New McLaren GTS brings uprated V8 and sheds weight

Chief among the tweaks is the refinement of the optional nose lift system, which raises the front end of the car by 20mm to provide a saloon-like ground clearance of 130mm. The GTS takes 4.0sec to fully lift or drop the nose – more than twice as quickly as the GT.

The hydraulic power steering – a notable strong suit of the GT – has been given a GTS-specific set-up, claimed to provide class-leading feel. As before, it ramps up assistance at low speeds, to ease tricky manoeuvres. 

McLaren has also liberated an extra 14bhp from the GT’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8, meaning it now outputs 626bhp in total. Power delivery is unchanged, peaking at 7500rpm, while maximum torque remains 465lb ft from 5500-6500rpm.

The GTS is 10kg less than the GT, with a kerb weight of 1520kg.

The result is what McLaren claims to be a best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 412bhp per tonne. For reference, a Bentley Continental GT V8 packs 254bhp per tonne, while the Porsche 911 Turbo S delivers 396bhp per tonne.

In turn, the GTS has slightly greater accelerative urge than the GT: its 0-62mph sprint time is cut by 0.1sec to 3.2sec.

The interior has been kept largely as before. There are new trim and material combinations, but infotainment is provided by the same 7.0in infotainment touchscreen as the GT.

McLaren has yet to reveal the pricing of the GTS, but it is expected to be slightly more than the £167,560 asked for the outgoing GT.