McLaren GT: a smooth grand tourer
Sportscar specialist McLaren has made a supercar as friendly as a family hatchback. Jasper Spires reports


“When you think of McLaren, you probably think of a few things: loud, fast, and sporty. You don’t, probably, think of a smooth, comfortable, capacious grand tourer,” says Alex Goy on Business Insider. “But the GT is a McLaren that doesn’t shout, scream, or bark. It’s a McLaren that gives you the full supercar experience – power, handling, tech, and everything else –with just slightly fewer antics.”
It remains, of course, as rapid as you’d expect, says Ben Hodges on CarBuyer, with a top-speed of 203mph, a 0-62mph time of a little over three seconds and with an engine pushing out 612bhp. A seven-speed gearbox and a host of electronic aids have been deployed to send as much power as fast as possible to the rear wheels. Under hard acceleration, the GT delivers “ferocious, supercar-pace and a subtly menacing sound from its V8 engine”.
This McLaren has also, however, been crafted for long-haul motoring, rolling steadily over huge distances with comfort. “To be considered a true grand tourer, the GT needed to combine a precise driving experience on twisty roads with effortless progress on motorways, and the McLaren is a success in this respect.” Gliding along at tame motorway speeds, the V8 turbo engine’s aggression is muted and the ride quiet and polished. The handling is just as silky. “The steering is perfectly weighted and the car demonstrates impressive agility when you take corners quickly, yet it’s almost as easy to drive as a family hatchback at lower speeds.”
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The GT is a joy to pilot too. “It feels very airy in the cabin,” says Top Gear magazine, “especially with the switchable electrochromic glass roof on its clear setting. Looking forwards and over the shoulder, the view out is terrific.” There is also an infotainment system and all the luxury furnishings you’d want from such an esteemed manufacturer. “The cabin trim is lovely, and customisable in lots of materials and beautiful stitch patterns. The switchgear is all metal, and everything feels expensive and is unique to McLaren.” Prices start from £163,000.
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Jasper is a former writer for the MoneyWeek and he wrote on an array of topics including travel, investing in crypto and bitcoin, as well as cars. Previous to that he freelanced at The Art Newspaper, PORT Magazine and The Spectator. Jasper is currently a freelance writer at FAD magazine and he has an English literature degree from the University of Exeter, and a Master's degree from UCL.
-
HMRC confirms crypto ETN ISA rules
With crypto ETNs now technically available for UK retail investors, HMRC has confirmed they can be held in an ISA – but there’s a complication
-
Pensioners targeted in fine wine scams – the tactics to watch for
Wine has emerged as the latest lure in investment fraud, with pensioners being specifically targeted by scammers
-
Pinewood Technologies: a drive for growth
Pinewood Technologies’ platform is one of the best in the business. Investors should buy in
-
'EV maker Faraday Future will crash'
Faraday Future Intelligent Electric is failing dismally to live up to its name, says Matthew Partridge
-
8 of the best houses for sale with follies
The best houses for sale with follies in the grounds – from a five-storey Victorian Gothic tower in Tonbridge, Kent, to a former mill in Oxfordshire with gardens that include a folly on an island in a lake
-
Sotheby’s fishes for art collectors – will it succeed?
Sotheby’s is seeking to restore confidence in the market after landing Leonard Lauder's art collection, including Gustav Klimt's Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer
-
Review: The Lakes by Yoo – luxury living in the Cotswolds
Travel The Lakes by Yoo combines a luxury hotel stay with the convenience of a holiday rental in a gorgeous lakeside setting
-
8 of the best houses for sale with separate accommodation
The best houses for sale with separate accommodation – from a converted 17th-century threshing barn in Monmouthshire, to a Grade II-listed Queen Anne house in North Yorkshire with four apartments in the stable block
-
Review: Bequia Beach Hotel – nostalgic fun in the Caribbean
Travel Bequia Beach Hotel on the island of Bequia in St Vincent and the Grenadines is a resort with personality that is as luxurious as it is playful
-
8 of the best properties for sale with orangeries
From a converted Victorian Catholic school with a chapel in Kingston Upon Thames to a 12-acre country estate with mature gardens and a lake in Nantwich, Cheshire, we look at some of the best properties for sale with orangeries