McLaren's 570 plans

The "entry level" McLaren 570S (pictured) hasn't even hit the streets yet and McLaren sources have confirmed that both an even cheaper version and a more practical version are on the way.

Both a 540S, with slightly less power from the same powertrain, and a 570 LT (Long Tail) will be on sale a year ahead of the convertible 570C, which is due in 2017.

The 540S, which will have just under 400kW of power compared to the 570S's 419kW, will make its debut at this month's Shanghai Motor Show with a mid-year European on-sale target. But the 540S will be almost visually identical to the 570S.

The 540C will be slightly less luxurious in its interior trim than its stablemate, but few drivers are likely to miss the 30 horses it lacks compared to the big brother. It will retain the Ricardo-built, 3.8-litre, biturbo V8 and the dual-clutch transmission and continues to be a pure, rear-drive sports car.

McLaren has long said there would be three body styles of its (relatively) budget 570 model, which made its debut in coupe form at last week's New York Motor Show.

Now sources have confirmed the next body style to arrive won't be the convertible 570C, but the longer-wheelbase 570LT.

While McLaren had broadly hinted that the 570C would be a Porsche 911 S competitor, it arrived in New York priced as a 911 Turbo competitor, but without the German car's practicality.

The Porsche has two rear seats as standard equipment and, while they're not exactly comfortable, they are very useful for shopping bags, gym bags and all manner of haphazard storage in daily life.

McLaren has prioritized the 570 LT to answer customers who expected something even more practical. The extra wheelbase and overall body length will allow McLaren to give customers an extra storage compartment behind the engine bay.

While the 650 LT made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March, it's not philosophically aligned to the 570 LT. The Geneva car was a limited edition, with less weight, more traction and gained its extra length for pure aerodynamic reasons. The 570 LT retains all the luxury and equipment of the standard 570C, but gains its extra length purely for added day-to-day practicality.

The 570S is already 150kg lighter than the all-wheel drive 911 Turbo, though adding more length to the rear end of the car will chop away at that weight advantage.

Sources say the 570 LT will retain the 570S's 2095mm width and its 1202 height, but will be at least 200mm – and could be as much as 300mm – longer than the 4530mm overall length of the 570S.

"The 570C is practical as a day-to-day car," a McLaren source insisted, "but we are working on another body style that will make it more practical.

"If you look at some of the spy photographs that are out there, you can quite easily see what we're aiming for."

It is expected that the Long Tail's cabin will be identical to the 570C's, because McLaren's mono-monocoque strategy (its base carbon-fibre monocoque has been used in everything from the original MP4-12C to the P1) lacks the flexibility to accommodate a rear seat.

"The 570C is the most practical and comfortable McLaren we've ever done, but that's still a very driver-oriented car."

"The next car will be even more comfortable and it will have the extra spaces people might be looking for."