The 2021 McLaren GT is one of the brand’s newest offerings, featuring a high horsepower engine, new technology, and an exquisitely luxurious cabin. This performance missile on wheels wasn’t just designed to go fast in a straight line, either, as it handles just as nimble and controlled around corners and turns at high speeds as long-standing icons on the track, such as a Lotus. There are several facets of this McLaren supercar that allow it to handle so well with as much power as it offers, and all of them must be perfectly balanced to provide for such an impressive driving experience.

How much power does the 2021 McLaren GT make?

The 2021 McLaren GT doesn’t just focus on power, it also balances its power-to-weight ratio with its surprisingly lightweight design. Under the rear hatch — as the car is mid-engine — is a 4.0 liter V8 boosted by a twin turbocharger system that offers 612 bhp, 465 lb-ft of torque to the wheels and an impressive top speed of 203 mph. The supercar is capable of going from 0 – 62 mph in a mere 3.2 seconds, which is still slower than the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S but impressive nonetheless. What gives this roadster a major advantage isn’t just that it offers plenty of power, but also that it can handle that power well around corners and turns, which isn’t true of every car. The total curb weight of the vehicle is only 3,373 lbs, which is relatively light for a GT car.

Weight distribution and performance

Weight distribution in a vehicle does a lot to affect the performance. This is why you see most supercars with the engine placed behind the driver — the engine is one of the heaviest components of a vehicle, and the placement within a vehicle can make a major difference. While the 2021 McLaren GT itself is a proportionally light vehicle, where the weight is placed is just as important as how much the vehicle weighs. By places the engine behind the driver, the car is able to maximize traction and handle around corners and turns more efficiently than sports cars with engines in the front of the vehicle.

How much does the 2021 McLaren GT cost?

There is no doubt that the 2021 McLaren GT took extensive engineering and design to produce a car with such high horsepower that can handle as well as it does, and that doesn’t come cheap. The GT has an impressively high starting MSRP price of $210,000 from the manufacturer, and that only goes up with the inclusion of luxury features, technology, and performance packages. If you’ve ever gotten behind the wheel of this machine, there is no doubt that it’s worth the money, even at such a high price. Today, even used McLarens go for a high price, with the most affordable McLaren, the MP4-12C, ranging from $80,000 to well over $100,000 even after a few years and with high mileage.