2020 McLaren 570S Spider

The supercar war has been heating up in recent years, with big names such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche all producing some of their best work to date. Luckily British stalwart McLaren has also been producing some amazing vehicles, and the 570S Spider is most certainly one of them. It might be the baby amongst the McLaren family, but it still offers blistering performance and looks to die for. Under the engine cover lies a twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 562 horsepower, which it sends to the rear wheels in a blaze of glory. The hallowed Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet offers more power, but the 570S Spider feels even faster than it is - the carbon MonoCell body construction means that losing the top doesn't have any notable effects on performance. Another job well done from supercar masters McLaren.

The 2020 models once again carry over unchanged from the previous year without any changes. Production ends in December 2020, although US-bound models may carry over as 2021 year models.

After last year's launch, McLaren sees no need to make any changes and the 2019 570S Spider continues on as it was.

For the 2018 model year, the open-top McLaren 570S Spider joins its coupe stablemate, which has been on the market for two years and which we review separately. It's a properly engineered conversion too, with the two-piece removable roof being a hard-top and the structural reinforcements adding only 101 pounds to the coupe's weight. The coupe gains more paint colors and a taller rear spoiler from the 2018 model year onwards and the Spider gets these additions from the get-go. The 3.8-liter turbocharged V8 engine remains the same and develops the same 562 hp as in the coupe.

It is safe to say that the 2020 McLaren 570S Spider looks like a supercar from any angle. We've come to know and love the evolutionary look of the 500-series McLaren cars, and the 570S Spider is one of the best yet. A striking feature is the spider roof which opens up the 570S in more ways than one; it looks as good as it feels to drive. You also get a scattering of aero bits including a rear diffuser, front splitter, and rear spoiler. The 570S Spider rolls on a set of 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires.

Spot one in the real world, and you'll be surprised at how compact this Brit actually is. Total body length is measured at 178.3 inches, and the max width is 82.5 inches. With the doors closed, this McLaren is 47.3 inches tall, climbing to 78.3 inches when the doors are opened. Curb weight is a low 3,314 pounds.

Seeing as the McLaren 570S Spider is marketed as a high-performance supercar, it should come as no surprise that it packs quite a punch beneath the rear engine cover. In this case, you get a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8, which produces 562 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque nice and low in the rev range. This engine offers the best of both worlds: it loves to rev, but it also offers massive shove down low. Around town, the 570S Spider can be civilized, but out on the highway, the urge to floor it becomes too much to resist. McLaren claims a zero to sixty sprint of 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 204 mph. Power is sent to the rear via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

With only 40 or so pounds added to the curb weight, and a rigid carbon fiber monocell in play, there's very little to differentiate the Spider from its hardtop sibling: most won't be able to tell the difference unless you're experienced with McLaren cars. Behind the wheel, the 570S is in a class of its own and engages the driver like few cars on this planet can. The chassis on this car comes alive when pushed through twisty roads, and combined with the constant surge of power from that 3.8-liter V8, creates a unique driving experience that should be felt by anyone brave enough to take the ride. The massive carbon-ceramic brakes with six-piston calipers in the

front are unfazed by hard road driving and shrug off speed like it's no one's business.

The McLaren 570S Spider can accelerate from zero to sixty in close to three seconds, pass the 200 mph barrier with ease, and help attractive bitcoin millionaires pull chicks within seconds, but it won't win any prizes for its fuel economy, which is completely acceptable when you consider all of the above. While the EPA does not provide any official numbers for the 2020 McLaren 570S Spider, McLaren does quote a figure of 15/22/18 mpg city/highway/combined, which isn't all that bad if you ask us. Real world-driving will see those numbers decimated, especially when crushing Mustang drivers from the lights.

Step inside the cockpit and the first thing you notice is the abundance of carbon fiber surfaces, but getting in the car in the first place can be a struggle, especially for taller people. The low seating position swallows both driver and passenger and adds to the race-car feel of the 570S Spider. The bucket seats offer amazing support and should be comfortable enough for longer jaunts in the countryside.

Let's cut to the chase: one does not buy a McLaren 570S Spider for the practicality it offers. This car is all about the driving experience and doesn't even attempt to take storage space seriously. If you really have to carry anything, it would be easiest to kick your hot Tinder date to the curbside, as the passenger seat offers the most storage space you're going to get here. The frunk offers 5.3 cubic feet of space, which is enough for some hand luggage, and hidden behind the tonneau cover there's another 1.8 cubic feet for smaller items.

