McLaren updates Sports Series range

MCLAREN has announced updates for its entry-level Sports Series range, with price increases across three of the four variants, extra equipment levels and specification packs, following a bumper sales year in 2017.

Price of entry to the McLaren range has risen by $25,000 to $350,000 plus on-roads for the 540C, while the two hard-top 570 variants have also risen in price.

The 570S Coupe has increased by $16,000 to $395,000, while the more comfort-focused 570GT is now priced from $415,000, a jump of $13,200 over the old price.

Topping the range is the 570S Spider, which is unchanged at $435,750 since being released in Australia in the fourth quarter of last year.

The British supercar manufacturer has included extra equipment as standard to offset the price increases, including a 12mm taller rear spoiler for all coupe variants that was previously only available on the optional track pack.

Of all models, the 570GT benefits most from the update, with the inclusion of carbon-ceramic brakes as standard,] and a number of different option packs to make it more customisable.

Due to customer response, McLaren has launched a Sport Pack for the GT that gives it the harder driving edge of the S, with the steering rack, damper actuators and uprights, adaptive damping, steering and electronic stability control the same tune as the S.

Also included are Pirelli P-Zero Corsa sport tyres, with the Sport Pack setting GT buyers back an additional $13,100.

McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has also developed a wider range of options, including an electrochromic panoramic roof with adjustable tint for the GT.

Five new exterior/interior colourways are available for the GT via Design Edition packs, with combinations including Silica White exterior with Saddle Tan and Carbon Black interior, and Pacific Blue with Jet Black and Cream interior.

Option packs across the range have forced changes to specification and pricing, but McLaren says it makes additional features more attainable.

Three new exterior colours introduced on the 570S Spider – Curacao Blue, Vega Blue and Sicilian Yellow – are now available across other models, as are three interior packages and 10-spoke forged alloy wheels.

The Track Pack option now also comes with six Alcantara designer interior trims.

No changes have been made under the bonnet, with all models still powered by a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 producing between 397kW and 419kW, and power sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission.

McLaren had a bumper sales year in 2017, helped in part by the release of the 570S Spider and all-new 720S Ultimate Series coupe.

The car-maker was able to crack the 100 yearly sales mark for the first time in Australia with 113 sales, up 24.7 per cent on the 93 it recorded in 2016.

As part of its Track22 business plan released last year, McLaren hopes to release 15 new models or variants by 2022, which should help spur further growth.

McLaren Automotive Asia Pacific managing director George Biggs said the company was buoyed by the positive sales response.

“We received a phenomenal response following the release of the 720S in Australia and our Sports Series range, which offers Australians the excitement of McLaren ownership with the launch of the 570S Spider,” he said.

“We are proud of our continually strong sales figures year-on-year, reflecting the increasing demand for our brand locally.

“In particular, we are seeing growing demand for our bespoke engineering service – known as MSO — among Australian customers, across both Super Series and Sports Series.”

2018 McLaren Sports Series pricing*

540C (a)	$350,000
570S Coupe (a)	$395,000
570GT (a)	$415,000
570S Spider (a)	$435,750

*Excludes on-road costs