Practically six years on from its 2019 Geneva Motor Present debut, the GT stays probably the most slept-on McLaren out of the model’s total lineup. Constructed on a modified model of the carbon construction that underpins the 720S, the GT goals to supply a softer, extra versatile tackle the manic supercar experiences the marque is thought for: a go-anywhere, do-anything McLaren.
But regardless of its grand touring aspirations, the GT is effectively worthy of the supercar title. There’s extra to it than simply 720S bones hiding beneath its pores and skin; the GT makes use of McLaren’s improbable electro-hydraulic steering, will get huge carbon-ceramic brakes as commonplace, and excels due to adaptive dampers that immediately morph its trip from agency to plush. The GT bit is achieved partly by way of its softer suspension however primarily by together with a secondary cupboard space behind its seats.
This can be a supercar first with some added practicality sprinkled on high. Its alternative, the McLaren GTS, arrives with delicate revisions to additional fine-tune this formulation. Its output rises by 15 horsepower to 626 hp whereas its weight drops by 22 kilos to three,362 lb. The GTS’s styling, some extent of rivalry for some when it got here to the previous GT, receives a delicate refresh whereas its roof depends on carbon fiber development to avoid wasting weight.
If, at first look, the McLaren GTS sounds extra like a delicate refresh than a serious replace over the GT, you’d be proper. Nonetheless, provided that it’s aiming to replace what’s already an exciting driver’s automobile, the GTS doesn’t waste time fixing what’s not damaged.
To additional perceive the GTS, now we have to zoom out and have a look at McLaren’s lineup as an entire. As you’re possible effectively conscious, the Artura’s launch hit some severe speedbumps alongside the best way, with the British model introducing a big replace for its second mannequin 12 months in 2024.
Extra than simply being a plug-in hybrid supercar, the Artura is an formidable challenge that launches a brand new construction, engine, and transmission on high of its electrification parts. But, getting its new {hardware} to cohabitate proved extra of a problem than anticipated. Its delays brought about a ripple impact all through the corporate, pushing the arrival of McLaren’s new plug-in hybrid V8 effectively into the long run, creating a niche.
Whereas the W1’s debut provides us a glimpse of what we are able to anticipate from Woking’s future, there’s nonetheless a gap the place the GTS and the 750S now match. The supercar pair reuses loads of present {hardware} (though the 750S arguably goes additional by borrowing closely from the 765LT) to fine-tune the experiences provided by their predecessors slightly than outright redefining them.
Just like the 750S, it may be difficult to differentiate the McLaren GTS from the GT. Alongside this automobile’s grand touring aspirations, the British marque relied on extra conservative styling, creating a transparent separation from the 720S’s flowing strains. You’d virtually name it delicate if it weren’t for its lengthy and huge supercar proportions.
Nonetheless, look a bit nearer, and also you’ll see that the GTS sports activities extra pronounced air intakes upfront with enlarged openings. The tops of its rear fenders obtain the same therapy with larger inlets that sit barely increased to make their presence recognized. Beneath, a big diffuser flanks its twin exhaust ideas, which can be found in a louder Sports activities configuration.
From there, this automobile’s entrance splitter and facet skirts stay unchanged, and whereas there’s a brand new set of 10-spoke Turbine solid wheels, my tester options the usual 10-twin-spoke set that carries over. Consistent with broader business developments, McLaren’s newest presents a extra intensive choice of exterior and inside finishes for larger personalization. Nonetheless, guaranteeing whether or not you’re a GTS versus a GT isn’t all the time straightforward. But ought to its minute particulars elude you, small “GTS” badges within the rear and on its doorways clear issues up.
It’s the same story while you step inside. The McLaren GTS retains the GT’s spacious inside, glorious visibility, and plush commonplace Consolation seats. McLaren simplifies the configuration course of for the GTS by splitting it into Customary, Efficiency, and TechLux trim ranges. Every is supposed to extract a distinct vibe from the cabin. Whereas Efficiency incorporates extra Alcantara surfaces, TechLux goals to be extra elegant prioritizing Leather-based upholstery adorned with contrasting particulars.
Whereas this automobile’s materials enhancements assist it appear and feel extra well-appointed than the previous GT, its tech suite stays virtually unchanged. In entrance of the wheel, you’ll discover a 10.25-inch show with graphics starting to look fairly dated. On the identical time, a seven-inch central display nonetheless lacks Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity, making it the final car in its class (additionally inside McLaren’s lineup) to lack this degree of important smartphone integration.
But earlier than you write the McLaren GTS off as only a stopgap product that introduces minor revisions with restricted impression, I ought to let you know why, even after years of driving each new supercar on sale, it’s nonetheless on my shortlist of favorites.
All of it boils all the way down to how effectively the GT, and now the virtually equivalent GTS, stability thrills behind the wheel with a degree of added usability that entices you to rack up miles. For instance, final 12 months, I road-tripped a GT from Los Angeles to San Diego solely to show round and reduce by way of the desert on a few of Southern California’s greatest roads as much as Palm Springs. As soon as there, I pointed the GT’s nostril in direction of LA, ultimately ending the journey overlaying slightly over 400 miles in lower than 24 hours.
As McLaren followers will shortly level out, I might’ve simply as simply carried out the drive in an Artura or a 750S, due to their comparatively plush suspension setups. Nonetheless, I haven’t informed you that my spouse rode shotgun your entire method, with our in a single day baggage tucked within the storage compartment atop the GT’s twin-turbocharged V8. Concurrently, the first trunk within the nostril had ample area for my digicam case, effortlessly permitting this supercar to double as an genuine grand tourer.
