McLaren has taken the wraps off the third bodystyle in McLaren’s Sports Series product family, alongside the 570S Coupé and 570 GT, dubbed the 570S Spider. Compared to the Coupé, the 570S Spider adds a retractable hardtop that allows you to enjoy the sports car all year round. The two-piece roof is constructed of lightweight composite panels and creates a purposeful, sleek appearance whether raised or lowered.
Most importantly, there are no performance compromises versus the 570S Coupé. The carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis at the heart of all Sports Series cars does not suffer any reduction in strength or stiffness in convertible guise, or require any additional structural actions. This has allowed McLaren engineers to design and develop the 570S Spider without concerns that are potentially a significant issue with steel or aluminium structures.
Electrically operated from the driver’s seat using one simple control, the roof folds effortlessly to stow beneath a tonneau cover that rises automatically to accommodate the lowered panels and returns to its closed position with the assistance of soft-close technology. The roof can be opened or closed in just 15 seconds, at vehicle speeds of up to 40km/h.
A glazed wind deflector can be electrically raised or lowered at the push of a button, providing further versatility with the roof up or down. The deflector reduces wind-buffeting when the roof is down and if desired can be lowered when the roof is raised to allow additional sound and fresh air into the cabin. Owners wanting to enjoy the exhaust note of the Spider can specify an optional sports system that features an ESG to channel exhaust sound towards the cabin, via the area beneath the tonneau cover.
The retractable hardtop is designed to withstand the severest conditions and is significantly more weather- and fade-resistant than fabric, yet with its operating mechanism adds just 46kg to the weight of the Spider; this is the only variance in weight between the new convertible and the 570S Coupé.
The combination of lightweight carbon fibre construction and an incredibly potent 3.8-litre, twin-turbocharged McLaren V8 engine, means that the new 570S Spider is both more powerful and lighter than comparable convertibles, with an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 419PS-per-tonne (lightest dry weight).
Positioned behind the driver, the twin-turbocharged McLaren M838TE engine of the 570S Spider produces a total output of 570PS and 600Nm of torque. In combination with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox featuring Launch Control technology, the supercar accelerates from standstill to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds and to 200km/h in just 9.6 seconds.
Top speed is 328km/h with the roof in place – identical to the 570S Coupé – and even with the roof lowered, the new Spider can reach 315km/h.
Styling wise, the 570S Spider body design is enhanced by a rear spoiler, finished in Dark Palladium grey and 12mm taller than the rear spoiler of the 570S Coupé. The higher spoiler provides additional downforce to offset the aerodynamic changes resulting from the Spider having a different rear upper body design, ensuring exceptional aerodynamic balance overall that is the equal of the Coupé.
The 570S Spider cabin blends exceptional levels of craftsmanship, quality and technology; hand-stitched leather on the seats, door casings, dashboard and centre console sits side-by-side with a 10-inch TFT main instrument cluster and a centrally mounted, 7-inch IRIS touchscreen through which climate control and infotainment functionality are managed.
Customers can choose from standard 6-way-adjustable or optional 8-way adjustable electric memory seats, with Nappa leather or performance-oriented Alcantara trim available at additional cost. Lightweight carbon-fibre-shelled sports seats, the same as those fitted to the McLaren P1, can also be specified.
Three new exterior colours celebrate the Spider’s introduction, with Curacao Blue, Vega Blue and Sicilian Yellow joining the existing Sports Series palette and giving Spider customers a choice of 20 colours in total.
An all-new, 10-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheel design (19-inch front, 20-inch rear) has been crafted as an option for the new 570S Spider. For further differentiation, a new brake caliper colour, Liquid Black, is also available.
Hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, England, the 570S Spider is now available to order from more than 80 McLaren retailers worldwide, priced from £164,750 (RM893,768). The first cars are scheduled to be delivered to customers in August.
