McLaren debuts new entry-level Sports Series

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Written by Dan Carney

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McLaren Automotive debuted a new entry-level model for its family of supersports cars at the 2015 New York Auto International Show, with the 570S introducinga new carbon-fiber monocoque chassis for the company that has larger dooropenings for more convenient ingress and egress. The 570S is the first member of a product line McLarenbrands its Sports Series, which represents an entry level alongside thecompany"s existing Super Series and Ultimate Series models. These represent ahierarchy in the company"s line, demonstrating seriousness of sporting intentand price. Of course, practical larger openings compromise rigidity, sothe chassis is reinforced with some additional material to preserve itsintegrity. Even with that strengthening, the bare monocoque weighs only 80 kg(176 lb), while it is a claimed 25% stiffer than competitors" aluminumchassis. The 570S"s doorsills are 80 mm (3.1 in) lower than on the company"searlier models, and are also thinner, for a less cumbersome entry in and out.The car can be equipped to weigh as little as 1313 kg (2895 lb), which McLarensays is 150 kg (331 lb) less than its lightest competitor. The 570S also has thinner B-pillars for improved visibility. "For the Sports Series we wanted to offer a real sports carfeel," explained Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin. "Ultimately, it means a carthen feels nimble, agile, and it must also possess a lightness and directness ofresponse to drivers" inputs. Certainly for us, a sports car really needs toengage the driver at any speed." Naturally, tires contribute significantly to that mission.For the 570S, McLaren"s goal was to provide useable performance withapproachable limits, rather than maximum performance with a precipitousdrop-off beyond the limits. To that end, Pirelli partnered with McLaren to tunethe 570S"s P Zero Corsas with driver-friendly characteristics. "We have worked closely with Pirelli throughout the programto design a bespoke tire to best suit the Sports Series, and it is a reallyimportant partnership," Goodwin noted. "Being the only contact with the road,the tire is critical to how the car handles and behaves, and we treat them inthe same way as any key suspension component," he added. "They are speciallytuned and developed with Pirelli, and that makes a huge difference to thedynamics of this car." Tire sizes are 225/35 R19 on the front and 285/35 R20 on therear. Regular P Zero tires are a no-cost option for drivers seeking longer tirelife and softer ride, while the standard P Zero Corsa"s stiffer sidewalls andgrippier tread boosts acceleration, braking, and lateral acceleration forimproved track times. The tires mount on 19-inch front wheels and 20-inchrears. Beneath the engine cover, McLaren"s new M838TE 3.8-Ltwin-turbo V8 engine is similarly revised, with 30% new componentscompared to the M838T. It is now rated at 570 PS (562 hp/419 kW) as referenced in the car"s name and 600 N m (443 lb ft). It propels the car to 100 km/h (62 mph) from rest in just 3.2s and to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 9.5 s. Terminal velocity is 204 mph (328 km/h). The changes to the engine include installation of anautomatic engine stop/start system for improved fuel efficiency that produces 25.2 mpg on the combined European driving cycle and 258 g/km of CO2.The car will escape U.S. gas guzzler taxes. New 60-degree cam-phase controllers reduce internal engineinertia and improve control, which helps both efficiency and throttleresponse. New equal-length stainlesssteel exhaust manifolds are mated to hydroformed steel tubes to optimizeexhaust flow while enhancing the car"s engine note. As in previous models, the engine continues to be fittedwith a dry-sump oil system and a flat-plane crankshaft. The 570S carries overthe same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission seen on the 650S. McLaren"s programmers have been busy improving the company"ssoftware, so the 570S enjoys new anti-lock brake software that provides betterbrake pedal feel and reduces the pulsing the driver feels through the pedalwhen the ABS is active. New electronic stability control, developed in conjunctionwith hardware supplier Bosch, adds a Dynamic mode for reduced computerinterference with the driver to permit increased ability to slide the rear ofthe car in a drift while the ESC is active. For the first time, the ESC system has its own controlswitch, so drivers can independently set its mode; full, dynamic, or off. Boschupgraded the pump and dual-valve system for increased resolution so that the570S enjoys more precise, progressive ESC engagement for less intrusion. The traction control is also reprogrammed, with more precisecontrol in extreme situations such as drifting. It may be rare for owners toexploit these new capabilities, but they should contribute to some spectacularInternet videos.

Date: 08-Apr-2015 02:36 EDT
More of this article on the SAE International website

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