McLaren gets roofless with 570S Spider

McLaren has launched a new roadster version of its 570S coupe.

Called the 570S Spider, the latest version of the Sport Series McLaren follows on the from the Coupe and GT body styles.

Featuring a retractable hardtop, instead of a fabric hood, the "entry-level" McLaren 570S Spider's new roof takes just 15 seconds to open or close at speeds of up to 40km/h.

The two-piece folding mechanism is claimed to use technology developed on the 650S Spider and consists of lightweight composite panels that also cleverly combine a glazed rear window that can be lowered or raised and used as a wind deflector at speed, when the roof's down.

Despite the use of weight-saving materials, McLaren wasn't able to offset the added mass of the roof mechanism.

In total, the kerb weight increase by 46kg, compared to the 570S Coupe.

That said, according to the British supercar maker performance is unaffected.

Carrying over the Coupe's twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8, power and torque remain pegged at 419kW/600Nm.

That means both the 0-100km/h time of just 3.2 seconds and the high 328km/h top speed are identical to the 570S, although roof down McLaren concedes top speed falls to 315km/h.

To help maintain the coupe's levels of high-speed stability, engineers have extended the drop top's rear spoiler by 12mm to help it generate more down force.

Structural rigidity is another area where the new 570S Spider can match its tin-top sibling. Thanks to its immensely strong carbon-fibre frame, or Monocell II monocoque, chopping the roof off the coupe has had no adverse effect.

In fact, McLaren says the Spider needed no additional supports or bracing over the coupe. This also means the Spider could keep the coupe's trademark dihedral doors.

Like the Coupe, the 570S Spider does without a mechanical limited-slip differential but gets brake-steer tech that reduces understeer by grabbing an inside rear wheel to help turn-in.

The 911 Turbo S cabriolet rival also comes with a configurable electronic chassis and drivetrain that offers a Normal, Sport or Track mode.

Inside the cabin the same 7.0-inch vertically-aligned infotainment system carries over.

Plenty of options to personalise your 570S Spider are available, including ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre shell bucket seats from the P1 hypercar.

On sale now in the UK, the 570S is priced at £164,750 (A$276,900) - around $35,000 more than the 570S Coupe.

It's not known how much of a premium McLaren Australia will charge over the $379,000 for the 570S Coupe Down Under.