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If you like exotic cars, you probably live the best time for them. These are not the meager things they once were, you can get more than ever. AMG makes legitimate supercars, Aston Martin's range continues to grow, Ferrari is expanding, Lamborghini's SUV is … one thing, and McLaren is determined to do as much as possible. And the new McLaren 600LT comes to the family as the smallest McLaren for people who are constantly behind things.
(Full disclosure: McLaren wanted me to drive the 600LT so badly that I was flown to Budapest, and I was getting food and drink, so I would not die before driving the car around the Hungaroring. They also had a set of photographers on hand to make it great.)
What is it?
McLaren is committed to releasing 18 new models by 2025, not an SUV. This includes the derivations of cars – Spiders, LT, etc. – which means that you can eventually find the McLaren that suits you according to your needs, abilities and price.
This car is the "Longtail" version of the 540C / 570S. The McLaren LT cars (a lineage that goes back to the legendary F1 with a longer tail) have six key elements that distinguish them from the rest of the lineup: they are limited-stroke, lighter, have a better aero, are centered on the track, the driver is focused and has more power than the car on which he is based.
In the case of the 600LT – you guessed it has 600 metric horsepower, you guessed right – that means it's far from the 570S on which it's based. Rather than being a car that you can use every day and every day, this is the track car that you can use from time to time. He is harder, lighter and sharper than his companions in the Sport series.
Oh, and his exhaust pipes are on the back deck and they are firing massive flames. What's great
The specifications that matter
If you plan to bet on a McLaren, the power needs to be strengthened. As such, McLaren has modified its 3.8-liter V8 to produce a braking power of 592 horsepower (600 meters) and a torque of 457 lb-ft. Combined with a dry weight (if you choose all the right light options) of 2 749 lb, McLaren estimates that it will be 0 to 60 seconds in 2.8 seconds and it will run up to 204 mph. Delicious.
Because it's quite light, the 600LT does not look too ugly either. I mean, compared to other exotic, not like … a Prius. McLaren says it will manage 14 cities and 25 highways. But that's not really part of LT's brief, so let's move on.
What's great
Exhaust pipes on the bridge. It's stupidity. Not only do they look awesome, but they also spew heavy flames under full load. I asked the chief engineer of the 600LT how they had managed to remove it without putting the spoiler on fire – a ceramic liner where the flames would fall quickly.
I also asked them why they had them on the deck: This is partly because it means they are closer to the engine, which means it takes fewer parts (which reduces the weight) and. I admire this kind of thinking.
It looks great, much like a Mad Max Pursuit Special version of the 570S. The vents, spoiler and hoses give it a special look. I have a weakness for the vents on the front wheel. They are a nice and functional detail.
McLaren has always wanted to make cars usable for supercars, and the same goes for the 600LT. You can see it, you can drive it hard and you can work without feeling too much like losing your spine. You can also go beyond its limits and it will not sting you for the privilege. You lose storage space in the name of "light".
I hate dieting. It means that I can not eat all the cake in the world and that I have to kiss the salad. McLaren likes to put his cars on salad diets – that means the components do not have to work so hard and the car goes faster. No inconvenience, really. Mclaren took a ton of things on the 600LT to lose 220 pounds on the 570S, not quite so massive.
Lighter seats, air conditioning, a lighter suspension, no door pockets, and more make it as feathery as possible. And you can have air conditioning as a free option, without fear.
It's quite small (although 47mm longer at the rear than a 570S), which means it will be easy to park in town, and it's easy to put in narrow lanes. Basically, she's a city dweller. Ahem. Oh, and it's easy to set up.
What is weak
One of the characteristics of LT is the fact that they are limited editions. Now, unlike the 675LT (one of the best cars I've ever driven, FYI), it's not limited to setting the number of units, but to a 12-month production schedule. That means there will probably be a car for anyone who wants one, but it also hits some of the exclusivity, do not you think?
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A little complaint, but I still can not love these flying buttresses in the back. They just look a little weird.
And the infotainment of the 570S is still in place. It's lamentable, buggy, crash-y and a huge pain in the ass compared to other systems (Porsche, for example). The day this will change, the Lord will smile from above.
Aggressive driving
To warm us up for the full 600LT experience, McLaren performed a few laps in a regular 570S. Pro driver by my side, I went out and I played.
The 570S remains an agile and sharp car. Almost all the car you actually want. The steering was direct, the brakes heavy and fade, and 570 horses surely enough, right?
Well, getting out of there and going to 600LT was a bit of a shock. While the 570S is objectively a good car, compared to the 600LT, it lacks a bit.
The LT treatment was nice with the car. Everything, and I mean everything, has been refined, modified and refined to create an incredibly appealing car.
On the speed front, the Hungaroring's 800-meter straight is long enough to have a decent impression of the speed of the 600LT. By the braking point, it was 155 km / h without sign of relaxation. He just keeps coming and going, pinning you as he does. Consider that this is in the "entry-level" range for a moment and take stock of how quickly supercars have become only in recent years.
Going fast in a straight line is good, but rubbing that speed is doubly important. With a power booster inspired by the Senna and 720S carbon discs at every corner, there was hardly any plan to fall. The pedal is a little tricky at low speed, but on the track when the brewing and unfolding are the name of the game, they are easy to use. And they work well for them – from that 155 mph, they will fall to 60 mph in no time, forcing the blood to the front of your face, stealing half a breath from your chest.
Once you have lost your mountain of speed units, it's time to think about entry. Drop a gear or two with the super-fast double-clutch gearbox, look where you're going and steer. The way it turns makes the 570S wheel lighter and slower. It's direct, strong and accurate as they come. A step or two from the Senna, but they are really very small steps.
With a set of Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R gums and a stiffer suspension than the average of your 570S, it can get stuck quickly. You notice first when you have to use the muscles of your neck to keep your head in the air, and then when your tongue starts to walk in your mouth. With this configuration, it will be faster than a 675LT. Damn.
Dynamic McLaren dashboard switching is here – everything is in order, of course, but it starts playing and things change. For example, placing the powertrain on "dynamic" makes noticeable gear changes to give a race car feel, but in "track" and you hardly feel a thing, while having the engine and gearbox set on the angry channel. Set the management and ESC to track and you have trouble playing with it.
You can find and exceed your limits quickly on the right track. With the dynamic panel set to EVERYTHING, you must treat it with respect.
As with everything, going too fast and expecting it to turn perfectly is imprudent and comes up against understeer. Adjust the gas and the wheel correctly and you will be sorted in a jiffy. The same goes for giving too much at the exit – this will kick, but not so violently that you will be overwhelmed. Far from there. You can quickly pick up the car to check. The control of the McLaren is exceptional.
Value
Before the options, the 600LT will cost you $ 240,000. A lot of change in anyone's book! You can use it every day, although it is not as suitable as a 570GT. If you're a track rat with a penchant for Brit six-digit supercars, hand-made, it's just the right price.
Verdict
Yes, it's another new McLaren. Yes, it is very fast. No, the vast majority of us will probably never be able to buy one. But it is extremely fast, easy to control and fun to drive.
It will pull the muscles of your face, move your blood, excite you and encourage you to go faster and faster. And that even makes the 570s feel a little lumpen in the process.
If you can justify it, you will like it. Your order year is exhausting.
FOR DAILY DRIVING … B
It will not make your return, but there is less space for … things.
For the enthusiasm … A
What did you think?
TYPE OF VEHICLE
Coupe 2 doors
POWEERTRAIN
3.8 V8 Twin Turbo • 7-speed SSG • RWD
PRICE
$ 240,000 MSRP • $ 324,874 TESTED
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