Power for the 540C comes from a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V8 engine tuned to generate 532 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 398 lb-ft. of torque from 3,500 to 6,500 rpm. Linked to a seven-speed automatic gearbox controlled by shift paddles, the coupe sprints from zero to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds, from zero to 124 mph in 10.5 seconds and on to a top speed of nearly 200 mph.
Fuel economy checks in at a little over 20 mpg in a mixed European cycle thanks to a standard start/stop system. Official U.S. fuel economy figures will be published in the weeks leading up to the coupe’s on-sale date.
The 540C rides on an evolution of the carbon fiber monocell that underpins the 570S and the larger 650S. Weight-saving measures like the use of aluminum body panels help the coupe tip the scale at just 2,890 pounds in its lightest configuration. Visually, the 540C stands out from the more powerful 570S thanks a number of minor modifications including a new lower front bumper with aero blades, a two-part air diffuser out back and model-specific alloy wheels.
On sale now globally, the McLaren 540C carries a base price of £126,000 (about $190,000), a figure that makes it the most affordable member of the McLaren lineup. The 540 will launch as a coupe, but the company is expected to introduce a convertible model dubbed 540C Spider in the next few months.
Live images by Ronan Glon.
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