Spotted: twice a McLaren

If you look at the statistics, the Netherlands still has quite a few supercars. But then again, those kinds of cars generally get very few miles and aren’t usually parked out in the open. So the chances of encountering a supercar “in the wild” are still slim. It is no different for McLaren’s models.

McLaren 600LT

So when one of the AutoRAI editors came across a McLaren 600LT on the A12 near Nootdorp, the camera was pulled out without hesitation. Well, as soon as it was safe to do so, of course. The one spotted was registered brand new on Dutch license plates in 2021. According to the RDW, the owner had to pocket no less than 428,513 euros for it… Costs a bit, but then you have something.

Indeed, the McLaren 600LT is almost the top “practical McLaren” model. It only has to put up with the even more extreme 600R above it. By the way, the 600LT is already certainly not bad either. When introduced in 2018, it was the top-of-the-line model though, based on the McLaren 570S. The 600LT differs from the 570S with a longer rear end (hence LT, from LongTail) and overall improved aerodynamics. Thanks to the use of even more carbon fiber, the 600LT is also 96 kg lighter than the 570S. Last but not least, the 3.8-liter V8 produces 441 kW (600 hp, which explains the rest of the type name) in the 600LT. For an even more intense driving experience, the 600LT has also been available as a Spider since 2019.

McLaren 570S

Coincidentally, in the same week, another AutoRAI editor also came across a McLaren, a 570S. It was spotted on the A16 near Zevenbergschen Hoek. This beautiful blue example was registered brand new on Dutch registration in 2017, for the sweet sum of 271,207 euros. Although that amount is so not too bad compared to that red 600LT. The current owner has been enjoying this British super sports car since last October.

So the McLaren 570S is the “base model” of the series, although of course there is still little “base” about it. The 570S was introduced in 2015, as the more practically useful model of the McLaren lineup. So by McLaren standards, the 570S has a relatively large luggage space, more interior space, some more luxurious trim and more accessible handling. Performance is still fine. The 3.8-liter V8 delivers 419 kW (570 hp), good for a 0-100 sprint in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 328 km/h. The 570S is also available as a Spider.

Even more variants

With the aforementioned 570S, 600LT and 600R, the McLaren “570 series” is not yet complete. Similarly, the 540C also appeared in 2015 as the absolute entry-level model of the series. Again: everything is relative. Since the type designation again refers to the number of horsepower, you know that the base model is already a very fast car as well. In 2016, the 570GT appeared, with extra luggage space (above the engine!) and a softer suspension tuning focusing even more on practicality.

On the sporty side, the range was expanded with the 570S GT4 and Sprint. Two variants for serious track use, the first meeting the entry requirements of the FIA’s GT4 classification. The 600R mentioned is a kind of street-legal version of the GT4. Ten more examples were also built of the MSO X, a kind of 570S with styling elements of the GT4, but that was therefore not a regular production model.