McLaren has introduced the new 540C, its most affordable model yet, at the
Shanghai Auto Show. It completes the two-car lineup in the McLaren Sports
Series, along with the recently introduced
570S.
These introductions bring the number of new McLarens launched in 2015 to four as
the brand continues its rapid growth.
The 540C Coupé can be pre-ordered now with deliveries scheduled to being in
early 2016. It will be globally available and priced from 126,000 GBP in the
United Kingdom, which is $183,000 at today's exchange rates, but the car is
expected to be priced around $130,000 in the US.
The 540C Coupé is fitted with a mid-mounted 3.8-liter twin turbocharged V8
engine mated to a 7-speed transmission. As its name suggests, the Sports Series
dedicated application of the power unit generates 533 hp (540 PS) at 7,500 rpm
and 398 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque at 3,500-6,500 rpm.
At the heart of the 540C, as with the 570S, is the unique carbon fiber MonoCell
II chassis which has been newly designed with a greater focus on day-to-day
usability, offering improved ingress to and egress from the cabin. A dry weight of as low as 2,890 lb
(1,311 kg) is achieved as a result of this lightweight structure and the use of
aluminum body panels. This figure sees the 540C almost 330 lb (150 kg) lighter
than its closest competitor.
Revised Aerodynamics Package
A subtly revised aerodynamic package and a dedicated wheel design mark out the
540C Coupé against the more powerful 570S Coupé. Unique aero blades below the
front bumper channel cold, clean air through the lower bodywork and up over the
sculpted bonnet, flanked by large LED headlamps. At the rear, the diffuser sits
between the twin exhausts which exit below the rear bumper. The
aerodynamically-led styling of the Sports Series Coupé includes intricately
designed dihedral doors which include the elegant floating door tendon. This
design feature channels air along the length of the door into the two integrated
air intakes mounted in the rear quarter panel.
The 540C Coupé is fitted with distinctive new cast alloy wheels, available with
silver or stealth finish, 19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the rear.
Interior Design
The interior of the Sports Series has been created with a focus on space and
ergonomics.
The 540C Coupé is luxuriously appointed with leather upholstery to the seats,
dashboard and lower doors as standard. The 'floating' center console features a
seven-inch IRIS touchscreen which controls all elements of the infotainment
system. The air conditioning controls are also incorporated, as first seen on
the McLaren P1, minimizing switchgear in the cabin. The touchscreen also
controls the standard DAB digital radio, as well as satellite navigation,
Bluetooth telephony and media streaming, voice activation and the audio media
player.
New Suspension System
The 2016 McLaren 540C features a newly-developed suspension system which uses
front and rear anti-rollbars Formula 1- style dual wishbones and independent
adaptive dampers. The damper tuning has been revised on 540C, over 570S, with
more focus on day-to-day road driving. Adaptive dampers offer control over bump
and rebound settings using the familiar McLaren 'Normal', 'Sport' and 'Track'
handling settings, with the Sports Series having its own unique damper settings.
In 'Normal' mode, the system provides a refined yet engaging ride, while the
'Sport' and 'Track' settings allow a greater level of focus and engagement when
required. Twin damper valves ensure precise control, while dual wishbone
suspension provides optimized levels of ride quality and driver feedback.
