2027 McLaren GTS

The McLaren GTS is the most accessible entry in the legendary British automaker's portfolio, and it threads the needle between track-ready performance and open-highway comfort. With a forgiving suspension — that can also be electronically dialed up to less forgiving settings if you wish — lush interior, and a top speed of 203 mph, the GTS aims to please drivers who need occasional hits of high-speed adrenaline with a side of smooth refinement. If that combination sounds appealing, act soon. The next most affordable, "soft" McLaren could be an SUV. 

The GTS delivers a distinct flavor compared to other high-performance, ultra-luxury rivals like the Aston Martin DBS, Bentley Continental GT or Ferrari Roma. Those alternatives offer "2+2" seating, which sounds great until you actually ask two people to sit behind the front seats. Those rear perches are mostly wishful thinking, or storage spaces with seat belts. The GTS is more honest, in a way. By not pretending to carry more than two people, the GTS is lighter (2,000 pounds less than the Bentley, for example) and offers the most visceral, pure driving experience of the field. 

The 2027 GTS could be the final bow for McLaren's luxury-oriented grand tourer. With its 626-horsepower V8 and 3.0-second sprint time from 0 to 60 mph mph, the GTS is a supercar by almost any metric, but its comfort-tuned adaptive suspension and useful cargo space are better suited for long-distance getaways than its more aggressive counterparts higher up the McLaren model line. But whisperings of a forthcoming four-door SUV have clouded the GTS' future. Bolstered by new investment, McLaren appears ready to compete with higher-volume rivals like Aston Martin, Bentley and Ferrari, all of which offer SUVs in their portfolios. We could also see the GTS gaining a hybrid powertrain (no EVs in the immediate future, according to the company CEO), but whether buyers want a choice between two cushy McLarens is anyone's guess.