Unveiled in 2015, the McLaren 540C mid-engine super car is gaining popularity as of late, namely in Europe. The 540C is part of Mclaren's Sport Series (it's entry-level vehicles - although that term is kind of funny considering we are talking about super cars), along with the 570S, 570S Spider, and 570GT.
The 540C is powered by a 3.8L twin-turbo V8, which produces 533 HP and 398 pound-feet of torque. Despite being called an entry level super car, the 540C's 0-60 time is 3.5 seconds, making it ridiculously quick and not far behind its big brother, the 570S (0-60 time of 3.2 seconds). One of the factors that helps make the 540C so quick is its carbon fiber construction, along with its Monocell II chassis, which weighs less than 80 kg!!!!! This seems absolutely crazy to me!
Although the US market seems to be focused on the 570S instead, the 540C presents a great option as its performance is very similar to the 540C, however, its price tag is significantly less than the 570S (£126,000 versus £143,250). Furthermore, the 540C has been tuned slightly differently than the 570S, making it a bit more "daily driver" friendly. Mclaren has included cabin storage (cubby holes and a decent sized glove box), as well as a trunk that is slightly bigger than a Porsche 911 and Audi R8. For a golf enthusiast like me, I was glad to hear that a golf bag fits behind the front seats.
Having said all that, it's still a bit early to say whether the 540C will become as popular as it appears to be right now, however by all comparison and by driver review, it seems to present super car enthusiasts with a daily driver option that is just as fast but yet £17,250 cheaper, and with very negligible differences when compared to the next model up.