Choosing our top two was straightforward. The judges were unanimous:
the GT4 and the 600LT. Picking a winner was more complicated. We were
split: Pulman and old Mr Green chose the McLaren, Chilton and young Mr
Taylor the Porsche. Only after a heated discussion, on a cold mountain-top
in Snowdonia, did we reach a verdict.
I initially fancied the Porsche’s chances as I steered it from west London
to north Wales. Only the squealing-when-cold optional carbon brakes
betrayed its track focus. On snaking Snowdonian B-roads, the GT4 is
breathtaking. It’s small and, comparatively, light – though at 1420kg a little
beefier than the old GT4. Its suspension is superbly damped, without the
fuss and fidget of the big Lambo. Over camber changes, bumps, brows, dips
and sheep dung, it feels superbly planted, always digging in its heels rather
than dancing on its toes. Steering precision is wonderful, guided by a lovely
alcantara-rimmed three-spoker, red-banded for straight-ahead.
Its chassis is superb. But it was the powertrain that almost won this
test for the GT4. The big 4.0-litre flat-six revs crisply and triumphantly
to 8000rpm – hear the roar! – and punches hard all the way through the
range, especially north of 4000rpm. Like all good naturally aspirated
engines, it does what you want, when you want, always predictable, always
responsive. Its 414bhp is quite enough, as is its 0-62 of 4.4 seconds.
Plus its finger-light-fast, short-throw manual ’box is a lovely shift
mechanism. And the key word is mechanism. This Porsche is a deeply
mechanical machine. That engine roar, the feel of the gears meshing, the
meaty steering. This elevates the on-road experience. Electronics numb
driving pleasure.
So the GT4 is wonderful. Take into account price – just over £75,000
before plentiful options – and there is an easy winner in value for money.
But it can’t beat the McLaren. As Pulman and Chilton noted, there is a
tremendous sense of occasion in vaulting its big carbon sill and settling
into the deep shoulder-caressing carbon race seat, little black steering
wheel positioned just-so. ‘It’s like being at the wheel of an LMP2 racer,’ says
Chilton. The Spider roof adds an open-air dimension, and it’s always nice
to be kissed by the sun. Plus, this Spider is every bit as good dynamically as
its coupé brother.
Move off and little stones fusillade the underside of the carbon tub,
rat-tat-tat, and you’re instantly aware of the car’s composure, and just
how sweet and true is its steering, light yet full of feel and always so linear.
The ride is supple, especially in Normal mode, and the LT is unaffected by
the dips and bumps. It powers peerlessly on, like a high-speed jet slicing
through a storm. Nobody does ride, handling and steering better than
McLaren, the Lotus of the 21st century.
There is an obsessive driver focus about the way the interior is config-
ured – from a perfect straight-ahead driving position, driver seated closer
to the centre line than rivals, to inherent visibility.
Explore the power, and you’re clearly in a different league from the half-
the-price GT4. The Cayman is sweet – this is explosive. Its thunderous
twin-turbo V8 bellows through the top-exiting cannon exhausts (such a
wonderful detail). There’s all the power and aural drama you could possi-
bly want. And yet, the engine always feels a touch utilitarian: built to do
a job rather than mesmerise and enchant. Lamborghini’s V10 has similar
numbers but beats the McLaren’s V8 on feel, sound, response and revability.
The 600LT’s power is perfectly judged: 592bhp is just right for a supercar
of this capability. It’s usable in small doses on the finest roads, and control-
lable on the circuit, the 600LT’s ideal haunt. You also don’t need to be Lewis
Hamilton to go hard and enjoy. And enjoy you will. This is a wonderful car- single-seater agile, blindingly fast, richly entertaining, precise and so very
composed. It’s a worthy winner of our Sports Car Giant Test 2019.
The
greatest
driver’s
car of
2019 is...
the verdict t h e
scgt 2019
champ
Sports Car Giant Test 2019OCTOBER 2019 | carmagaZiNe.cO.UK 103By gaviN greeN