Now that McLaren has entered the world of luxurious grand tourers with their new GT, they’re going to have to deal with customers who are also considering the likes of the Bentley Continental GT and the Aston Martin DB11 as posh solutions for their daily commute.
Because of its sheer size, we’re going to strike the Bentley from this discussion, focusing instead on the Aston Martin DB11, which is arguably the McLaren GT’s biggest competitor at the moment.
Which one looks better?
Naturally, this is up to all of you to decide. Objectively speaking, they feature two, very different design languages, both of which use dynamic lines, muscular fenders, aggressive stances and elegant angles. Also, both cars stay true to their respective automaker’s identity as far as styling is concerned. That means the McLaren GT looks more like a stretched out version of one of their regular Sports Series models, rather than a luxury coupe first, and a supercar second, a category in which the DB11 clearly falls, as do models like the Continental GT and the BMW 8-Series.
The McLaren GT measures 184.4 inches (4,683 mm) in length, 47.8 inches (1,213 mm) in height, is 82.5 inches (2,095 mm) wide and its wheelbase stretches for 105.3 inches (2,675 mm). The Aston Martin on the other hand is a little longer and taller, yet isn’t as wide, with 186.5 inches (4,739 mm) in length, 76.3 inches (1,940 mm) in width, 50.3 inches (1,279 mm) in height and a 110.4 inch (2,805 mm) wheelbase.
Also read: Show Us What Your Dream McLaren GT Looks Like On Its Online Configurator
The DB11 is also considerably heavier, with the V8 version weighing in at 4,045 lbs (1,835 kg) and the V12 model at 4,299 lbs (1,950 kg). The McLaren; on the other hand, tips the scales at just 3,384 lbs (1,535 kg), and that’s with all the fluids and a full tank of gas. So in a way, it’s a different type of beast, albeit one that is gunning for the DB11’s job.
Which one is more luxurious?
Another one of the McLaren’s party tricks is its stupendous combined luggage capacity, rated at 20.1 cu.ft (570 liters). It has 14.8 cu.ft (420 liters) at the rear and a further 5.3 cu.ft (150 liters) inside the frunk. The front-engined Aston Martin meanwhile has only 9.5 cu.ft (270 liters) at its disposal.
Speaking of interiors, the GT is McLaren’s most luxurious model ever, featuring high-quality materials, as well as the automaker’s most sophisticated infotainment system to date. Visually, the GT’s dashboard seems less cluttered than the DB11’s, however the former doesn’t have any steering wheel-mounted controls, which may look elegant, but isn’t particularly practical nowadays.
Which one goes faster?
The new McLaren GT is powered by a 4.0-liter twin turbocharged V8 engine, putting down 612 HP (620 PS) and 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) of torque. It can accelerate to 60 mph (96 km/h) from a standstill in just 3.1 seconds, before maxing out at 203 mph (326 km/h).
Now, you can buy an Aston Martin DB11 with either a V8 engine or a V12, although we regret to inform you that neither of these options will help you keep up with the McLaren off the line. The AMG-sourced twin turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine of the Aston is good for 503 HP (510 PS) and 513 lb-ft (695 Nm) of torque, propelling you to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 187 mph (301 km/h). The twin turbo 5.2-liter V12 option produces 600 HP (608 PS) and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque, for an identical 0-60 time as the V8’s, and a top speed of 200 mph (321 km/h).
Pricing
The new McLaren GT has a starting MSRP of $210,000 in the U.S. which is just a bit more than the Aston Martin DB11 ($201,495), depending on which engine configuration you opt for. Either way, it’s pretty much the same ballpark, which means that choosing a winner should come down to factors such as styling, performance, practicality and badge recognition.
Which way are you leaning towards?