Six reasons we’re impressed by the Novitec-tuned McLaren 570S

As standard, the pretty wonderful McLaren 570S uses a 562bhp (570PS) 3.8-litre bi-turbo V8. Related to the psychotic engine in the P1, it’s hardly lacking in poke, even in the ‘baby’ McLaren. But Novitec, (in)famous for their efforts in tuning Ferrari V8s, have whacked that output up to a claimed 646PS, or 637bhp.

That makes it exactly 10bhp brawnier than the V12 that took the (and we don't use this word lightly) legendary McLaren F1 to 241mph. Oh, and it’s got 510lb ft – quite the climb from a boggo 570S’s 443lb ft…

The F1, bless it, did 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds. This Novitec-fiddled 570S will streak past the same speed two tenths of a second earlier, and head on to a claimed top speed of… oh, just 208mph. A handful of mphs faster than the 570S, then, but the old-timer’s still the daddy flat out.

As well as the engine remap, power is upped via an upgraded exhaust, with round rather than trapezoidal tailpipes. You can have a stainless steel pipe, or for an undisclosed amount of extra money, a super-lightweight one made from Inconel, the same material used in F1 racer exhausts. Which ought to iron out one of the 570S's few foibles - that it doesn't sound as exotic as it looks.

If it’s particularly slippery of a morning and you’re perhaps feeling a little lacking in the talent department, you can lessen the ferocity of your tuned McLaren. Novitec’s extra power mapping can be turned down by twiddling the McLaren’s Active Dynamic Panel knobs in the cabin, which tell the ECU to calm down and offer up ‘just’ 562bhp. There. That’s better. No? Maybe get the bus today.

Roof scoops, snorkel intakes, periscope pods…call them what you will. The fact is, fitting an apparatus to a mid-engined car that involves sucking in air from on top of the roof is just cooler than normal bodywork-mounted air-swallowers. And Novitec obliges, with a carbon-fashioned ‘dual-branch air box’ for your madder, badder 570S. Because who cares about rear visibility or wind noise? 

Tellingly, Novitec’s excitable news release about the 570S announces “in addition to the broad ranges for the vehicles from Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini, Novitec now also offers exclusive options for the sports cars from McLaren. For starters, there is a complete product range for the 570S”. 

Yup. For starters. Having added power, downforce and bigger wheels to the 570S, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to imagine the German turbo nutters turning their attention to the 650S, 675LT and beyond. The mind boggles…