NEW McLAREN 570S SPIDER

Foremost are the easy access to whirlwind acceleration, the finely judged responses to all driver inputs, the relaxing ride quality, and a rare ability to make dispatching a challenging road undemanding for the driver. The 570S instantly inspires confidence to seek out the right roads for exploring some of this car’s huge reserves.

Stand back and admire this Sicilian Yellow Spider and you’ll find plenty of features to celebrate with the engine switched off. The paintwork, for starters, is an ‘Elite Colour’ that commands a $7000 premium and the sports exhaust with its ‘Stealth’ finish costs nearer $8000.

The same Stealth finish is applied to the optional 10-spoke lightweight wheels (for a combined cost of $7581), while liquid metal brake calipers add $1832.

There’s more cost-option opulence inside. Sicilian Yellow and Jet Black combine with an array of carbon fibre trim elements in an interior by McLaren Design. You pay around $5000 for the material colour scheme, another $1000 for a complementary steering wheel in Black Alcantara, and a further $11,000 for the Carbon Upgrade Pack.

Most significant of all, however, is the Luxury Pack with power-adjustable sports seats and steering column, soft-close doors and a 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Factor in $14,599 for this combination. A car cover and branded floor mats are thrown in but our car’s leather sill finishers in Nappa command an extra $1251.

Price as tested: $426,269.