My FH5 Log: Black Swan Moments

The McLaren Sports Series, ranging from the 570S to the 620R, showed off its amazing capabilities on the track and the road. I'm excited to try out the best of this series in Forza Horizon 5.

Every great story has its beginning so it's best to start with the first of the Sports Series, the 570S.

Premiered at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, the McLaren 570S, the first of the British sportscar company's Sports Series, marks its entry into the luxury sports car market. As the smallest in the McLaren range, it slots below the larger 650S. Even though it is the smallest McLaren in the range, it still comes with the same 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine as the McLaren family tree but true to its name, it produces 570PS of power and 442lb-ft of torque. Apart from the performance, the 570S features a full carbon fiber chassis, resulting in a dry weight of 1,313kg and a power-to-weight ratio of 434PS per tonne. Following its launch, the Sports Series features additional variants aside from the 570S such as the less-powerful 540C coupe and the more cruise-worthy 570GT, which comes with road-tuned dynamics and a glass roof.

Throughout its half-decade lifespan, the McLaren Sports Series has spawned its hardcore versions such as the 600LT and its final salvo, the 620R.

The McLaren 600LT is a special car that has been designed to be both track-focused and road-legal. It's the third Longtail McLaren since the legendary F1 GTR and the 675LT. It's based on the 650S and is built with an engine capable of producing 592HP of power and 457lb-ft of torque. The 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine makes it capable of going from 0-60mph in less than 3 seconds and on to 204mph. Apart from the performance, the 600LT is 220 lbs lighter than the 570S. Some of the weight-saving measures employed include the addition of the signature Ultra-Lightweight Forged Alloy Wheel, Carbon Fiber Racing Seats, and a fixed rear wing. The luxury amenities of the 570S have been stripped out in the 600LT.

The McLaren 620R is the swan song of the McLaren Sports Series. Only 350 units of this street-legal beast were ever made, but sadly, one of them was destroyed by the Philippine government. This is a shame because this car was a beast. The 620R was made to be a more powerful version of the 570S GT4 racecar. It has a 3.8L V8 twin-turbo engine tuned to output 620PS, which allows it to reach a top speed of 200mph. This car is an absolute monster, and it's a shame that one of them was destroyed. What a waste.

With the streets of Guanajuato becoming my personal laboratory, it's time to see how much progress the McLaren Sports Series has made from the 570S to the 620R. Roll the tape.

And now the results...

570S - 1m04.114s

600LT - 1m01.445s

620R - 1m01.028s

Although a close shave, the 620R is the alpha of the Sports Series range.

The 620R is the ultimate McLaren Sports Series car. It's a track-focused beast with a lot of motorsport-inspired dynamics. It's the best of the best, but the story isn't over yet. We still need to see how the 620R matches up against the McLaren GT, the Sports Series' replacement. Let's see what happens.

The McLaren GT is a 2019 replacement for the 570GT, and it’s completely unlike any other McLaren supercar because it uses a new monocoque body developed specifically for it. It’s a hundred kilograms lighter than its closest rival, and it even has enough boot space to fit a golf bag. Add in a 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine that produces 620PS of power, and you have one impressive ride.

Both the 620R and the McLaren GT have the same power output but because the 620R is lighter and more agile compared to the road-oriented McLaren GT, I'd expect to be easy work in this little experiment I'm conducting at the Playa Azul village. Anyway, let's get on with it.

And now the results...

620R - 1m14.825s

McLaren GT - 1m18.629s

Swish. Nothing but counter.

From the 570S to the 620R, the McLaren Sports Series showed off its Black Swan Moments on the road and on the track. There's no doubt that the 620R is the ultimate McLaren Sports Series car. It's a track-focused beast with a lot of motorsport-inspired dynamics. It's the best of the best, and although the story has ended, it's worth revisiting every time.

Even in the afterlife, the black swan's dance is eternal.

Good night.

McLaren 570S Spider and New Alpine A110

Time to move on to the McLaren 570S because back when McLaren unveiled their baby McLaren, they wanted to make a decent rival to the Porsche 911 Turbo, the Audi R8, and the Lamborghini Huracan, and despite being the younger brother in the range, the 570S feels like every other McLaren I knew and you can keep driving this car as long as you want until you figure out its inner strength hidden beneath its carbon fiber body. Now, let's open the top on this newest addition.

2018 McLaren 570S Spider

This is the new 570S Spider and while it features all of the best bits and bobs from its hardtop equivalent, it even comes with a folding roof that allows drivers to close or open even in a middle of cruising speeds. Those who are familiar with its hardtop equivalents as well as its other variants such as the lesser 540C and the comfort-focused 570GT are quick to realize that while most of the baby McLarens under the Sport Series banner may not match the grunt of its bigger brothers, they all work perfectly well like what every exotic should be but what about the new open-top version?

