Entry-level McLaren 540C Coupe debuts in Shanghai

McLaren 540C Coupe-01

McLaren has unveiled its most attainable car yet at the 2015 Shanghai Motor Show. The McLaren 540C Coupe joins the recently revealed 570S Coupe as the second model in the company’s new Sports Series.

As its name suggests, the 540C is powered by an engine with 540 PS at 7,500 rpm and 540 Nm of torque from 3,500 to 6,500 rpm. It’s the same mid-mounted 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 found in the 570S, but that one has 570 PS and 600 Nm. McLaren chose to equip the 540C with stop-start for better efficiency and a longer range “suited to the typical usage of cars in this segment” – not just a track toy, this one’s for the real world.

Power is delivered through the rear wheels via a seven-speed seamless shift gearbox (SSG) which, aided by the low weight of the 540C, sees the 0 to 100 km/h sprint completed in 3.5 seconds, and on to a top speed of 320 km/h. That’s just slightly slower than the 570S’ 3.2 seconds and 328 km/h. Performance considered, 9 km/l on the European combined cycle is pretty good.

McLaren 540C Coupe-06

A subtly revised aero package and a unique cast alloy wheels (sliver or stealth finish, 19-inch front, 20-inch at the back) mark out the 540C Coupe. Unique aero blades below the front bumper channel air through the lower bodywork and up over the sculpted bonnet, flanked by large LED headlamps. At the rear, the diffuser sits between the twin exhausts which exit below the rear bumper.

Also aerodynamically-led are the dihedral doors with floating tendons. This design feature channels air along the length of the door into the two integrated air intakes mounted in the rear quarter panel. This creates a clean path, directing air to the flying buttresses at the rear of the cabin. An integrated spoiler at the trailing edge of the rear deck adds downforce.

The 540C features a newly-developed suspension system. It uses front and rear anti-rollbars, F1-style dual wishbones and independent adaptive dampers. The damper tuning has been revised with more focus on day-to-day road driving. Adaptive dampers offer control over bump and rebound settings using the familiar Normal, Sport and Track handling settings. The 540C also retains the F1-derived Brake Steer system, designed to aid cornering through the application of braking force to the inside rear wheel.

Globally available and priced from £126,000 (RM684,086 in the UK), the 540C Coupe can be pre-ordered now with deliveries scheduled to start in early 2016. We’re expecting news from McLaren Kuala Lumpur in the near future.

GALLERY: McLaren 540C Coupe


GALLERY: McLaren 570S Coupe

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Sam L0rrrr on Apr 20, 2015 at 11:59 am

    Our 10th generation LFA will beat this 540C in time.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 23
    • Khaisan on Apr 20, 2015 at 1:52 pm

      Yours LFA? Since when you sell Lexus? Come on… your level just toyota… forever toyota level

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
    • Same L0rrrr on Apr 20, 2015 at 2:04 pm

      For a lot of Proton owners, they are alreadying drive this 540C Coupe.

      You do need certain skill of day dreaming to cope with Proton quality.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • shawal on Apr 20, 2015 at 12:01 pm

    Pocket rocket…
    Desirability is off the scale…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • PeterGriffin on Apr 20, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    9km/l? This car sips less fuel than Proton Exora. Damn. I’m guessing McLaren Malaysia will sell this for RM1.5mil each.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 4
    • apple2apple on Apr 20, 2015 at 1:14 pm

      Pity it cannot ferry 7 people at a time. If still die die want, the rest would be on the boot or hood. Lol

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  • Jonn Dol on Apr 20, 2015 at 12:12 pm

    Mclaren’s answer to Mercedes AMG GT.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • RIP Porsche 911

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • spongewai on Apr 20, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    1 model 6 variants

    540S
    570S
    625C
    650S
    675S
    675S ZZLT

    another model call P1 but got 2 variants

    P1 standard
    P1 GTR

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • spongewai on Apr 20, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    1 model 6 variants

    540S
    570S
    625C
    650S
    675S
    675S LT

    another model call P1 but got 2 variants

    P1 standard
    P1 GTR

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • Josh Ling on Apr 20, 2015 at 3:26 pm

      can someone enlighten me on the difference between 540C and 570S please?? The only difference i can spot is the rim design.

      Sometimes can be really frustrated about the design of European cars. can’t they just put more differentiation between the models? family look doesn’t mean that everyone should be twins or triplets or quadruplets….

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
      • Besides the horsepower, this has slightly softer suspension and stop-start system. The reduced horsepower also adds efficiency and thus range.

        It is also probably cheaper and only available in Asia.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • so? what about the 911?

      Carrera
      Carrera S
      Carrera GTS
      Carerra 4
      Carrera 4S
      Carrera 4 GTS
      Targa 4
      Targa 4S
      Targa 4 GTS
      Turbo
      Turbo S
      GT3
      GT3 RS….

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
    • guess what? McLaren entire range of cars is using the same basic 3.8 liter v8 engine.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Yours Faithfully (Member) on Apr 20, 2015 at 12:59 pm

    Hmm…. McLaren 540C or BMW i8??? Decisions decision decisions…..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
  • Gracke on Apr 20, 2015 at 1:23 pm

    Truly…madly…beautiful!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Gracke on Apr 20, 2015 at 2:40 pm

    Truely…madly…beautiful!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • In my opinion, i would choose the 911…. Its more awesome looking and just epic… While this car just looks boring… But still, give me a chance to get this car, sure, why not?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
    • Bulleh on Apr 21, 2015 at 9:01 am

      In my opinion, I would not choose 911 series for its front super boring recycled design..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • 458 italia over this anytime

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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