2017 MCLAREN 570S SPIDER BOMBS THROUGH SCOTLAND ON IGNITION

Is it really a "convertible without compromise?"

Getting the convertible version of a sports car has historically meant sacrificing some of the rigidity and responsiveness you’d get with its fixed-roof counterpart, but McLaren says its 570S Spider is a “convertible without compromise.” To find out if that’s true, host Jethro Bovingdon takes the new drop-top out for a spin on this episode of Ignition.

Jethro’s plan was to soak up some rays in sunny Southern California on the incomparable Angeles Crest Highway, but since there wasn’t a 570S Spider in the U.S. at the time, he had to make do with the gorgeous rocky landscape of Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. His first impression is that the 570S Spider feels structurally stiff for a convertible, and he notes that the additional bracing and reinforcement needed to combat flexing doesn’t intrude into the cabin. He also praises the steering feel and says the chassis handles fast, bumpy roads better than expected. Though he wishes the 570-hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 had better throttle response and a more usable powerband, Jethro does admit that it sounds “properly naughty”—especially with the top down.