The engineering secret behind McLaren's ultra-lightweight convertible roof
In short: Adding a folding hardtop to a supercar usually requires massive structural reengineering. Yet, the McLaren 570S Spider achieved its convertible form with only 46 kg of added weight. The secret lies in a specific structural choice that allowed the roof to fold without compromising the car's core integrity.
The McLaren 570S was designed to balance high-performance capabilities with day-to-day usability. While it shares a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine with the 650S and P1, the 570S features a unique carbon monocell. This specific chassis architecture is the reason the 570S Spider could be produced with such minimal weight gain compared to previous models like the 12C Spider or 650S Spider.
The Spider's two-piece aluminium roof folds into a compartment behind the seats in just 30 seconds. Because of the carbon monocell, the roof mechanism required no significant reengineering, allowing the car to maintain nearly identical performance to the coupe version with the roof up. With a dry mass of just 2,989 lb (1,356 kg), the vehicle's top roof opening velocity reaches 48 km/h (30 mph).
This modular approach to engineering extended across the 570S lineage. It even allowed for the creation of the 600LT Spider, which required no extra modifications to incorporate a folding hardtop. By utilizing the same carbon monocoque across multiple variants—from the road-focused 570S to the track-ready 620R—McLaren was able to offer diverse body styles, including convertibles and longtail variants, while keeping the underlying structural DNA consistent.
The 570S served as a versatile platform for various special editions. The 620R, a street-legal version of the 570S GT4 race car, was created alongside the 600LT for track use and the 570GT for touring. Each variant leveraged the same core engineering to achieve different goals, from increased cargo space to extreme aerodynamic downforce.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: McLaren 570S
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