Naples+Illustrated+201812

56 NAPLES ILLUSTRATED

ESCAPE

We’re cruising for caffeine, hightailing it from Carmel, south of San

Fran, down the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur. Thirty-odd miles of ser-

pentine twists and turns. Frothy Pacific to the right, towering rock faces

to the left. We’ll be ready for that cappuccino on the deck at Nepenthe.

This should be a tourist sightseeing meander. Speedo stuck at 30,

ready to dive into every scenic overlook, prepared to stop and gaze in

awe at crashing waves and the marvel that is the Bixby Bridge. Not today.

PCH is our racetrack, and we’re here to carve curves. Fast, open sweep-

ers, pinch-tight rights and lefts. This is nothing less than an asphalt roller

coaster with lumbering RVs and dawdling Dodges to act as chicanes.

The stopwatch is ticking—not to measure zero to 60s, but to count

down three hours. That’s our time allocation to sample and tame one

of the world’s most thrilling, most re-

warding supercars money can buy: the

$211,300 McLaren 570S Spider.

This car has already won more acco-

lades than Game of Thrones at the Em-

mys. In particular, it’s garnered applause

for its laser-precise handling, slingshot

performance, and single-minded focus on slightness and agility. This

is arguably the most driver-centric convertible available. And now, it’s

time to find out what this screaming projectile is all about.

Press a hidden button and the swinging scissor door—deemed “di-

hedral” in McLaren speak—hinges upward. It’s a company trademark

that never fails to draw “oohs” and “aahs” from onlookers.

This is a low, low beast, so clambering in is never elegant. Yet drop-

ping down into the beautifully formfitting driver’s seat feels like en-

tering a fighter-jet cockpit. Only the oddly positioned seat controls

(they’re out of sight and nearly impossible to reach) detract from an

otherwise superb design.

Now for a party trick: Toggle a center console switch and the two-

piece composite top lifts, folds, and disappears. Gone in 15 seconds,

and at speeds of up to 25 mph. Mechanical ballet at its finest.

But enough with the features; the clock is ticking. It’s time to play. Prod

the start button, listen to the raw snarl of the 570’s mid-mounted 562-hp

POWER FILE

PRICE: FROM $211,300

ENGINE: 3.8-LITER TWIN-

TURBO V-8 POWER: 562

HP TORQUE: 443 LB-FT

TRANSMISSION: 7-SPEED

AUTOMATIC 0-60: 3.0

SECONDS TOP SPEED: 204

MPH LENGTH/WIDTH: 178/76

INCHES WEIGHT: 2,990

POUNDS WHY WE LOVE

IT: BECAUSE IT DELIVERS

A LEVEL OF OPEN-TOP-

DRIVING EXCITEMENT FEW

OTHERS CAN MATCH.

MCLAREN’s magical open-top

570S Spider takes the sports car

concept to the NEXT LEVEL

Fast and FURIOUS

HIGH ROAD

By Howard Walker