2017 McLaren 570S

ANNIE WHITE

February 28, 2017 at 4:15 PM

C/D Overall Rating:

The McLaren 570S lives to thrill. With a body that draws crowds, two seats, dihedral doors, and enough air intakes for a fighter jet, the McLaren 570S will arouse envy in all who see it. Its carbon-fiber-and-aluminum construction, 562-hp twin-turbo V-8, murderous exhaust note, and preternatural steering ensure that it’s no showpiece, either. Other cars at this heady end of the sports-car segment are more practical or more refined—or both—but none match the visceral excitement of lashing a 570S down a twisty road.

What’s New for 2017?

The 570S is unchanged for 2017. The racy coupe was all new in 2016, offering a fresh interpretation of McLaren’s ubiquitous twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-8. The 570S and its relaxed sibling, the 570GT, are more approachable, more affordable versions of the 650S and 675LT models built by the Woking sports-car maker.

Standard Feature Highlights

• 7.0-inch infotainment system with navigation
• Adaptive dampers
• Carbon-ceramic disc brakes

Trims and Options We’d Choose

McLaren offers two flavors of 570. The less expensive 570S, tested here, is the higher-performance version. For drivers seeking a more compliant ride, the 570GT is the wiser choice for piling on highway miles. We figure that if we’re spending $200,000 on an exotic sports car, we’ve already got a comfortable highway cruiser in our multi-car garage, so we’d opt for the 570S. Its base price of $191,100 includes the aforementioned standard features, plus:

• Four-speaker McLaren audio system with four USB ports and Bluetooth
• Leather sport seats
• Leather-upholstered dash

The 570S’s options list is long to the point of being tortuous, and it requires a judicious hand to stick close to the starting price. Virtually every interior surface and several exterior panels can be replaced or at the least trimmed with carbon fiber. Premium paint colors and packages can run up the bottom line by tens of thousands of dollars; however, should you have the wallet to sprint up the bottom line, McLaren’s Design Packs are the detailed, cohesive upgrades you’d expect from a racing factory. We’d keep things simple with the nappa leather interior and faux-suede headliner for $1930, a bargain at roughly the cost of a designer handbag. The $1500 kit that lifts the 570S’s nose 1.6 inches at low speeds will pay for itself if it helps to avoid even one speed-bump mishap.

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

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C/D Engine and Transmission Rating:

The 562-hp twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-8 mounted in the middle of the 570S runs like it’s from a company that races in Formula 1—which it is. Coupled with a slick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, it rocketed the lightweight 570S down the road with such brutality that our neck muscles had a hard time keeping up with it.

This is an engine with soul. Its thrumming, insistent 60-decibel idle is louder than any rival we’ve tested. From inside the car, the sound is intoxicating, begging you to mat the accelerator first and ask questions later. Succumb to the temptation, and you won’t be disappointed: During our testing, the 570S launched from zero to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds, quicker than any competitor. The quarter-mile passed in a manic 10.7-second blur with a trap speed of 133 mph, which was again the fastest we recorded in its competitive set.

The standard seven-speed dual-clutch transmission never misses a beat, and flicks of the paddle shifters result in near-instantaneous gear changes. The transmission will shift on its own if the paddle shifters are ignored, and the shift programming alters to match the powertrain drive mode (Normal, Sport, or Track). Roll into the throttle while trundling around suburbia with the engine ticking well below 4000 rpm, and you’ll wait a beat as the big twin compressors spool up to maximum thrust. Drive it like you stole it, shifting at the stratospheric 8100-rpm redline, and the engine never loses its rage.

**Maximum Acceleration, C/D Test Results**

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Fuel Economy Rating:

You don’t buy a supercar for its fuel economy, but it’s a plus if your rocket sled doesn’t swill gasoline like a Starbucks addict downs double-shot caramel whatevers. The 570S doesn’t embarrass itself at the pump, coming in solidly midpack, but the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S shows how amazingly fuel efficient an ultra-performance car can be.

