The McLaren 'Grand Tourer' Is All But Ready to Debut

TopSpeed

By Ciprian Florea

Published Apr 3, 2019

McLaren says it will be the most practical mid-engined supercar on the market

Confirmed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, McLaren's new grand tourer is about to go into production. The news comes from McLaren itself, which just released a batch of photos and additional information about the yet-unnamed vehicle.

What is The McLaren Grand Tourer?

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Described as "the McLaren of Grand Tourers," it's supposed to be the company's most practical supercar yet. This job is currently held by the 570GT, essentially a 570S with a modified engine hood that leaves room for cargo and friendlier dynamics that make it more suitable for longer drives.

McLaren aims to take things up a notch in the grand touring direction with even more passenger and cargo room and a more comfortable ride. However, the Brits promise that their GT will remain true to McLaren's spirit and deliver outstanding performance.

Just like the Sports Series and Super Series, it will probably spawn a more track-focused version at some point, and it could also be offered with more than one drivetrain option.

What Sets the McLaren Grand Tourer Apart from Other McLaren Cars?

Although it has a familiar design that draws cues from the company's existing products, the GT boasts a unique rear section. The engine hood is definitely longer than the Senna or 720S, extending all the way back to the rear fascia. This design allows for more storage room in front and above the engine compartment. Because it's a two-seater, there will be storage room behind the seats as well.

McLaren also confirmed that it won't be a hybrid, so there will be additional room under the front hood. Again, the short nose won't provide too much space, but McLaren probably designed that section with this specific feature in mind and cargo room should exceed that of the 720S or Speedtail. McLaren will probably offer a bespoke set of bags for this car so you will be able to use up space more efficiently.

McLaren promises it will be the most usable mid-engined car yet. The British firm also claims it will have the best power-to-weight ratio and that it will be one of the quickest grand tourers on the market. These are huge claims, but based on the speed and power-to-weight ratios of McLarens from the past, I'm very tempted to believe them.

The McLaren Grand Tourer Will Have a V-8 Engine

McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt revealed that the grand tourer will be only McLaren to share its DNA with the Speedtail. Power will come from the company's award-winning twin-turbo V-8, which generates up to 710 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque in the 720S. The Brits will probably use this unveiling to introduce an upgraded version of the mill. The 4.0-liter unit could grow bigger and generate around 750 horsepower.

	McLaren 650S	McLaren 675LT	McLaren 720S
Engine	3.8-Liter V-8 Twin Turbo	3.8-Liter V-8 Twin Turbo	4.0-litre twin-turbo V-8
Power	641 HP @ 7,250 RPM	666 HP @ 7,100 RPM	710 HP @ 7,500 RPM
Torque	500 LB-FT @ 6,000 RPM	516 LB-FT @ 5,500-6,500 RPM	568 LB-FT @ 5,500 RPM
Transmission	Seven-Speed Dual Clutch	Seven-Speed SSG	7 Speed SSG
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph)	3.0 seconds	2.9 seconds	2.8 seconds
0-200 km/h (0-124 mph)	8.4 seconds	7.9 seconds	7.8 seconds
Top Speed	207 mph	205 mph	212 mph
Weight	3,148 Lbs	2,927 Lbs	2,828 Lbs
Weight distribution (Front/Rear)	42.5%/57.5%	42.5%/57.5%	TBA

The McLaren Grand Tourer Will Arrive 2019

This means that an official unveiling could happen this summer. The British firm often uses the Goodwood Festival of Speed to launch new supercars, so this grand tourer might break cover there. This year's event takes place in early July, but a full showcase could happen at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.