McLaren’s Sports Series portfolio gets a new member with the introduction of the 570S Spider. The Spider body style is the third addition to the 570S after the Coupe and GT. McLaren has put a price tag of £164,750 in the UK, which is at a premium of just £20,000 over the Coupe. The new Spider will make its public debut at the impending Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The most affordable Spider in the British carmaker’s model line-up, the 570S employs the same roof mechanism as the one found in its older siblings, the 650S and 675LT Spiders. The retractable hardtop takes 15 seconds to open or close at speeds of up to 40 kmph. Based on the carmaker’s Monocell II carbonfibre monocoque, the Spider is 46 kg heavier than its coupe counterpart. Despite the weight gain, McLaren asserts that the Spider retains the same structural rigidity as the coupe. The hardtop is stowed beneath a tweaked tonneau, which is the only appearance change over the hard-top sibling. The Spider also has some aerodynamic changes such as the 12mm lowered rear spoiler to amend the slightly different roof design. The characteristic dihedral doors have been retained. McLaren is offering three new body colours for the Spider, thus increasing the total colour options to 20.
No mechanical changes have been done to the Spider as it comes powered by the potent M838TE 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8. The seven-speed transmission channels all the 562bhp and 600Nm to the rear wheels, sending the Spider from zero to 100kmph in just 3.8seconds. The top speed is 328kmph with the roof up, and drops to 315kmph with the roof down.
The Spider employs McLaren’s brake steer technology, with all the other driving aids such as active dynamic, performance traction control, latest chassis software and active dampers. The carbon ceramics brakes are standard along with Pirelli PZero Corsa tyres. The 570S Spider sits on all-new 10-spoke forged alloy wheels, 19-inch up front and 20-inch at the rear.
Mike Flewitt, chief executive officer, McLaren Automotive, commenting on the new 570S Spider said, “The McLaren 570S Spider is the most attainable McLaren Spider to date and adds yet another dimension to the McLaren Sports Series family. This is a convertible without compromise; its mid-engined layout and carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis guarantee the same thrilling dynamic performance and exceptional driver involvement enjoyed in a 570S Coupé, but with the added attraction of a retractable hard-top that delivers the extra exhilaration of roof-down motoring.”
