McLaren has just released a clip previewing the long-awaited 570LT, the hardcore model in the popular Sports Series range. Dubbed ‘The edge is calling,’ the brief video offers a momentary glimpse of the vehicle’s revised rear fascia. Gone are the dual exhausts exiting from either side of the rear diffuser and instead, they aren’t visible at all in the teaser. Elsewhere, the teaser shows a more pronounced carbon fiber rear diffuser and an aerodynamic fin directly behind the rear wheels. On the McLaren website, the marque is offering budding buyers the chance to register their interest for the new model. Additionally, the site offers a hint of the vehicle’s focus towards uncompromised performance. It remains to be seen what the LT variant of the 570S will be called but horsepower is expected to be lifted towards the 600 hp mark. A name like 595LT or 585LT sounds pretty good to us. Alongside the engine modifications, the vehicle is expected to benefit from a selection of new lightweight components and parts design to optimize downforce. Tweaks will also be made to the vehicle’s suspension and braking systems to ensure it offers the purest driving experience possible.
I’ve had the chance to sample the Golf R in that scenario and - get ready for this - one of the cars that came to mind when I did so was the Porsche 911 Carrera 4. High praise? LE: The direct shift gearbox also comes with engine start/stop technology to get the most out of the fuel consumption. 1,500. This additional cash gives you blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, lane assist and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian warning. These are things that quite a few auto manufactures are including for no extra charge. LE: Both cars have ups and downs when it comes to features and options. Both are very capable and enjoyable to drive. At the end of the day, the big question still remains: Do you spend your money on the Golf R or GTI? In my opinion, the extra 70hp isn’t worth the additional money.
DH: I guess the real victory for the R is that while it no longer is the only player in the North American ultra-fast hatch game, it still manages to stand out among the crowd. I suppose it has its history of dealing with the European market to thank, where the likes of Renault, Seat and Peugeot have had vehicles like the R for quite some time. Even though it’s kind of the elder statesman now, it hasn’t really lost a step. Would I choose it over the GTI? It’s not an easy call, but if you’re smart with your option choices and willing to survive with a more standard colour, you can do a lot worse than the R in the big performance game. I think that’s a price I’d be willing to pay and the fact that you’re seeing more and more Golf Rs out there these days proves that I’m not alone.
My tester was also equipped with the optional Sport Package which brings the car 10mm closer to the ground, while the wider wheels and arches aim to offer more stability on the road. On my way back to the hotel, I pretty much took the same route I have taken earlier with the new G20 330i, so I knew what to expect in terms of the road ahead. Without worrying much about the electric range, I pushed the i3 too close to its driving limits, having the car lean into corners and spin its tail a bit. Overall, I could say with confidence that despite its quirky looks and proportions, the i3 is still a fun sportish EV to drive, enough to put some smiles on your face if you push it hard enough. About half way into the trip, the dashboard was showing about a quarter of the battery pack being depleted.
The final stretch of my trip involved highway driving where the i3 would lose most of its brake regen capabilities and would consume more energy at higher speeds. By the time I reached the hotel, the computer showed a trip of 105.4 km with 150 km range left in the battery pack and a bit over the half mark range on the dashboard. The e-consumption was reported by the computer at 17.8 kWh per 100 km driven with an average speed of 49.6 km/h. It was also comforting to see that the i3 can perform outside the standard parameters of daily driving, being fun, yet docile when needed. It’s also fair to address the elephant in the room. Many i3 owners I’ve interacted with have always claimed that a 300-320 km (186-198 miles) range would be the Holy Grail of electro-mobility, paired with a widely available charging infrastructure. Take for example my hometown Chicago where within the city limits there are exactly 9 Fast Charging Stations which is no near the acceptable levels for electr0-mobility. Pair that with the harsh Midwest winters and you could imagine the struggle for some of the electric pioneers. Nonetheless, I still truly enjoy the i3 as an overall package, its interior space is bigger than it seems from the outside, city driving is effortless and it’s one of the best ice breakers in conversations with drivers around you. Its improved range could end up being sufficient for many future owners, especially if you live in Europe where the travel distances are shorter, but in my case, I would still need that Range Extender option. I’m on my third i3 - taking delivery of a new one next week - so I will continue to support the electrification efforts put out by all automakers. It’s clearly the future and while it takes longer to get us there, they will eventually deliver.