First and foremost, it still comes with the same 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine from its hardtop equivalent that produces 570PS of power output but a word of warning however is that because this is the open-top version, you might expect this to be somewhat heavier than its hardtop version due to added rigidity and it is, only 46kg added on it so the performance will be slightly affected by it and as a result, 315km/h (196mph) of top speed, which is slightly slower than its hardtop equivalent.

Despite the added weight, the 570S Spider still behaves pretty much like its hardtop equivalent because its carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis won't give in to the added rigidity provided by its weather-resistant roof and other parts of it and as a result, it still handles like a dream and you can really go nuts with everytime while having the roof open to enjoy the better sound quality of its V8 engine, which is as silent as Hacksaw Ridge. It's surprisingly high-tech indeed, which is fine by McLaren standards but in the case of the less-knowledgeable driver, it can get a bit twitchy until he switches the default settings, wondering what might have been.

The 570S Spider is a wonderful open-top supercar to drive but what upsets you is the pricing as this car starts at £164,750 (Php 11.124M) but when you read through the list of optional extras, it's going to be as expensive as a Rolls Royce Phantom and it will be a total waste if you crash it by accident.

So, the pricing can really upset a man from buying this open-top McLaren but it can upset him more because of the added extras, really then the 570S Spider is a whack so if you're not in a mood for a supercar like this and prefer something a bit more casual, perhaps you'd be interested with this...

2018 Alpine A110

Yes, this is the legend reborn, this is the all-new Alpine A110 and like you and me, we are getting jealous to drive the revival of the legendary machine that made headlines in the world of rallying. With the styling that draws inspiration from the legend itself, the A110 is all about blending tradition with innovation and it comes with a wide array of features that will bring pleasure to the drivers.

Unlike the 570S, the A110 wasn't an intimidating car to drive especially what's under the hood is a newly-made 1.8-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces a maximum power output of 252hp and maximum torque of 320Nm. Because it weights about as similar as a Ford Fiesta, you'd get a power-to-weight ratio of 233hp:tonne, meaning this can do 0-100kph in 4.5 seconds, courtesy of its 7-speed DCT.

Because of being light, the A110 feels just right to drive in the corners and with its incredible aerodynamics, you can refer to the way it handles as trying to finish the Mijuku Dreamer song in EXPERT setting with a full combo. Also, you can take it to the city streets and it feels very civilized indeed. It's perfect for track days, it's perfect for grand touring, it's everything what a revived legend it should be.

However, there's a major problem ot the new A110; the cost. This car starts at 55,000 Euros (Php 3.3M) and you can't have one because it's already sold out. Don't worry though because by next year, more new A110 variants are coming at you so it's going to be a long wait before you get your hands on the new A110 you've always dreaming for. Sad face indeed.

So, what now? Well, since you can't get your hands on a new A110 until next year, it's best to make do with the 570S without the optional extras that will upset your briefcases full of money because between you and me, these cars are a challenge for the bravest because these cars are like songs in EXPERT or TECHNICAL setting with some random stuf to tap on because you will never know what kind of tricks these machines possess so watch out when you're behind the wheel of these beauties.

Photo: McLaren, Alpine Cars

Forza Motorsport 6: Lil Macintosh

We all enjoy driving some of the best cars McLaren offered in FM6 such as the legendary F1, the technological MP4-12C, the ultra-powerful P1, and the swift 650S. With the arrival of the baby McLaren, the 570S, via the T10 Select Car Pack in-game, we wonder how the little one lives up to the family tree even though they have the same bloodline between them.

But first, what's it all about the 570S? Premiered at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, the McLaren 570S, the first of the British sportscar company's Sports Series, marks its entry to the luxury sports car market. As the smallest in the McLaren range, it slots below the larger 650S.

Even though it is the smallest McLaren in the range, it still comes with the same 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine as the McLaren family tree but true to its name, it produces 570PS of power and 442lb-ft of torque. Apart from the performance, the 570S features a full carbon fiber chassis, resulting to a dry weight of 1,313kg and a power-to-weight ratio of 434PS per tonne.

Following its launch, the Sports Series feature additional variants aside from the 570S such as the less-powerful 540C coupe and the more cruise-worthy 570GT, which comes with road-tuned dynamics and a glass roof.

It may be the baby in the McLaren family tree but by the way it behaves, the 570S feels like every other McLaren I knew and to compensate for such a short power output in the range, its carbon fiber bodywork really makes it capable of flexing its muscles through the bends. It almost feels like an extreme track toy in so many levels and if you get the hang of it, the 570S might just be the McLaren you're falling in love with since the ultra-powerful P1 and the 650S. If you have the guts to understand how the 570S feels for you, you can keep driving this car as long as you want until you figure out its inner strength hidden beneath its carbon fiber body.

