The British carmaker McLaren has launched the 540C Coupe at the ongoing Shanghai Motor Show. Deemed to be the most affordable McLaren ever, the 540C will be the second member in the Sport Series lineup, placed below the 570S. In comparison, the 540C will come with a "subtly revised aerodynamic package" and a new wheel design (19-inchers at the front and 20-inch ones at the rear, shod with Pirelli P Zero tyres as standard). It, the "most attainable" McLaren till date, continues with dihedral doors and flying buttresses as seen on the McLaren 570S.
On the inside, the car has the floating dashboard akin the 570S and leather upholstery. The interior also boasts a seven-inch ‘IRIS’ infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and GPS navigation.
The mid-engined car is powered by 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8 that makes 540PS at 7,500 rpm (hence the name) and 540Nm of torque, which is mated to a seven-speed SSG (seamless shift gearbox) transmission, sending the power to the rear wheels. Headline figures include a 0-100 km/h time of 3.5 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 10.5 seconds, and a top speed of 320 km/h.
The suspension setup is said to be retuned for a better everyday driving experience, while the company claims that, at 1,311 kg (dry weight), the 540C is about 150kg lighter than its closest competitor. The light weight comes thanks to the carbon fibre chassis and the use of aluminium in the vehicle’s body panels.
With deliveries scheduled to begin next year, the car is available for purchase with prices starting at £126,000. The company is present in more than 30 countries, but unfortunately, India isn’t one of them, yet.
