The Unlikely Grand Tourer: Charting the Evolution of the McLaren GT

In the pantheon of automotive archetypes, the Grand Tourer, or GT, has long held a romantic and clearly defined role. It is a machine of continental consequence, designed to devour immense distances at spectacular speeds while cocooning its occupants in sublime comfort and luxury. Historically, this meant a long bonnet housing a large, powerful engine at the front, with a lavish cabin and ample luggage space behind. Brands like Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Bentley have perfected this front-engine formula over decades.

Then came McLaren. A company forged in the crucible of Formula 1, whose road car legacy was built on uncompromising, mid-engine supercars defined by carbon fiber tubs, obsessive weight-saving, and visceral, track-honed performance. The idea of a McLaren GT was, to many, a contradiction in terms—an attempt to teach a thoroughbred racehorse the genteel art of dressage. Yet, the evolution of the McLaren GT is a compelling story of engineering ingenuity, a re-evaluation of brand identity, and the successful creation of a machine that fundamentally challenges the very definition of a Grand Tourer.

The Prologue: The 570GT (2016-2019)

Before the standalone GT model existed, McLaren first tested the waters with a variant of its Sports Series platform: the 570GT. Unveiled in 2016, the 570GT was based on the acclaimed 570S Coupe but was engineered with a greater emphasis on daily usability and long-distance comfort.

It was McLaren’s first foray into the GT space, and its approach was telling. Rather than starting from scratch, it modified an existing supercar. The most significant and visually distinct change was the introduction of a side-hinged, glass “Touring Deck” over the mid-mounted engine. This panoramic hatch opened to reveal an additional 220 litres of leather-lined storage space, which, combined with the 150-litre front trunk, gave it more practical luggage capacity than any McLaren before it.

To soften its character for touring duties, the 570GT received several key adjustments. The spring rates were reduced by 15% at the front and 10% at the rear compared to the 570S. The steering ratio was made slightly less aggressive, and the car was fitted with quieter Pirelli P Zero tyres developed specifically to reduce road noise in the cabin. Inside, the standard specification was more luxurious, featuring extended leather upholstery, electrically adjustable heated seats, and a front and rear parking sensor system.

Despite these concessions to comfort, the 570GT was still pure McLaren at its core. It retained the same carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis and the potent 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged M838TE V8 engine, producing an unchanged 562 horsepower (570 PS). It was a GT with the heart and bones of a supercar, capable of hitting 60 mph in a blistering 3.4 seconds. While a critical and commercial success, the 570GT was ultimately a compromise—a Sports Series model adapted for a different purpose. It proved the concept, but for McLaren to create a true competitor in the Grand Tourer segment, it needed a dedicated, ground-up solution.

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The Main Act: The McLaren GT (2019-2023)

In May 2019, McLaren unveiled the car that would replace the 570GT and establish a new, fourth pillar in its product lineup alongside the Sports, Super, and Ultimate Series. This was simply named the McLaren GT. It was not a variant; it was a standalone model with its own unique philosophy and engineering.

Chassis and Powertrain: The foundation of the GT was a bespoke version of McLaren’s carbon fiber monocoque, the MonoCell II-T (for Touring). This new tub featured a modified rear upper structure that was strong enough to forego the rear buttresses found on other models, creating a lower, flatter, and more expansive luggage area. This was the key to unlocking true GT practicality. With the front trunk (150 litres) and the new, larger rear luggage bay under a full-length glass tailgate (420 litres), the GT boasted a combined 570 litres of storage—more than many family sedans.

At its heart was a new iteration of McLaren’s V8 engine, the 4.0-litre twin-turbo M840TE. Tuned specifically for grand touring, the engine produced 612 horsepower (620 PS) and 465 lb-ft of torque. Crucially, McLaren engineered the power delivery to be broader and flatter, with over 95% of its torque available from 3,000 to 7,250 rpm. This provided the effortless, surging acceleration expected of a GT, rather than the peaky, high-revving nature of its more track-focused siblings. Performance remained staggering, with 0-60 mph dispatched in just 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 203 mph.

Ride and Handling: To deliver the requisite comfort, the GT featured a groundbreaking suspension system. It used Proactive Damping Control, a system derived from the 720S, which utilized sensors to read the road ahead and adjust the dampers in milliseconds. The software, however, was uniquely calibrated for the GT, with a clear bias towards compliance and ride quality in its “Comfort” mode, something unseen in previous McLarens. Yet, with a twist of the Active Dynamics Panel to “Sport” or “Track,” the car’s inherent supercar DNA would instantly come to the fore.

