A more affordable sports car than the recently launched Sports Series is out of the question for McLaren, as they want to remain in the upper section of the market.

Robert Melville, McLaren’s Chief Designer, told Autocar that models like the 570S is “as low as we’d want to come”.

Having a potential Porsche Cayman rival on their range is a step too far for the Woking-based manufacturer. “That is not exclusive enough for us”, he added. The new 540C and 570S were designed for customers looking for a sports car to use every day, putting them against rivals like the Audi R8 and Porsche 911 Turbo.

Besides, the company is already developing an open-top Spider version and a GT, which will most likely be a more practical, 2+2 variant. “With the third version, we can’t afford to refresh the whole car. It is a derivative”, said Melville. “Some elements are identical and others are very different.”

McLaren will launch the Spider version of the 570S in 2017, and the GT will reportedly be revealed in early 2016. The British supercar maker is also developing a Spider version of the 675LT, which will probably be produced in very limited numbers, just like its fixed-roof brother.

PHOTO GALLERY