By Marc Grasso
The most realistic European supercar in the business!
By now, you know that Grasso’s Garage has really seen its fair share of vehicles this year, but just when you think you have seen it all, guess what shows up for a quick weekend tester? That’s right, the McLaren GT.
One of our favorite supercars in the business, the GT, known for Grand Tourer really hits home with its reality and usability. As we mentioned in our 2020 test of the GT, this car is designed for that C-level executive looking for some extra speed or the empty nester who loves the added attention.
Coming in with a 203 mph top speed, 465 lb.-ft. of torque and 612 horsepower, the GT boasts a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine paired with a push button seven-speed transmission and paddle shifters. Our zero-to-60 time came in at 3.1 seconds. Optioned up, our GT included an $8,000 carbon ceramic brake package, $4,500 Serpentine Green paint option and $15,000 in luxury accoutrements.
As the drooling continued, the GT deserved nothing but the best on our weekend test, so off to the Hudson Valley it was on our scenic trip to Kingston, N.Y. Let’s just say it was an eye-catcher and head-turner all weekend. It was nice to see so many thumbs up while driving also!
Now more about the GT and its realistic usage. The “frunk” short for front-trunk offers great size for storage similar to that of the mid-engine Corvette, while the rear hatch provides limited storage for luggage and/or golf bag, keeping in mind this compartment is on top of the engine. Illuminated lighting in the cabin and cell-phone like layout for the infotainment system were exceptionally easy to navigate and utilize. The seats were racy and very comfortable for the size of the cabin overall.
On our test through the mountains and winding roads, we noticed that the GT was super smooth and had that sweet hum of most mid-engine foreign cars. It stuck to the road easily while accelerating to excessive speeds rapidly. The suspension was really smooth and certainly a great upscale car option for the everyday driver, but an even better weekend cruiser.
Producing cars in Surrey, England, McLaren offers some of the best mid-engine supercars in the business and competes with others like the Acura NSX. In comparison, we recognize a lot of similarities between the two, but McLaren’s rarity on the road sets it apart easily. Let’s not discount Chevrolet either, the new Corvette mid-engine design along with its less than $60,000 advertised price but significant markup makes it a strong contender for auto enthusiasts on a budget. But with 30 exterior color options and three interior leather configurations, the GT is made for those specifically who want exclusivity. I doubt you will ever see another one of these on the road in this color combination, especially with the low production numbers McLaren manufactures yearly. McLaren produces cars beginning at $184,900 with its 540C all the way up to the $2.2 million Speedtail.
Executives and couples who want to go fast and look good while doing so can certainly be the talk of the town with the GT. In the world today, keeping up with the Joneses seems to be more of a priority and what better automobile to do it with than the McLaren GT?
McLaren GT
MSRP: $210,000
As tested: $263,625
MPG: 15 city, 22 highway, 16.3 as tested
