Based on the 720S, the GT is only a notch more domesticated, with its smaller turbos and somewhat larger luggage space. However, it didn't catch the eye of Grand Tourists, and the automotive world has yet to discover what it missed out on.
Because there is one McLaren GT that pretty much raised the bar for all other GTs on the road. A tunned one, mind you, (with 150 HP extra over the regular 620 of the factory GT) took a shot at top-speeding on a public road. It hit 216 mph (348 kph) and only stopped there because the driver didn't feel like having another go at it.
The driver is a YouTuber who regularly posts videos with (very) high-performance cars, so he takes credit for being honest in his reviews. In all fairness, he does specify that the exuberance he felt behind the wheel of the 770 HP McLaren GT might have a lot to do with the extra power of the car. But other features make a good impression on him and are available in all the other GTs of the same make and model.
The steroid-fed version that we see in the video must be spectacular, given the performances of the stock McLaren GT. The all-around twin-turbo 4.0 Liter V8 with 620 HP and 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) pushes the standard car from 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) in 3.2 seconds. Floor it, and the speedometer would read 124 mph just 5.8 seconds later. And it could go all the way up to 204 mph (326 kph). Not too bad for a Grand Tourer that can accommodate your skis in the rear trunk.
The out-of-ordinary GT starring in the video made little effort to reach 216 mph, thanks to its slender body, 3.200 lbs (1.5 tons) lightweight carbon fiber structure, and bespoke tires. Also, the 727 lb-ft (987 Nm) of torque makes quite a treat. The view from inside the ca is solid proof of the raging performance. Still, other than the numbers on the dial, nothing else hints at the test's sheer violence. In the second video, you can see an earlier high-speed drive with the same car, no comments, and drive-by videos taken from vehicles moving on the highway.
Enthusiastic as this driver may have been, the factory McLaren GT has fallen short of expectations for unknown reasons. Whichever those may be, if you happen to own one, take the YouTuber's solid advice and do not replicate his feat on a public road. Not even in Germany, where these test are performed regularly.
After nearly two decades in news television, Răzvan turned to a different medium. He’s been a field journalist, a TV producer, and a seafarer but found that he feels right at home among petrolheads. Full profile
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