At the heart of the McLaren 600LT lies a mid-mounted 3.8L V8 engine fed by two turbochargers. It's the same engine that powers most of McLaren's other cars; in the 600LT it makes 592 horsepower. That power is sent to the rear-wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. That's 30 more horsepower than is produced by McLaren 570S and 570GT, two cars that share their chassis with the 600LT.
In addition to that extra horsepower, the 600LT also gets a fair number of styling and chassis tweaks, including a bunch of extra carbon fiber bodywork. This means that the 600LT also weighs less than the cars it's based on, with McLaren claiming 220 lbs of weight savings over the 570S. Additional exterior tweaks include a bigger, fixed spoiler and top mounted exhaust pipes which not only look and sound cool, but also blow additional air over that larger spoiler. Underneath, the 600LT gets forged aluminum suspension components based on those used in the more expensive 675LT. The brakes are also from McLaren's Super Series, with carbon ceramic rotors all around vs the steel units typically seen on the 570S and 570GT.
McLaren street cars have always been incredibly fast. However, McLaren also likes to emphasize that they design their cars to be very drivable every day on the street. This starts with suspension tuning that offers a better than expected ride and continues with a cockpit that's full of soft touch materials and the latest electronic goodies. Interiors can be covered in either lightweight Alcantara or luxurious Nappa Leather, though plenty of exposed carbon fiber tastefully makes its way into the interior as well, while a 12-speaker Bowers and Wilkins stereo is also available as an option. Satellite-based navigation and air-conditioning can be deleted at no cost by the customer if they want to save weight, and the whole cockpit has a simple, yet comfortable feel to it, with many of the controls relegated to a 7.0-inch touchscreen in the center console.
Exceptional Handling
Incredible Straight-line Speed
Exotic Looks
Track-ready Suspension, Tires And Brakes
Easy To Drive On The Street
Available As A Convertible
The McLaren 600LT is a brand-new car from the company for the 2019 model year. McLaren divides their model lineup into three basic categories: the Ultimate Series, the Super Series and the Sports Series, each with slightly less performance than the last and with prices decreasing accordingly. The 600LT then, is a member of the Sports series and thus costs less and offers a little less horsepower than anything in the Super or Ultimate Series. However, within the Sports Series, the 600LT is top dog, making more horsepower than either the 570S or the 570GT, while also getting a more track focused suspension and a few styling tweaks to increase downforce.
The McLaren 600LT has a base price of around $240,000 and though McLaren categorizes the car as part of the Sport Series rather than the Super Series, at this price, with this kind of performance and looks, the 600LT firmly qualifies as a supercar. It only looks like a mere sports car when compared to other (more expensive and faster) McLarens. The Porsche 911 GT2 has a bit more power but doesn't look nearly as exotic and is more expensive. The Ferrari 488 GTB offers similar performance to the McLaren, but is also significantly more expensive. And while the Lamborghini Huracan is cheaper, it weighs far more than the McLaren 600LT and doesn't handle as well. The McLaren 600LT occupies a nice sweet spot in offering an incredibly focused driving experience as well as truly exotic looks at a price that is a relatively good value among supercars.