With the 2015 New York Auto Show->ke226 just around the corner, the first unofficial details surrounding McLaren's->ke284 upcoming Sports Series->ke4981 surfaced on the Interwebz. We already knew that the new sports cars->ke506 will be sold as an the entry-level "C" variant and a more powerful "S" model, but a new report from Autogespot.com tells us these cars will be named 540C and 570S. It might not sound like much since McLaren already confirmed it will continue to use numbers for its models, but the big news here is that these badges probably also reveal the output of the vehicles wearing them.

As we already know from the 650S->ke4801 and 675LT, the figure in the official name stands for the car's PS output. That means the entry-level 540C should have 540 PS (532 horsepower), while the 570S will arrive with 570 PS (562 horsepower) on tap. The report goes on to say that the 570S will tip the scales at 1,313 kg (2,894 pounds) and hit 62 mph from a standing start in 3.2 seconds, while 0 to 124 mph will take 9.5 ticks. Top speed will be 203 mph, making the 570S faster than the most powerful Porsche 911.

Keep in mind that these names and figures have yet to be confirmed by McLaren, but we should find out more at NYIAS in April. Keep it locked here for more info.

Continue reading to learn more about the McLaren 540S And 570C.

Why it matters

If this report proves to be accurate, then it means the Sports Series will hit the market as a competitor to the turbocharged Porsche 911s and not the naturally aspirated models as suggested initially. The 540C will have just enough power to take on the 520-horsepower 911 Turbo, while the 570S will be aimed at the 560-horsepower Turbo S model. But although both McLarens will be more powerful than their respective 911 Turbos rivals, they will take longer to hit 60 mph from a standing start. Of course, not all customers buy a sports car based on horsepower and acceleration alone, but both figures are extremely important in this segment.

McLaren Sports Series

The Sports Series will slot right below the 650S and will become McLaren's smallest and least-powerful production, street-legal sports car. It will be offered in both coupe and spider versions, with each to get 540C and 570S models. A 570GT version featuring a "vertical rear window and a flat rear deck" will arrive later in the nameplate's timeline. A sixth model similar to the track-exclusive 650S Sprint is likely as well. The Sprint would bridge the gap between the road-going 650S and the FIA-spec GT3 car. Read our full review here.