RE: McLaren GT gets limited edition MSO spec in UK
RE: McLaren GT gets limited edition MSO spec in UK
Wednesday 20th September 2023

McLaren GT gets limited edition MSO spec in UK

Always fancied a GT painted like a P1 or an F1 GT? Now's your chance...


It's probably fair to say that the GT hasn’t quite captured hearts and minds like McLaren hoped it would (we rated it 14th out of 16 in our recent and totally scientific ranking session). Likely sensing this shortfall in affection, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has been tasked with jazzing up Woking’s Grand Tourer, and this is the result: eight GT by MSO cars, exclusively for the UK. Lovely. 

There are four colour and material combos available that have never been seen before on the GT, with just two examples of each to be made. All the new colours have their roots in McLarens past, though, because nothing sells quite like heritage. See the green, for example, which is officially XP Green - just like the legendary F1 XP GT Longtail prototype from back in the 90s. For this MSO edition, it’s paired with tan leather, a traditional spec choice that works as well for this GT as any other.

Those after something bolder from McLaren Special Operations might be intrigued by the Cerulean Blue option; it was a paint first developed for the P1 and has been a popular MSO option ever since. McLaren says the blue metallic with bright pearlescent tones ‘highlights the GT’s muscular lines’.

Speaking of the P1, the MSO GT is also offered in Cyber Yellow, an evolution of the Volcano Yellow so often seen on the first Ultimate Series McLaren. As with the blue, the pair of yellow GTs get a black interior. All eight, in fact, get black lightweight forged alloy wheels, the MSO Black Pack (mirrors, window surrounds, exhaust finishers) and a gloss black roof. The final colour option for these MSO’d GTs is Sarigan Quartz, the same hue as found on the Speedtail prototype that soared through 250mph more than 30 times (!) during testing at the Kennedy Space Centre.

Nick Crossley is UK Market Director for McLaren. He said of the new limited edition: “The GT remains a milestone car for McLaren, and GT by MSO is the perfect way to pay tribute to its position as the everyday McLaren for the UK. Its combination of lightweight, carbon fibre supercar design and performance with versatile grand touring abilities are now celebrated in a way like never before, and exclusively for our home market.” 

There’s no word yet on price, but obviously buyers will have to move fast given the tiny run. The GT by MSO isn’t the only way into a funky spec, though, as there’s always those already on the used market. There can’t be many other GTs in Flux Green, for example, or McLaren Orange. And check this one out for real rarity - it has silver wheels…


Author
Discussion

Striple

Original Poster:

365 posts

171 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
Green one is probably my favourite colour.

bluemason

1,169 posts

153 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
I would take the yellow one, but I have never understood the Mclaren GT.

Striple

Original Poster:

365 posts

171 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
the rear arch area is a bit much for me. Never driven a mclaren but would you tell the difference in comfort between this and others in the range?

C5_Steve

8,962 posts

133 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
I mean, the colours are nice but is this really the point of MSO? Literally, who is going to know it's one of two if they see it on the road, they just look like colour combos that should be standard.

They all look lovely but just seem exclusive for the sake of being exclusive and charging a premium. The GT seems like the wrong model to do this on as well as it's supposed to be the most competent "everyday" car they offer.

Maybe I'm missing the point.....

Nish Gnackers

1,173 posts

71 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
Nick Crossley is UK Market Director for McLaren. He said of the new limited edition: “The GT remains a millstone car for McLaren.

FTFY

coded2112

175 posts

251 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
And why such dark photo's can the photographer not afford to light it properly so we can see it!! Lol

matlotus

128 posts

126 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
If you follow the link through to silver wheeled one I think that wheel colour makes a huge difference to the look. That one looks stunning

Maccmike8

1,610 posts

84 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
Nish Gnackers said:
Nick Crossley is UK Market Director for McLaren. He said of the new limited edition: “The GT remains a millstone car for McLaren.

FTFY
As in burden?

dpop

298 posts

162 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
Pay extra to have a mclaren in a lotus colour!

corcoran

691 posts

304 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
Take. Real. Pictures. of. Real. Cars. Outside.

Amanitin

545 posts

167 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
i thought one of the reasons to go for boutique brands is that you can customize them to death.
does this announcement mean you were not able/allowed to get the colourways shown here on a regular order GT?
I mean, dark green over tan seems like a straightforward thing to try on any configurator

ImFeelingSaucy

495 posts

54 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
Nish Gnackers said:
Nick Crossley is UK Market Director for McLaren. He said of the new limited edition: “The GT remains a millstone car for McLaren.

FTFY
Ouch

Dynamic Space Wizard

964 posts

134 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
This article's really brilliant apart from the fact that the pictures aren't real and the writing doesn't really say anything

pycraft

1,474 posts

214 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
dpop said:
Pay extra to have a mclaren in a lotus colour!
Can I get one in red, just to spite Ron Dennis?

Wab1974uk

1,407 posts

57 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
bluemason said:
I would take the yellow one, but I have never understood the Mclaren GT.
I don't think McLaren customers do either. It's basically the exact same car as the rest, but with slightly softer suspension and uglier bodywork.

Front engine, proper rear boot. That is a GT car.

Steve12NG

339 posts

182 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
Eight. Eight cars in total.

What a waste of an article and a total joke.

pycraft

1,474 posts

214 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
Wab1974uk said:
bluemason said:
I would take the yellow one, but I have never understood the Mclaren GT.
Front engine, proper rear boot. That is a GT car.
So the 911 isn't? I don't think the engine location is that important. It needs to have effortless power and be comfortable for a long journey, and yes, lots of space. Ideally back seats, even if only +2 jobbies. But as for front engine? To me, the current ultimate evoution of the GT is the Gemera.

PorkerHam

190 posts

72 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all

I'm slightly confused by this. I thought the entire point of MSO was that you could ask them to spec a McLaren in whatever colour you wanted.

So....if you ordered a GT and asked MSO to paint it in one of these colour schemes, would they refuse?

Paulsd

382 posts

124 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
I agree that the marketing department got carried away pushing the GT element. It is however very comfortable in comfort mode (more so than my previous 992) and there's lots of storage space.

The boot area space is a little weird but is pretty big. The frunk is bigger than the 911's.

I know I'm likely to say this but I love mine and I think it's a very suitable "something different" to my ex-911. I haven't got full on silver wheels but the diamond cut ones give a pretty good contrast IMO if that's what you're after.




Edited by Paulsd on Wednesday 20th September 15:17

GroundEffect

13,864 posts

186 months

Wednesday 20th September 2023
quotequote all
I really like the GT - the 570 & 620/650 cars would be too much for me for what I'd intend to use the car for (European road trips). GT fills that gap.

And it's very elegant.