RE: MSO restructure announced
Friday 5th December 2014
McLaren Special Operations appears a conscientious bunch. Always tinkering around with McLarens to some degree or another there has been quite a bit of MSO news over the past couple of years. There was the mad X-1, the SLR how it always should have been and a lot of work to ensure every single P1 is unique. That's on top of the 650S and 12C special editions.
Colours other than orange offered. MaybeIts work has proved popular too, with MSO now branching off to create five distinct sections focusing on different areas of McLaren modification. They are MSO Defined (a new addition), Bespoke, Limited, Heritage and Programmes.
MSO restructure announced
Regular McLaren not doing it for you? Expansion of Special Operations can help!
Colours other than orange offered. Maybe
Fortunately they don't require any deciphering like these daft black swan moments. Much more a 'does what it says on the tin' reorganisation. Heritage will work with F1 and SLR owners and Limited will build 650S models in small numbers, for example. The Programmes side will manage the P1 GTR events and MSO Defined will expand the choice of cosmetic options that have proved popular so far. Need more carbon or more orange on your McLaren? MSO Defined will sort it.
Perhaps the most interesting department from this restructure is MSO Bespoke. Beyond what's available off-the-shelf from Defined, Bespoke can cater to the demands of buyers to create something truly unique. So if you desire upholstery the colour of Ron Dennis's favourite grey suit then that can be arranged. And if you want something like the X-1 it can take charge of that too. The fact McLaren is still discussing that car suggests it was a popular project. One to repeat soon?
Essentially it means there are now additional opportunities to spend even more money on a McLaren. Need some inspiration? This 650S Spider has had a few MSO niceties added and looks rather good for it. There's already £40K off the RRP too so it's just £242,995. Bargain.
Discussion
Any logically minded person would argue that McLaren's managed of the driver line up and debut of the new Hinda McLaren has been a fisaco.
Having announved earlier in the week, a decision would be made by the Board today, it hasn't.
How difficult can it be so long after the season.
Despite Ron Dennis apparent shyness, Alonso is going to McLaren. Put Button on a 2 year performance based contact and keep Magnussen as test driver.
If the drivers do not agree then the decision becomes even easier.
it is a PR disaster.
Having announved earlier in the week, a decision would be made by the Board today, it hasn't.
How difficult can it be so long after the season.
Despite Ron Dennis apparent shyness, Alonso is going to McLaren. Put Button on a 2 year performance based contact and keep Magnussen as test driver.
If the drivers do not agree then the decision becomes even easier.
it is a PR disaster.
smilo996 said:
Any logically minded person would argue that McLaren's managed of the driver line up and debut of the new Hinda McLaren has been a fisaco.
Having announved earlier in the week, a decision would be made by the Board today, it hasn't.
How difficult can it be so long after the season.
Despite Ron Dennis apparent shyness, Alonso is going to McLaren. Put Button on a 2 year performance based contact and keep Magnussen as test driver.
If the drivers do not agree then the decision becomes even easier.
it is a PR disaster.
The fact your writing about it implies it isn't in a round about way..Having announved earlier in the week, a decision would be made by the Board today, it hasn't.
How difficult can it be so long after the season.
Despite Ron Dennis apparent shyness, Alonso is going to McLaren. Put Button on a 2 year performance based contact and keep Magnussen as test driver.
If the drivers do not agree then the decision becomes even easier.
it is a PR disaster.
smilo996 said:
Having announved earlier in the week, a decision would be made by the Board today, it hasn't.
McLaren never said that. AFAIAA, the last thing the company said was "after 1st December" for the driver announcement, and every F1 writer has been trying to read between the lines. And too many PHers have been misreading what has been written.It's clear that there's a lot more going on at McHonda than us outsiders really know.
But the driver line-up is the company's decision to make as and when it wants. That's fine by me. Roll on next year.
Its all about a potential IPO in 2017/18, a massive lack of sponsorship and a battle between shareholders. So far as the car division goes I am sure sales are doing OK....the competition is huge and I am sure second owners will be back to 'improve' their purchases more than new owners will want bespoke options. The heritage section I can imagine is a huge money earner, but not enough to lend Ron £300 million which is what he wants now.
EskimoArapaho said:
smilo996 said:
Having announved earlier in the week, a decision would be made by the Board today, it hasn't.
McLaren never said that. AFAIAA, the last thing the company said was "after 1st December" for the driver announcement, and every F1 writer has been trying to read between the lines. And too many PHers have been misreading what has been written.It's clear that there's a lot more going on at McHonda than us outsiders really know.
But the driver line-up is the company's decision to make as and when it wants. That's fine by me. Roll on next year.
"Yes, Honda-san, but he's really expensive, and we don't have any sponsors because I won't accept mid-table money for my mid-table car."
"Yes, but we REALLY like him."
"Yes, so do I, lovely chap no question, but he's REALLY expensive."
That kind of thing?
My we do have many professional journos and Mclaren employees on PH forums.
It was stated to the media that Mclaren would make a driver decision on Thursday this week which they have not.
Clearly because there is trouble at mill as it were.
Even the highly supportive folk at Motor Sport Magazine are perplexed about the nature and way in which the drivers have been treated.
McLaren is not Caterham. It is supposed to be a professional F1 constructor. Yet all other teams have announced their line ups. Alsonso is going to McLaren and he has said as much himself yet RD says it is all still open.
With Honda coming back to F1, is it likely now that McLaren will be lacking sponsors? That would seem unlikely.
Anyway the annoucement has been made.....
Ron did say they were looking far and wide.
It was stated to the media that Mclaren would make a driver decision on Thursday this week which they have not.
Clearly because there is trouble at mill as it were.
Even the highly supportive folk at Motor Sport Magazine are perplexed about the nature and way in which the drivers have been treated.
McLaren is not Caterham. It is supposed to be a professional F1 constructor. Yet all other teams have announced their line ups. Alsonso is going to McLaren and he has said as much himself yet RD says it is all still open.
With Honda coming back to F1, is it likely now that McLaren will be lacking sponsors? That would seem unlikely.
Anyway the annoucement has been made.....
Ron did say they were looking far and wide.
EskimoArapaho said:
smilo996 said:
It was stated to the media that Mclaren would make a driver decision on Thursday this week which they have not.
Where? That was the media making things up. McLaren does not dance to the media's tune.Claudia Skies said:
McLaren seem to have as many "special editions" as Lotus these days. Not a good sign that their cars are finding customers.
I think you have to be wearing some pretty heavily doom tinted spectacles to take that message away from an article about one department expanding into five, that's not something that happens in response to lack of work. When a large chunk of what MSO does is directly driven by customers it suggests to me that sales are doing fairly well. Back to the MSO article. Bespoke sounds intriguing. Perhaps they want some of Eric Clapton's money? Or the Sultan of Brunei, but they need some new design input and more or they'll end up as a one look manufacturer- sorry Aston but it is you. Finally, Black Swan - pretentious & negative to the brand IMHO.
Edited by pagani1 on Monday 8th December 17:34
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