The 570S’s twin-turbo V-8 will be familiar to McLaren fans, as it’s a detuned version of the hypermills that power the more expensive 675LT and P1 hybrid. It certainly wasn’t designed with fuel economy in mind, but the 570S manages a respectable 23-mpg EPA highway rating and something surprising: its fuel economy is good enough to avoid a gas-guzzler tax.

Fuel Economy Ratings Compared

We perform our own fuel-economy test in an attempt to replicate how most people drive on the highway. Our procedure entails a 200-mile loop on Michigan’s I-94 highway. We maintain a GPS-verified 75 mph and use the cruise control as much as possible to mimic the way many drivers behave during long trips.

The 570S outperformed its EPA highway rating by 1 mpg during our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test. That result was better than the one returned by the Acura NSX, which is a hybrid, but far behind the exceptionally efficient, gasoline-powered Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. How did the BMW i8 hybrid outdistance the others by so much? It cruised the first 15 miles solely on electricity before engaging its small three-cylinder gasoline engine.

**Highway Fuel Economy, C/D Test Results**

Based on the 24-mpg rating we recorded in our real-world test, the 570S has a highway range of 460 miles. The BMW i8, despite its significantly more efficient hybrid-propulsion system, is limited by its diminutive fuel tank to 420 highway miles between fill-ups.

**Highway Range, C/D Test Results**

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Interior Rating:

If you want practicality, buy a minivan. The McLaren 570S is the minimal envelope that can be shrink-wrapped around two people, an engine, and four tires; daily utility is a very low priority.

Interior Space Comparisons

The 570S cabin is more an ode to carbon fiber than a living space, and while driver and passenger have roughly the same amount of room as in similar vehicles, the narrow seats, a low seating position, and a wide doorsill make it difficult to get comfortable.

Interior Features

McLaren does provide succor for drivers who are accustomed to the trimmings that normally accompany a six-figure price tag. Dual-zone automatic climate control, four USB ports, leather seating, and an available faux-suede headliner give the 570S an upscale feel. Still, the effects of weight shaving are obvious, and other amenities are sparse.

In an attempt to keep the center stack as uncluttered as possible, the McLaren’s climate control and audio settings are buried within infotainment menus, which are not intiuitive and which could draw the eye while driving. Adding redundant buttons would make the system less cumbersome.

FeatureStandard/OptionalTilting steering columnStandardTelescoping steering columnStandardPower-adjustable steering columnOptionalHeated steering wheelNot AvailablePower-adjustable pedalsNot AvailableMemory driver’s seatOptionalMassaging driver’s seatNot AvailableMassaging front-passenger seatNot AvailablePower driver’s seatStandardPower front-passenger seatOptionalHeated front seatsOptionalHeated rear seatsNot AvailableCooled front seatsNot AvailableCooled rear seatsNot AvailableHead-up displayNot AvailableRear-seat entertainment systemNot Available

Seat Adjustments

2016 McLaren 570SFore/
AftReclineShoulder articulationLumbar supportHeightThigh supportSide bolsterHeadrest tiltDriver’s seatXXXXFront-passen-
ger seatXXXX

Climate Control

Manual climate controlAutomatic climate control2016 McLaren 570SNoTwo-Zone

Cupholder Location

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Vehicle Tested: 2016 McLaren 570S

Seating Height

Drivers of the 570S will sit only a foot off the ground, closer to the pavement than any others in this low-flying class. To accurately measure seating height—the distance from the road to the driver’s hip—we use an H-Point Machine (HPM), a precisely engineered device marketed by the Society of Automotive Engineers. This versatile tool, along with some lasers and simple trigonometry, also reveals the width and location of roof-pillar visibility obstructions. Our H-Point Machine and laser measurement tools determine the length of road obscured by the hood as well as the road obscured by the trunk or hatch (as seen through the rearview mirror).