To demonstrate, I'm at Silverstone to try this baby McLaren and to find out if it's any good as any supercars get, I need a car capable of producing the same character as the 570S and I think I found something from the supercar history books.

As you can see here, I am rejoined by my old friend, the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, and even though they produce similar power output, the 570S has the upper hand due to its lightweight body and chassis but because the Gallardo's four-wheel drive feels like this car wants a little "come get some" in a posthumous manner. Of course, the Gallardo's already replaced by the Huracan but its reputation as the baby Lambo that slots below its V12 brother can never be forgotten. Okay, let's start the battle, shall we?


The results: The Gallardo did it in 2:28.971 while the 570S did it in 2:26.232, around two seconds quicker. Not bad for a baby McLaren, though.

And there you have it, despite its youth, the new McLaren 570S is a well-matured supercar that is primed and ready to take on even the most mature of supercars the world has thrown at it and with this car ready to take on the world, the 570S is a prime specimen that is ready to follow the footsteps of the 650S and the P1 from the McLaren lineage. Welcome to the family.

Ferrari 488 GTB vs. McLaren 570S

Meet the two new prime specimens in the supercar league; first up, there's Ferrari's brand new replacement to the already perfect 458 Italia, the 488 GTB. Then, in the McLaren side, the much accessible but soon to be a classic 570S. With two new cars already arrived at the hearts of many car enthusiasts, everyone's going to be extra jealous, wishing they want to have a go in one of these.

2016 McLaren 570S

2016 Ferrari 488 GTB

First, let's take a look at the Ferrari 488 GTB, the latest replacement to the 458 Italia. At first glance, it looks nearly identical to the old 458 but with the LaFerrari-inspired nose, you can't really tell the difference between them. On the inside, it remains the same old Ferrari lunacy because there are buttons hidden in the back of the steering wheel, which makes the driver harder to memorize where the windscreen wipers or the headlights or any other stuff are. 

The inside job wasn't the least of the problem here because under the hood lies a newly developed 4.0L Twin Turbo V8 engine and before you can say sacrilege, this powertrain makes the 488 the first turbocharged mid-engined Ferrari since the legendary F40, which means it's got form. When you get the car running, you will notice how weak the exhaust note is unlike the sound from the 458. Despite all the turbocharging involved that resulted to its 670PS of power output (more than what you get from the Lamborghini Huracan and the McLaren 650S), you will still notice a faint hearing of the exhaust notes. Sounds good but there's no hint of snarling like most supercars do.

While you're still moaning about the noise of the 488's V8 twin turbo engine makes, you should know that with all that power and the Formula One-inspired 7-speed double clutch gearbox, the new 488 goes from 0-100kph in less than three seconds and onwards to over 330kph. This is a definite point why Ferrari still is the king of the supercar realm and whoever tries to dethrone it, will dethrone its rivals in retaliation.

With all that retaliation against McLaren's 650S and Lamborghini's Huracan, its Formula One-inspired dynamics really employed in the 488, delivering a racecar-like feel when used on the track and as a result, this is probably one of the best V8-powered Ferraris to drive if you're not complaining how weak the new V8's noise is.

Now what about McLaren's new baby supercar, the 570S? Well, this is the baby McLaren everyone's talking about and it slots below the 650S in the lineup. It still has McLaren's 3.8L V8 Twin Turbo engine but it produces a titular 570PS of power and 600Nm of torque. It will do 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds and onwards to 328kph, two less than the 488, but let's remember that the 570S weighs 57kg less than the 488,

When you pit these two in a drag race, you will see that it's going to be a close one between the McLaren and the Ferrari. And if by close one, I mean of course, an exciting one presumably.

What about dynamics? Well, with all the race-inspired tech that embraced most McLarens for decades, the 570S is no-brainer. It sure loves to slice through corners like a sharp scalpel with surgical precision and when it comes to fun, well, it's not half bad to have one a go. It maybe not as sharp as its big brother, the 650S, but for a baby McLaren, the 570S loves to rise from the challenges set by the track gods. Despite looking shoddy in terms of design, the 570S is a serious performer on the road and on the track. With all that tech implied, this feels like it's set from the futuristic world.

So, do you have a choice between those two? Well, for a recap, both the 488 and the 570S are well honed on the track thanks to its motorsports roots implied but because decisions can be as complicated as your social status quo, it's up to the drivers to decide which one is the best but under Ferrari's right, best to aware that the 488 holds no substitutes because Ferrari knows there's no turning back now when it comes to retaliate against the supercar oppositions.