McLaren Solus GT: A Review

McLaren is synonymous with racing cars and supercars. So, in 2010, when they unveiled the design for their new concept car, the Solus GT, fans were excited. Seven years later, this idea was then transferred onto the small screen and was featured in Gran Turismo 7 as the Vision GT. While both cars were incredibly impressive, there are many changes and upgrades from the virtual Vision GT to the real-life, fully drivable Solus GT and from where we are standing all the changes were excellent ones. So let’s dive in and learn about what makes this car worthy of the McLaren name.

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Under the Hood

The biggest change from the virtual to the reality is the switch in engine composition. McLaren has switched out the twin-turbocharged V8 with electric motors on the front wheels for a rear-wheel driving configuration only. This configuration includes a 5.2-litre V10 engine that can rev up to 10,000 rpm. Not for the faint of heart.  

The building of this engine was a collaboration between Judd and McLaren and it is the beating heart of the car. It produces 829 horsepower, can complete 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of over 200mph. One of the most interesting parts of this vehicle is that it is bolted to the carbon tub. And the rear suspension is mounted to the gearbox. If this setup seems familiar to you, you would be correct as this is exactly how F1 cars are configured.  

In fact, if you look at all of the features of the Solus GT you will be able to see the inspiration that McLaren has taken for F1 cars. The suspension includes double wishbones, there are push rods at the front and pull rods at the rear and no F! car is complete without torsion bars so of course they are present too. On the exterior, there is a damper that is working double time to control vertical movement and manage high aerodynamic loads. It is capable of producing 1,200kg of downforce when at 150mph, which is 75% of its top speed. 

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How Does It Drive?

The biggest surprise with this car is even though it is so intimidating, it is easy to drive. It has no turbos so its engines give a smooth delivery with no spikes of torque. It is packed with plenty of features including adjustable traction control and ABS with carbon-carbon braking. The steering feels light but it is very accurate, which gives it an intuitive feeling. 

Once you understand the grip level and find the courage to throw yourself into corners at higher speeds than necessary, you will really feel the level of performance from such a masterpiece. The V10 engine, low mass, high downforce and race-car layout create a certain agility and a lateral load capability that streets ahead of any other car. 

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The Interior

Like all luxury cars, there is a level of personalization that every brand will offer. In the Solus GT, the owner will have a seat fitting at the factory so that the car seat can be moulded exactly to you. And only you as there is only one seat. Once fitted, you will sit low and slightly reclined. There is a panoramic view on the ceiling with a digital rearview mirror built in. The steering wheel is built like an F1 racecars one but with high-end detailing. This ensures the driver that they are indeed in luxury.  

Like many luxury automobile brands, they produce and sell a smaller number of cars than the demand so that it keeps their brands exclusive and their cars collectables. McLaren is no different. They are only producing 25 of these cars and of course, they are already sold. And if you are wondering what a car of this magnitude sells for, it is 2.75 sterling plus any local taxes. That is more than the Ford GT Mk IV and the Aston Martin Valkyrie. But it is worth every penny.  

The Solus GT is undeniably an out-of-this-world car. However, it’s important to note that it’s not a road car and should be treated accordingly. It’s truly a masterpiece of engineering.