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Seating-Height Comparisons

Blind Spots and Visibility

The mid-engine supercar blueprint dictates a short, low hood that enhances forward visibility and the immediacy of the driving experience. Few cars in this group offer great sightlines to the rear because powertrains are crammed aft of the seats and tucked under low-profile fastback rooflines. The 570S’s rear visibility could not be precisely measured due to its immovable headrests, but in our practical experience, the thick C-pillars and high haunches limited rear visibility.

Roof pillars protect occupants in a rollover crash, but they also create blind spots. We determine visibility by measuring the location and width of each pillar using an H-Point Machine and a laser beam (surrogates for a driver and eyeball, respectively).

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Infotainment Rating:

The 570S’s infotainment system packs an ample list of features, but its touchscreen responds slowly and makes operation of the climate-control and sound systems more complicated than it should be.

Infotainment Features

The 570S uses McLaren’s proprietary IRIS infotainment system, which includes a 7.0-inch touchscreen, standard navigation with real-time traffic information, Wi-Fi tethering capability, Bluetooth, voice activation, and four USB ports. One 12-volt outlet in the center console is an additional up-front charging option (there’s another one in the trunk).

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Vehicle Tested: 2016 McLaren 570S

Infotainment Performance

The McLaren’s system isn’t merely complicated to operate, it’s also relatively slow. McLaren’s IRIS infotainment system earned a “Fair” rating in our test of its screen response times. Others we’ve tested, including Porsche’s recently updated PCM system, performed significantly better, but users’ wait times for IRIS will be similar to those of popular smartphones.

Infotainment Response Time, C/D Test Results

By filming the infotainment screen while switching between various menus and then analyzing the high-speed video frame by frame, we are able to accurately measure the system’s response time. We rate infotainment response, or latency, on the following scale:

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Cargo Space and Storage Rating:

The paradox of a supercar like the 570S is that it begs to be driven on the open road, but it’s a lousy car to take on a trip. Cargo space and storage are almost nonexistent, so you’ll have to pack little else than a pair of flip-flops.

Carry-On Luggage

With the engine mounted in the middle of the car behind the driver, the only space left for luggage is under the hood. The 570S’s front trunk is small by most standards, but with five cubic feet of storage space, not unusually so when compared with other supercars. We managed to squeeze a single carry-on case into the trunk. Of the competitors we’ve tested, only one (the Porsche 911) harbored more than a single carry-on. The Acura NSX wouldn’t swallow even one of our hard-sided boxes.

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Carry-On Luggage, C/D Test Results

Cargo Volume Comparisons

Cubby Storage

The 570S contains a fair amount of cubby storage in its doors and center console for parking phones and the detritus of daily life, but it lacks the glovebox that gives the Porsche 911 considerably more interior function.

Why do we use ping-pong balls?

To determine the interior space available to stash travel essentials, we’ve devised a range of measuring protocols. We use six beverage containers ranging in size and shape to gauge cupholder accommodation. We stack, stuff, and arrange 9-by-14-by-22-inch cardboard boxes to quantify the number of airline-carry-on-size suitcases that will fit in a trunk or folded seat’s cargo space. To measure irregularly shaped gloveboxes, door pockets, and console bins, we fill each container with 1.5-inch-diameter ping-pong balls. It’s tempting to convert the number of spheres to a volume (cubic inches), but we resist that calculation because—as with the box of tissues, 12-ounce can of soda, or gallon of milk you might stash in these compartments—there are voids between the balls. Random packing (our procedure) nullifies approximately one-third of the available space. The negative space between the balls could theoretically be reduced to 25 percent of an irregular shape with precise stacking, but while we might be pedantic, we’re not crazy.

**Maximum Cubby Storage, C/D Test Results**

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Exterior Rating:

The McLaren 570S is stunning. Its waspish headlights, large air intakes, flying buttresses, dramatic dihedral doors, and array of loud paint choices make the 570S impossible to ignore. This, along with otherworldly performance, is the essence of the supercar mission.

