Yahoo Autos The McLaren 570S Spider Will Arrive This Year
Ever since the McLaren 570S launched in coupe form two years ago, we've been anticipating a drop-top version. In fact, we're a little surprised we haven't even seen the 570S Spider yet, but it's coming very soon. Speaking with Autocar, McLaren Automotive boss Mike Flewitt confirmed that the 570S Spider will arrive this year.
Flewitt declined to confirm any further details on the 570S Spider other than that it will have a folding metal roof, just the 650S Spider. McLaren won't do a convertible version of the 540C–a lower-powered version of the 570S Coupe that's not sold in the US–because it would be too expensive.
"With the 540C, by the time you add options it can cost the same as a 570S, which is why we only offer it in certain markets," Flewitt told Autocar. "And because of that it doesn't make sense to do a 540C Spider. There will never be a 540GT either," he said, referring to the slightly more roomy fastback member of the 570 family.
When an automaker turns a coupe into a convertible, we naturally begin to worry about added weight and reduced rigidity. But that's not an issue for McLaren, since its cars are built around a lightweight carbon fiber tub-getting rid of of the roof in such a car has virtually no impact on rigidity.
In McLaren's case, the only added weight is from the folding roof mechanism. The 650S Spider is only around 90 lbs heavier than the coupe it's based on. With similar weight gains, the 570S Spider would likely tip the scales at less than 3300 lbs, making it one of the lightest convertibles in its class.
We'll learn the 570S Spider's full specs when it debuts later this year. Given the car it's based on, the 570S Spider should be fantastic.
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