Traditionally, supercars offer the bare minimum in terms of interior features, but the McLaren 570S puts in an effort by offering some decent comfort and infotainment equipment. To be honest, when you're paying this much for a car, it wouldn't seem out of place to expect a few basics after all. Step inside the cabin and you'll be seated on a manually adjustable sport seat, wrapped in leather. The carbon fiber steering wheel also gets the leather treatment. The steering column is manually adjustable as well, and there's an electromagnetic dipping rearview mirror on offer. The rear window is heated, and cruise control, dual-zone climate control, and hill assist are also standard. Optional features include the McLaren Track Telemetry system, front and rear park sensors in the Security Package, or a set of eight-way power-adjustable seats, upgraded audio, and soft-close doors in the Luxury Pack.

If it were up to us, we'd forego any infotainment system for a louder exhaust system, but McLaren has to cater to actual customers. McLaren has been at the forefront of supercar infotainment systems for a while now, but we found that the touchscreen display responds slowly to inputs, and makes adjusting the climate controls and other systems more of a burden than it should be. The display is seven inches in size and comes standard with onboard memory, audio media player, AM/FM radio, as well as SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth telephony. There's a single USB charging port and an aux-in port. iPod and iPhone integration is also standard. The Luxury Pack also adds a Bowers & Wilkins 12-speaker sound system.

While the 2020 Mclaren 570S Spider is yet to be recalled, previous year 570S cars have been recalled due to faulty airbag systems and partial brake failure. McLaren will cover its 570S Spider with a three-year/unlimited-mile basic warranty, a ten-year/unlimited-mile corrosion warranty, a three-year/unlimited-mile drivetrain warranty, as well as a three-year roadside assistance plan.

There is no way the NHTSA or IIHS would ever crash test a McLaren, not only because it's an automotive work of art, but because they sell so few of them on US soil. McLaren offers basic safety features such as performance-tuned dynamic electronic stability control, traction control, cruise control, and a set of seriously powerful carbon-ceramic brakes front and back. The driver and passenger both get front and side airbags.

The supercar race has not been hotter, and every manufacturer that can is throwing its hat in for a slice of this lucrative pie. Ever since McLaren introduced the 12C, things have only gotten better, with the 540C bringing even more tech to the table, and finally, we have ended up with the 570S Spider, which loses its roof in exchange for a big helping of drama. The 570S, as with the hardtop version, is a full-blown supercar that offers breathtaking performance and drop-dead gorgeous looks but is also relatively easy to live with as far as supercars go. The carbon MonoCell structure gives the Spider great rigidity, and even with the added weight of the drop-top, you won't be able to tell the difference in performance between the convertible and the hardtop. We love how easy it is to drive this car fast, and think that the asking price is reasonable. All in all, McLaren has managed to build another great supercar.

If you ask, you can't afford it. The 2020 McLaren 570S Spider will cross the $200k mark with an asking price of $208,800. That is on par with the Audi R8 5.2-liter V10 performance quattro, and over $15,000 more than the regular coupe. With all optional packages ticked, the 570S Spider's asking price should get closer to the mid $200k mark.

Since there is only one model on offer, you don't really have any choice other than to look at the options list for some further customization. Perhaps it should be mentioned that we would go with the Spider over the regular coupe any day of the week. The experience you get from driving one of these high-performance vehicles at a high rate of speed with the roof missing is an experience that is hard to beat, and with negligible performance penalties, we don't see why all 570S models shouldn't be Spiders. If we had the bucks, we'd get one in Sarthe Grey with five twin-spoke lightweight forged alloy wheels. On the exterior, we'd also get the carbon fiber two pack, which adds carbon fiber to the aero blades, side skirts, and diffuser. We'd leave the infotainment system as standard but add front and rear parking sensors.

The R8 is Audi's one and only supercar and has been around long enough to earn a reputation as a slayer of higher-powered cars. The fact that Audi has kept the R8 naturally aspirated is just one of the few reasons why we love it. Under the engine, cover lurks a 5.2-liter V10 engine producing between 562 and 602 hp. The 5.2-liter V10 performance quattro will blast to sixty in the low three-second range, almost matching the McLaren. We like the Audi's handsome looks and the sonorous noise and performance offered by that V10 engine. The fact that the R8 is AWD doesn't detract from its driving fun and is dynamically as capable as the McLaren. On top of that, the Audi is even easier to live with than the 570S Spider. Some things to consider when looking to buy one of these is the heavy fuel consumption, lack of cargo space, and the fact that it's not the sharpest handling tool out there. We'd stick with the Brit.

The Mercedes-AMG range of GT cars are fire-breathing muscle cars from hell, and besides offering some of the best exhaust sounds around, these cars can stick with the best around the track too. The Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster packs a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 punch and delivers 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. Stomp on the gas pedal, and not only are you shot forward at hyper speed but you're also blessed with an exhaust note straight out of car heaven. We like the GT C's bold styling and the fact that it shares some of its tech with the hardcore GT R car. The interior is one of the best in class, and you also get impressive levels of standard features. As with the McLaren, there's limited practicality on offer, some tech such as the infotainment system is outdated, and the ride is seriously harsh. We'd go with the more nimble McLaren.