The 570S’s styling bears a strong resemblance to its siblings, the 650S and the P1, but as the baby of the family, it’s less extreme. True to its sports-car roots, the 570S is low—not even four feet tall. Luckily, the dihedral doors are light, so any lack of agility on the part of the driver won’t be magnified by failure to maintain control of the exit hatch. McLaren has also modified the 570S to make it easier to get in and out of. The high sills of the carbon-fiber passenger cell that owners of other McLarens have to hurdle over to enter the cabin have been lowered, a tweak for which we are grateful.

Exterior Dimensions

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Exterior Measurement Comparisons

Exterior Features

You can virtually custom build your 570S with an array of packages and exterior colors, but one thing you cannot get at any price is a sunroof.

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Active Key-Fob Commands

Lock / unlockTrunkRemote startPanic alarmHold to roll down windowsHold to roll up windowsRemote parking2016 McLaren 570SXXXX

Passive Key-Fob Commands

Driver door lock / unlockPassenger door lock / unlockTrunkPush to startProximity approach lighting2016 McLaren 570SXXX

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Safety and Driver Assistance Rating:

*Due to lack of NHTSA and IIHS crash testing.

The McLaren 570S is devoid of active safety technology. Adding blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist or other driver-aid systems would only add weight to this flyweight fighter, so we would sooner stick to the high-performance diet.

Crash-Test Results

Two agencies evaluate vehicles for crashworthiness in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rates tested vehicles from one to five stars in front crash, side crash, and rollover tests. NHTSA also assigns cars an overall rating out of five stars. The non-profit, independent, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) uses a different set of tests to evaluate front and side crashworthiness, roof strength, headlight reach, and ease of child seat installation. IIHS grades cars on a scale from Good to Poor in each test, and awards the cars that perform best across all its tests with Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick + honors, the latter of which requires that the vehicle’s automated forward-collision-braking system performs well in IIHS’s tests.

Neither NHTSA nor the IIHS has tested the McLaren 570S; the agencies do not test every car every year, and low-volume models like the 570S are often among the unexamined.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Test Results

2017 McLaren 570S

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Test Results

2017 McLaren 570S

Small OverlapModerate OverlapSide ImpactRoof StrengthHead Restraints and SeatsTop Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+?Not testedNot testedNot testedNot testedNot testedNot tested

Airbags, Child Seats, and Spare Tire Location

The 570S is not a family car. There are no child-seat attachment points, and there’s no spare tire, so be prepared to wait by the side of the road in the event of a flat.

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Active Safety Features

The McLaren does have a sophisticated electronic stability-control system and anti-lock brakes, and the gridlines in its backup camera move with the steering wheel. This is incredibly useful when reversing, as the 570’s rear window is small.

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Backup Camera

Gridlines integrated in backup camera view?Do gridlines move with steering wheel?Does volume of audio system reduce when reverse is selected?2016 McLaren 570SYesYesNo

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Warranty Rating:

Many automakers offer varying warranties for varying purposes, but McLaren offers a three-year, unlimited-mile warranty for everything except rust protection, which is increased to five years (still unlimited miles). Buyers who are particularly concerned with long-term coverage can now extend their McLaren warranties to an impressive 12 years.

Warranty Comparison

VehicleLimited WarrantyPowertrain WarrantyHybrid Component WarrantyCorrosion ProtectionRoadside AssistanceScheduled Maintenance2017 McLaren 570S3 years (unlimited miles)3 years (unlimited miles)N/A5 years (unlimited miles)3 years (unlimited miles)N/A2017
Audi R84 years / 50,000 miles4 years / 50,000 milesN/A12 years (unlimited miles)4 years (unlimited miles)1 year / 5,000 miles2017 Acura NSX4 years / 50,000 miles6 years / 70,000 miles 8 years / 100,000 miles5 years (unlimited miles)4 years / 50,000 milesN/A2017 BMW i84 years / 50,000 miles4 years / 50,000 miles8 years / 100,000 miles12 years (unlimited miles)4 years (unlimited miles)3 years / 36,000 miles2017 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S4 years / 50,000 miles4 years / 50,000 milesN/A12 years (unlimited miles)4 years / 50,000 milesN/A

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Performance and Driving Impressions Rating:

The 570S is a car that’s magnificently one-sided, skewed so far toward annihilating back roads at insane velocities that it inspires both awe and terror when driven as its makers intended. We love it for that brilliance and purity of purpose, but other cars in this class offer a more refined and more comfortable driving experience.

