The Everyday Supercar
d+a|Issue 122
We test drive the McLaren gt to experience how it lives up to the brand’s design philosophy of “everything for a reason”.
Low Shi Ping
The Everyday Supercar

Two months ago, I published a story on our website about my visit to the McLaren showroom, ending it by saying having overcome my intimidation for supercars, it was time for me to level up.

Someone must have read it because not long after, I receive an invitation for an overnight test drive of the McLaren GT.

All that bravado instantly flies out of the window and in the weeks leading up to the day, I am fraught with nerves.

I know that at 1,530kg, it is the lightest GT of its class, matched with a 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine that lets it zip from zero to 100kph in 3.2 seconds.

This means it is also the quickest accelerating car in its category.

“We call it the ‘everyday supercar’ for a reason,” Sales Consultant Alvin Ng assures me, as we walk towards the burnished copper model that is to be mine for the next 24 hours.

“You’ll find that you can take it everywhere, even the multi-storey HDB carparks.”

Aware that McLaren’s design philosophy is “everything for a reason”, I am eager to find out how these snappy taglines manifest from a driver standpoint.

My first “test” of its everyday-ness is how I would open the Dihedral doors if someone decides to park very close to me.

Without missing a beat, Ng shows me how to lower the window from the outside, so that the door would not need to swing open too widely and I can shimmy my way in.

The GT is powerful and responsive, accelerating deftly at my urging when the traffic light turns green.

This story is from the Issue 122 edition of d+a.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Issue 122 edition of d+a.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM D+AView All
Tailored For The Curious Explorer
d+a

Tailored For The Curious Explorer

The new Alma House at the New Bahru enclave reflects the collaborative spirit of a school environment.

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 134
Eco And Egalitarian
d+a

Eco And Egalitarian

Can a building represent a culture? Berrel Kräutler Architekten's sensitive renovation of the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore stimulates discourse.

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 134
Building A Green Home
d+a

Building A Green Home

This semi-detached house by Zivy Architects explores passive tropical design, the delight in architecture and the issues of multi-generational living.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 134
The Natural Balance
d+a

The Natural Balance

Inspired by the serene beauty of dewdrops, the Antao Collection by Villeroy & Boch transforms bathrooms into wellness sanctuaries, combining sustainability with timeless elegance.

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 134
Inspiring Creativity And Exploration
d+a

Inspiring Creativity And Exploration

The new Hafary House at Lavender reflects the brand’s vibrancy and innovation, as well as provide an inspiring and engaging space for customers.

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 134
Home Is Where The Heart Is
d+a

Home Is Where The Heart Is

A vacation house is reimagined for a multi-generational family to gather for holidays in the bucolic setting of Yongjia in Zhejiang, China.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 134
balancing act: nature and humanity
d+a

balancing act: nature and humanity

In this inspiration-led series, we asked Jay Liu and Alex Liu, co-founders of Right Angle Studio, to dream up a unique interior concept using mainly items from Space Furniture.

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 134
rethinking, remaking, reframing
d+a

rethinking, remaking, reframing

Aoki Akio, the founder of DESIGNART TOKYO discusses the importance and legacy of Tokyo's eminent art and design event, particularly for young creatives.

time-read
5 mins  |
Issue 134
rebuilding communities
d+a

rebuilding communities

Shift2024, the much-anticipated conference returns with a stellar line-up of prolific architects making their mark in Asian urban design.

time-read
7 mins  |
Issue 134
unparalleled italian craftsmanship
d+a

unparalleled italian craftsmanship

Filippo Arnaboldi, Chief Executive Officer of Frette, tells us how this luxury lifestyle Italian brand is moving forward with times yet not forgetting about its existing legacy.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 134