Design and Trim Levels: Visually, the GT distanced itself from its stablemates. It was longer and more elegant, with cleaner lines and less aggressive aerodynamic appendages. The design was heavily influenced by the hyper-GT Speedtail, with its elongated tail and muscular, flowing haunches.

Inside, the cabin was a significant step up in luxury. While still driver-focused, the materials were plusher. Nappa leather was standard, with options for soft-grain aniline leather and even, for the first time in a production car, Cashmere. The infotainment system was updated, and a panoramic electrochromic glass roof was available, allowing the driver to change the opacity from transparent to tinted at the touch of a button.

McLaren does not follow a traditional “trim level” structure like many manufacturers. Instead, it offers a standard specification that can be heavily personalized through packages and the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) division. For the GT, the primary interior specifications were:

• Standard: Nappa leather seats, leather steering wheel, and Alcantara headlining.
• Pioneer: An overtly sporting theme featuring a bolder, two-tone design with contrasting Alcantara and leather elements.
• Luxe: The most luxurious specification, offering extensive soft-grain aniline leather with unique stitching patterns and colourways.

These “By McLaren” designer interiors offered curated combinations, but a customer could go far beyond with MSO for a truly bespoke vehicle. The GT established itself as a unique proposition: a car with the practicality and comfort to rival front-engine grand tourers but with the dynamic advantages—low centre of gravity, sharp turn-in, and driver engagement—of a mid-engine supercar.

The Evolution: The McLaren GTS (2024 – Present)

After four successful years, McLaren announced the evolution of the GT in late 2023 for the 2024 model year. Following the brand’s new naming convention, the updated model was christened the McLaren GTS. This was not a complete redesign but a comprehensive refinement of the original formula, addressing critiques and sharpening every aspect of the car’s performance and usability.

The philosophy of the GTS was simple: more power, less weight, and enhanced functionality.

Performance Enhancements: The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 was recalibrated to produce 626 horsepower (635 PS), a modest but meaningful increase of 14 hp over the GT. This was achieved through optimized combustion phasing and ignition timing. Torque remained a robust 465 lb-ft. Combined with a weight reduction of 10kg (bringing the curb weight down to 1,520 kg), the GTS became even more potent. The 0-60 mph time was fractionally improved, but the real benefit was felt in the car’s responsiveness and agility.

The weight savings were achieved through several key changes. A carbon fibre roof panel became standard, as did new, lighter 10-spoke “Turbine” forged alloy wheels. Even the wheel bolts were now titanium, saving precious unsprung mass.

Design and Practicality Refinements: The exterior of the GTS received a subtle but effective facelift. The front bumper was restyled with wider, more pronounced air intakes, which not only gave the car a more aggressive visual stance but also improved cooling airflow to the radiators. At the rear, taller air scoops on the shoulders also helped channel more air to the engine.

Addressing a key point of feedback, McLaren significantly improved the vehicle-lift system. The GTS can raise its nose by 20mm to clear obstacles in just four seconds—more than twice as fast as the system in the original GT. This seemingly small change dramatically improves the car’s day-to-day usability in urban environments.

Interior and Specifications: Inside, the GTS builds upon the GT’s luxurious cabin with new material options and colour palettes. Two new “By McLaren” themes were introduced:

• Tanquil: A sophisticated theme featuring a mix of Ice White and Tanquil Blue leather.
• Performance: A sportier design with a greater use of Alcantara, available in classic McLaren orange and black.

The acclaimed electrochromic roof and Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system remain key options, reinforcing the car’s dual personality as both a comfortable cruiser and a focused driving machine.

Conclusion: A Redefined Category

The evolution from the experimental 570GT to the dedicated GT, and finally to the honed and perfected GTS, marks a significant chapter in McLaren’s story. It is the story of a brand that refused to be pigeonholed. McLaren took the established Grand Tourer rulebook—front-engine, heavy, comfort-first—and rewrote it with a carbon fiber pen.

The McLaren GT and its successor, the GTS, prove that long-distance comfort and everyday practicality do not have to come at the expense of lightweight construction, supreme balance, and the exhilarating driver engagement that only a mid-engine layout can provide. It remains an outlier in its class, a car for the discerning driver who wants to cross continents not merely in comfort, but with the soul and dynamic purity of a true supercar. The evolution of the McLaren GT is not just about a car; it’s about the evolution of an idea—the idea that a Grand Tourer can be, and perhaps should be, the most complete supercar of all.