Few vehicles in the world can match the 570S for sheer driver engagement. Its tactile steering, a chassis that feels alive, and its bottomless well of power kept us wanting more time with it on our favorite roads. The 570S will never be particularly cozy or convenient, so drivers must weigh the transcendent driving experience against daily utility before buying.

Acceleration

Sitting behind the wheel of a McLaren 570S with its V-8 engine growling sweet nothings into your ear, it’s hard to resist full-power accelerations. Indulge with care, though. In Normal mode, a full-throttle run elicits intervention from the stability-control system as the 570S attempts to transfer its prodigious power to the road. Turn off stability control, and the 570S requires a steady hand on the wheel to avoid expensive misfortune. In its class of junior supercars, its performance makes a mic-drop statement: the 570S is both the quickest through the quarter-mile and the fastest at the end of it.

Acceleration, C/D Test Results

Ride, Handling, and Steering

The 570S offers three handling modes in addition to its three independently selectable powertrain modes; they’re also called Normal, Sport, and Track. True to its sporting pedigree, the 570S rides firmer than most passenger cars no matter the setting. In Normal mode, the adaptive dampers provide a stable, controlled ride with just enough news transmitted from the road to retain the connected, engaging character we appreciate so much. In the sportiest setting, the suspension thwacks even minor pavement imperfections.

Driven hard, the 570S writhes and wriggles like a living thing, but it is not always predictable. We measured 1.07 g’s on our skidpad test; that’s a death grip on the pavement and ranks up there with the best. But confidence-inspiring handling is about more than pure cornering adhesion, and in full-out driving, the McLaren’s combination of relatively narrow tires and massive power demand extra attention. High-speed cornering is not for the faint of heart.

**Maximum Cornering Capability, C/D Test Results**

Braking

The 570S comes standard with massive carbon-ceramic brakes as capable as any in the class, so we’d blame its middling-for-a-supercar braking distance on the narrow tires, which is the same situation the BMW i8 faces. Out on the road, the 570S’s brakes remain unfazed no matter how hard they are used, although the car dances when they are squeezed with full force at high speeds. For the right customer, this hint of instability only adds to the thrill.

C/D Overall Rating:

What’s New for 2017?

Standard Feature Highlights

Trims and Options We’d Choose

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Engine and Transmission Rating:

Maximum Acceleration, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Fuel Economy Rating:

Fuel Economy Ratings Compared

Highway Fuel Economy, C/D Test Results

Highway Range, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Interior Rating:

Interior Space Comparisons

Interior Features

Seat Adjustments

Climate Control

Cupholder Location

Seating Height

Seating-Height Comparisons

Blind Spots and Visibility

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Infotainment Rating:

Infotainment Features

Infotainment Performance

Infotainment Response Time, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Cargo Space and Storage Rating:

Carry-On Luggage

Carry-On Luggage, C/D Test Results

Cargo Volume Comparisons

Cubby Storage

Why do we use ping-pong balls?

Maximum Cubby Storage, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Exterior Rating:

Exterior Dimensions

Exterior Measurement Comparisons

Exterior Features

Active Key-Fob Commands

Passive Key-Fob Commands

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Safety and Driver Assistance Rating:

Crash-Test Results

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Test Results

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Test Results

Airbags, Child Seats, and Spare Tire Location

Active Safety Features

Backup Camera

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Warranty Rating:

Warranty Comparison

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

C/D Performance and Driving Impressions Rating:

Acceleration

Acceleration, C/D Test Results

Ride, Handling, and Steering

Maximum Cornering Capability, C/D Test Results

Braking

Maximum Braking Capability, C/D Test Results

In Depth: 2017 McLaren 570S

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