My FH5 Log: Bottom-dollar Papayas

Racing is McLaren's religion. Every racing disciple from Le Mans to Formula 1 is part of McLaren's daily routine. So are the supercars that made them. When McLaren created cars like the comfort-oriented McLaren GT and the V6 PHEV powerhouse Artura, how did these cars affect McLaren's reputation?

Well, that's for me to find out. These bottom-dollar papayas from the McLaren fleet may not be as well-known as its greatest hits, like the 720S and the Senna, but when it comes to performance, they are in a class of their own.

The McLaren GT is a serious super grand tourer that's all about refinement on the road. It's separate from every other McLaren supercar because it uses its own monocoque body structure developed specifically for this car. It's also a hundred kilograms lighter than its closest rival and can accommodate up to 570 liters of boot space. Under the hood, the McLaren GT uses a specially-made 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine producing 620PS of power and 630Nm of torque. Mated to a 7-speed SSG transmission, it can do 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 203mph.

The McLaren Artura is the company's first V6-powered PHEV supercar. It injects most of its motorsport know-how into the making of this unorthodox machine. The 3.0L V6 Twin Turbo engine is mated to an axial flux motor and a refrigerant-cooled Li-ion battery producing 680PS of power and 720Nm of torque. Mated to an 8-speed SSG, it sprints from 0-60mph in three seconds and has a top speed of 205mph. Running on electricity alone, it can go for as little as 19 miles. Aside from the performance, the Artura has near-perfect weight distribution courtesy of its carbon bodywork, front double wishbone, multi-link rear, Proactive Damping Control, electro-hydraulic power-assisted steering, Carbon Ceramic Discs, forged aluminum brake calipers, and specially-developed Pirelli P-ZERO tires. It even comes with a Variable Drift Control that can adjust its drifting angle.

To see which of the bottom-dollar papayas was the superior one, I went to the main festival site to conduct this unnecessary experiment. Let's roll the tape!

And here are the results...

McLaren GT - 1m12.973s

Artura - 1m09.620s

The Artura is better than the McLaren GT. While the McLaren GT's comfort-oriented dynamics are out of character on the track, the Artura still packs McLaren's racing DNA even in its unorthodox powertrain. It's no wonder the Artura was chosen for GT4 Class duty.

McLaren's GT and Artura are considered "bottom-dollar Papayas" in the McLaren fleet. However, both cars performed well on the track, showcasing their potential to be part of the fleet.

Well, now that my quick log about the two unsung papayas is over, it's time for my little aftershow where the McLaren GT and the Artura are taking centerstage and with that, it's off to the dressing room floor!

Miss Amane Sumeragi, you're off to the Secret Garden! It looks like my McLaren GT is ready for its Eternal Revue.

Rinrin Shinomiya is a member of AISMIRIN and Quartet STAR, and her specialty is data analysis. Since driving the Artura can be as much fun as wrestling a brown bear, I've brought her in to analyze the data from my test drive. If her data is accurate, we're in for a long run. Wow, looks like I've completed the Quartet STAR design collection. Why not take a look at them sometime?

Donning their respective roles that match their dynamics, the two McLarens are ready to tackle two EventLab masterpieces. The McLaren GT takes on another re-enactment of a certain racetrack from a certain racing game while the Artura takes on an EventLab re-enactment of the Road Course segment of Mobility Resort Motegi. Take it from Rinrin, she has studied these EventLab creations completely, and looks like we're good to go. VTR, start!

Eternal Revue or Bear Bear Bear? Amane or Rinrin? Which one will you go for?

The McLaren GT and the Artura are already worthy of respect, but recent updates will make them even more praiseworthy. These updates will enhance their performance and handling, making them even more fun to drive.

Looking forward to more from these "bottom-dollar" papayas.

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 GT

McLaren has been wowing the modern supercar scene for almost a decade with the Sports Series, the Super Series, and the Ultimate Series. Now, the British supercar maker is trying to rewrite the rules by creating their dedicated grand tourer that is more on comfort and more on manners, well almost. Say hello to the first-ever McLaren GT, a grand touring McLaren made for casual driving in mind.

2020 McLaren GT

Priced at around 163,000 Pounds unless some optional extras from the pricelist will hike it further, the new McLaren GT is a serious super grand tourer that is all about refinement on the road rather than being a racy supercar with some F1 knowhow involved underneath it. 

Of course, most McLaren people said that they've already made a grand tourer in the form of the 570GT but the new GT serves as the replacement for the 570GT, and judging by the customer feedback, the McLaren GT is taking shape with its perfect balance of style and performance suitable for the gentleman driver rather than the average speedo boy in the neighborhood.

Beginning with the styling, the exterior of the McLaren GT can be easily confused with the Ferrari F430 because the front looks like it of course, whereas the back of it is nothing much to say for sure. Despite that, the GT's styling fits rather well for its grand tourer status as well as the well-crafted interior and some luggage space suitable for the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

The McLaren GT is separate from every other McLaren supercar because it uses its own monocoque body structure developed specifically for this car. Not only a hundred kilograms lighter than its closest rival but it can accommodate up to 570 litres of boot space on both sides. Under the hood, the McLaren GT uses a specially-made 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine producing 620PS of power and 630Nm of torque. Mated to a 7-speed SSG transmission, it can do 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 203mph. Not as fast as a Ferrari 812 but this is surprisingly quick for grand tourer standards.

Although the dynamics are focused solely on comfort in mind because the suspension, steering, and brakes are made specifically for this car, that doesn't stop drivers from taking it to a track like every Super Grand Tourer does because why not? Not only it can enjoy some leisure trips on the road but it can also do some laps on track even though it wasn't made to do so. It may be a grand tourer but it's still a McLaren and you'll have plenty of reasons to fall in love with it.

It's easy to fall in love with the first-ever McLaren GT from start to finish because while it wasn't quick enough to beat any supercar on track, it's worth stimulating to drive on the open roads. McLaren really pulled off the grand touring stint after the 570GT experience years ago and now, we're getting jealous to have one.

Photo: McLaren Automotive