Whereas the McLaren GTS is a superb device for overlaying lengthy distances, so is a Porsche 911 Turbo S, a Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo, or a Bentley Continental GT. The distinction is, as you flip off the freeway and onto a winding street, switching away from Consolation mode into both Sport or Observe, the GTS shortly reminds you that it’s really a supercar first with some added practicality sprinkled on high.
I’d be mendacity if I informed you {that a} 15-hp improve makes any noticeable distinction on the road. When coping with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that produces 626 hp, such a modest energy bump is undetectable outdoors of instrumented testing. What issues is that, like its predecessor and all McLarens actually, the GTS feels stupendously fast. A seven-speed dual-clutch sends that output alongside 465 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels.
Dial again traction management, and also you’ll get loads of sideways motion because the GTS’s V8 reaches peak enhance strain. Regardless of its grand-tourer label, McLaren’s softest providing gained’t hesitate to chew again do you have to not deal with its throttle with the respect it deserves. Do not forget that the GTS nonetheless hits 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, 124 mph in 8.9 seconds, and tops out at 203 mph.
But in contrast to most do-it-all grand tourers, the GTS doesn’t lose its sense of tactility because it chases this efficiency. As talked about, it retains the model’s communicative electro-hydraulic steering, pairing it with an upsized set of normal carbon ceramics and adaptive dampers. Nonetheless, McLaren re-tuned all of those parts for the GTS, because it did for the 750S and the up to date Artura, specializing in enhancing driving engagement. Its dual-clutch receives the same therapy, ripping faster however extra dramatic shifts at full throttle.
The outcomes are delicate, however given the excessive bar set by the GT, that’s not shocking. Flip the wheel, and also you’ll get a fast response that’s as linear as it’s communicative. As you decide up the tempo, steering effort and weight improve because the entrance finish masses up, portray a transparent image of simply how a lot grip you’ve acquired. Concurrently, push even additional, and the steering shortly lightens, letting you understand it’s time to again off.
Like all McLarens, brake pedal journey is brief, whereas the system requires robust strain earlier than it delivers the stopping energy you’re after. This automobile’s 15.4-inch entrance rotors with six-piston calipers are spectacularly efficient, and at increased speeds, this setup rewards agency however purposeful inputs with a linear response. As with this automobile’s steering, the brakes require as a lot effort as they do cautious modulation, creating a way of connectedness between automobile and driver.
Whereas the McLaren GTS sheds 22-lb, like its 15-hp energy bump, you gained’t really feel the consequences of these financial savings on the road. They develop into even much less detectable as you throw baggage on this automobile’s trunk or frunk. Nonetheless, tipping the scales at 3,362 lb with fluids, the GTS stays almost 300 lb lighter than a Porsche 911 Turbo S. It weighs 710 fewer kilos than a Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo whereas undercutting the most recent plug-in hybrid Bentley Continental GT by a staggering 2,053 lb.
In fact, the aforementioned Maserati and Bentley are front-engined grand tourers within the conventional sense, providing larger inside area and an abundance of quilted leather-covered surfaces. And whereas the 911 comes the closes of the bunch, its lack of a correct carbon tub makes matching the McLaren’s weight determine virtually inconceivable.
Because of the GTS’s lack of weight, it doesn’t require overly agency suspension to manage physique motions both on open street stretches or tight bends. As such, its twin-valve hydraulic adaptive dampers and double-wishbone setup entrance and rear permit the grand touring McLaren to really feel as agile as a featherweight supercar with out making its occupants endure the customarily punishing rides related to the kind.
As a bonus, the GTS inherits the ultra-quick front-axle raise system launched for the 750S, which is 50 p.c faster than the one used for the 720S and the discontinued GT.
For 2025, the McLaren GTS begins at $224,400, together with vacation spot. For context, that’s $29,700 lower than the smaller however sportier $254,100 Artura Coupe. Because of Porsche’s latest value will increase, the GTS additionally undercuts the $233,395 911 Turbo S Coupe by $8,995.
It’s the same story if you happen to flip to the $247,310 Ferrari Roma or the $306,250 Bentley Continental GT Pace. The $192,000 Maserati GranTurismo Trofeo is the one different grand tourer in its class that prices much less.
The McLaren GTS isn’t with out its faults. Its styling doesn’t create a transparent visible separation from the previous GT, retaining a reasonably conservative design by supercar requirements. On the identical time, whereas its cabin receives trim and materials updates, the person expertise suffers on account of its ageing tech and lack of smartphone connectivity.
There’s additionally the matter that, given its similarities to its predecessor, this automobile’s strongest competitor is a calmly used GT. Look by way of McLaren’s intensive licensed pre-owned catalog, and also you’ll discover loads of GTs listed for effectively below $150,000, together with a 1-year/12,000-mile guarantee with an choice to increase it to 2 years or 24,000 miles.
Nonetheless, because the McLaren GTS enters the second half of its lifecycle, it stays some of the versatile supercars on sale. Because of rigorously re-tuned software program, it efficiently will increase driver engagement with out sacrificing the flexibility grand tourers are well-known for. It stays as thrilling on a again street as it’s snug on a freeway, providing a real dual-personality. As such, whereas the GTS is extra of a delicate refresh than a serious replace, there’s no want to repair what’s not damaged.
