540C

Make
McLaren
Segment
Coupe

The first live shots of the new McLaren 540C have emerged, and as you can see there is very little to differentiate it from the 570S that debuted in New York. The main aspect buyers will have to consider is the money they'll save versus the performance that'll be sacrificed. The 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 is virtually identical in both cars, delivering 533 hp in the 540C and 562 hp in the 570S. As a result, 0-62 mph slows from 3.2 to 3.5 seconds and top speed drops from 204 to 199 mph. That sounds like a fair trade for a saving of just under $26,000.

Both sports cars get the same dihedral doors, and flying buttresses at the rear. The most obvious visual change is at the back, where you'll see a less aggressive diffuser, and there's some new alloys too. Badging aside, that's pretty much the only difference when looking at the two Sport Series models. With the 570S targeting the 911 Turbo S, and the 540C looking squarely at the 911 Turbo, perhaps the most pertinent question to ask is: should Porsche be worried about McLaren? And if you had the cash, would you buy British or German?