McLaren ‘Grand Tourer’ launch nears

Final prototype provides the best look yet at new two-seat supercar

McLaren has released a new series of photographs depicting a prototype of its upcoming ‘Grand Tourer’ model testing on public roads ahead of the new two-door supercar’s planned unveiling in May.

The photographs reveal the new McLaren model with less camouflage than the ‘Grand Tourer’ prototype revealed at the Geneva motor show earlier this year, providing the best look yet at its production bodywork and exterior detailing.

The low and wide mid-engined supercar receives a long front overhang to accommodate a front luggage compartment that’s described as being “large and functional enough for long distance touring”.

Key design elements incorporated on the new two-seat supercar include a low front end housing McLaren’s distinctive teardrop-shaped headlamps, a heavily raked windscreen, long doors, large air ducts ahead of the rear wheel arches, wide LED tail lamps, a multi-channel diffuser and an active rear spoiler that sits flush with the bodywork when it is not deployed.

McLaren says the camouflage livery worn by its latest prototype indicates the number of established rules the new model will break.

The new McLaren ‘Grand Tourer’ is planned to adopt the same mid-engined, rear-wheel drive layout as the rest of the British supercar maker’s range, with power set to come from a twin-turbocharged V8 gasoline engine shared with other McLaren models.

McLaren CEO, Mike Flewitt, says the new model will be the lightest and fastest car in its class, with a power-to-weight ratio to better every perceived rival.

“It will be a car that combines competition levels of performance with continent-crossing capability, wrapped in a beautiful lightweight body. It’s a car that has been designed for distance and one that will also provide the comfort and space expected of a grand tourer,” he says.

As well as emphasising its long distance capabilities, Flewitt also claims the “Grand Tourer” will offer class-leading leading handling.

“It will have a level of agility never experienced before in this segment. In addition, it will be one of the quickest,” he says.

The ‘Grand Tourer’ is the fourth model to be developed under McLaren’s Track 25 business plan. It sets out a strategy for the introduction of 18 new McLaren models by 2025.

Flewitt indicates the idea for the new McLaren model was inspired by the success of the company’s 570GT. “It has attracted a lot of new customers to McLaren, and what it has taught us is that there is a market for an even more considered GT variant in our range,” he said. “Where the 570GT is a variant, this will be a car created with this market in mind. It won’t replace the 570GT, but I can see it superseding it in time.”

Before the launch of its new ‘Grand Tourer’ in May, McLaren says it will continue to carry out development of the new model, including a 1600km drive from the company’s development base near Barcelona, Spain to its so-called Technology Centre in Woking, England.