The second member of McLaren’s Sports Series lineup, the 540C Coupé, has been introduced at the Shanghai Auto Show as the most affordable McLaren yet.
Essentially a detuned 570S Coupé with more focus on day-to-day road driving, the new model is powered by the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine which produces 540PS (533hp) at 7,500 rpm and 540Nm (398lb-ft) of torque between 3,500 and 6,500 rpm. That’s enough for a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint of 3.5 seconds (0.3 seconds slower than the 570S), 0 to 200km/h (124mph) in just 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph).
The 7-speed seamless shift gearbox (SSG) combined with the standard stop-start technology work together for a combined fuel consumption of 25.5 mpg UK (11 l/100 km or 21.2 mpg US) on the EU cycle and CO2 emissions of 258 g/km.
The new entry-level McLaren features the same carbon fiber MonoCell II chassis from the 570S but sports a subtly revised aerodynamic package and a dedicated wheel design. The alloy wheels are available with silver or stealth finish in 19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the rear.
The interior features leather upholstery for the seats, dashboard and lower doors as standard, while the “floating” center console is equipped with a seven-inch IRIS touchscreen which controls all elements of the infotainment system, including the air conditioning controls.
Unlike the Asia-only 625C, the 540C Coupé will be globally available and will have a starting price of £126,000 ($188,330) in the UK. The model can be pre-ordered now with deliveries scheduled for early 2016.
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