertibles and Targas, to Autobahn-munching GTs and Turbos that top out not far from half a million bucks.

While almost every major car-maker has had a pop at Porsche at some stage, the company will be watching the movements of one relatively young company with particular attention.

We were lucky enough to be at the global first reveal of the new 570S in New York ahead of its official public debut at the motor show.

McLaren Automotive may have only been in the business of building cars completely in-house for five years (a little over 20 years if you count the collaborative F1 and Mercedes SLR) but since the introduction of its MP4-12C, the company describes its growth as “unprecedented”.

For the well-heeled, McLaren offers the stratospheric P1 and P1 GTR hyper-hybrids in its Ultimate Series, while the 650S and 650LT models comprise the Super Series and now a new more affordable Sports Series is coming.

With a de-tuned version of the 650S’ 3.8-litre V8, the all-new 570S can crack 100km/h from a standstill in 3.2 seconds but can deliver fuel economy of 9.2 litres per 100km and, for those days when petrol consumption is not a concern, the Sports Series flagship will top 328km/h.

The Sports Series vehicles borrow many styling cues from the higher-performance Ultimate Series and Super Series cars.

It might be the puppy of the pack for now but the 570S shares the race-car like carbon-fibre monocoque construction of its faster brothers and its fiery engine is mounted mid-ship behind just two front seats.

At 1313kg, the British car-maker says the 570S is significantly lighter than any of its competitors and combined with 419kW the fizzy coupe will be right at home both on the track and the road.

But wait, there’s more. At the Shanghai motor show last week, McLaren delivered another hammer-blow to the sportscar market, unveiling yet another even more “attainable” addition to the Sports Series.

Once again, McLaren has wound down the taps on its 3.8-litre V8 to produce 397kW, but despite its de-tuned output the 540C still manages the 100km/h benchmark in 3.5 seconds and a very breezy 320km/h top speed. What other company can say that about its lowest performing model?

McHappy deal: McLaren’s cheapest model will still crack 320km/h and 100km/h from standstill in 3.5 seconds.

Not only does it have serious performance, McLaren says the 540C has been “designed with a greater focus on day-to-day usability”, a feature frequently favoured by Porsche 911 drivers.

Sitting under the 570S and as the company’s most affordable model -- Diet Sports Series if you will -- the 540C is clarifying McLaren’s aggressive domination plans, but what’s next?

When we spoke to McLaren at the launch of the 570S in New York last month, the company’s top brass told us there were “six new car programs on the go” and while details can’t be discussed at this stage, McLaren Automotive executive director of global sales and marketing Jolyon Nash did confirm two of those cars would be additions to the Sport Series.

Climbing aboard the 570S reveals an interior just as outlandish as its exterior, with all digital displays and organic flowing lines throughout.

“The 570 will be the more powerful of our Sports Series range,” he said “There will be a 540C that we will reveal at Shanghai. There will also be a Spider variant but it won’t be the next variant that we launch.”

Mr Nash said the range would be comprised of “three body types” without giving specific details away, but reviewing previous model life-cycles could reveal a clue, he said.

“We said that when we launched the 675LT in Geneva that every model range will have an LT, so at some stage it’s foreseeable that it will come,” he said.

Pricing will be key for the Sports Series and while local tickets have yet to be placed, the top-performing McLarens will likely compete with the most potent Porsches as well as Audi’s R8 V10+, the forthcoming Mercedes AMG GT and Aston Martins in the $350,000 bracket.

For now the 540C is the most “attainable” of the McLaren range, but it shares many features of its more potent siblings such as carbon-fibre construction, a twin turbocharged V8 and those look-at-me doors.

Entry-level 540C will tackle another more affordable segment though and could come in about the $300,000 mark. In the UK, the 540C will be available from £126,000 (about $244,000 but don’t expect that bargain here).

With a look like no other car on the road, vicious pace, race-bred technology, a competitive price and that all important choice offered by an ever expanding range, could McLaren be on the way to the top of the high-performance pile?

Daniel Gardner GoAuto.com.au

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