2018 McLaren 570S Review by Jon Rosner

Special Feature from Jon Rosner

Pure joy, dream machine. The words just kept popping into my head while carving the canyons cruising over Mulholland Drive. Acceleration like being catapulted from an electric rail gun, clean even braking, totally intuitive balanced handling. Like many of the great cars of the driver’s world, you don’t steer the McLaren 570S, you think it, and it happens. From Roger Ormisher, VP Marketing for McLaren, “I think of McLaren as a new brand of supercar, one that is approachable. You can use it as a daily driver.” “We sold 1,300 cars in North America last year, that is more than Lamborghini and Aston Martin combined.” “We have a singular focus, our owners are very different than other supercar brands. We have owners that use their cars everyday. They bring their cars out for events, track days, owner’s meeting. They are actually using them. We have created a McLaren family of owners and enthusiasts, an open and warm brand.”

2018 McLaren 570S

Roger and I talked a bit more. Agreed that the bark of a Ferrari and the drama of a Lamborghini are truly fun. But for this author image only goes so far before it takes away from the pleasure of ownership. The service costs and annoyances versus actual utility, for both, are an issue. Minimum servicing costs on a Ferrari that is not a statue are $4 to 5,000 per year. Have you ever tried to back up in a modern Lamborghini, you almost have to sit on the sill and hang out to see your progress.

Simply put, cars like the Lotus Elan and Europa from the 1960s and 1970s, the original Acura NSX (particularly the Zanardi Edition), and a few others were a technical revolution and a revelation to drive when they came out. And in some ways still are. So is the 570S. When pushed, the McLaren is ferociously fast and very communicative without being overwhelming, loud, annoying or difficult to control. Paying close attention you notice the absence of any issues. Around town the 570S is no more demanding that a Camry or an Accord. Simplicity, elegance of design, honed responsiveness, all are hallmarks that, one day, will make the 570S an automotive icon. Most impressive.