Friday 22nd February 2019

MSO Bespoke McLaren 600LT revealed

Well if a limited-run, £200k McLaren isn't exclusive enough, there's always McLaren Special Operations...

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Individualisation is big business for new cars; from Minis to McLarens, it seems the desire of customers to create something bespoke is matched only by manufacturers' willingness to accommodate them. What need is there for aftermarket work if everything you could possibly want is available from the factory?

McLaren Special Operations has been offering all manner of customisation to buyers for years now, with this 600LT Spider its latest creation. According to McLaren the car is "aiming to inspire prospective owners... with a specially curated design, adding visual excitement". The main colour is Dove Grey, with accents in Napier Green (bonus points if you've recognised that as a 675LT colour). The highlights are on the splitter, sills, rear diffuser and door inserts, applied using a method new to McLaren road cars. Previously reserved for GT3 and GT4 racers, the Napier Green colour isn't traditionally painted on, but rather "compressed into a light and flexible film which ensures a premium quality bespoke colour match." From now the film will be an MSO option.

This particular 600LT has also been treated to the full roster of MSO carbon kit - including the Defined Visual Carbon Fibre Front Fender Louvres, the Carbon Fibre Sill Finishers and what looks like both Visual Carbon Fibre Exterior Upgrade Packs - but in a satin finish that evokes the old 675 rather than the gloss finish often seen now. Inside it's fitted with Napier Green contrast stitching, the Senna seats, embroidered headrests plus "a range of 'surprise and delight' features for owners to find" - interesting...

Given almost 50 per cent of LT Coupe customers made use of MSO's services, expect a similar proportion of Spider customers to follow suit. Perhaps more, in fact, given a Spider arguably lends itself even better to the often outlandish side of personalisation. We'll see how it looks in the metal when the wraps are taken off on March 5th - if past Geneva shows are anything to go by, it'll likely be pretty modest by the standards of the modified cars on display...

[HardMiles]

Do I not understand the ultra expensive car thing correctly? Surely, with enough money you could have someone paint your car any colour you wanted anyway? How is this so special? You'd expect them to offer a service like that as a standard extra-over?

It seems somewhat of a waste when you cover what could potentially be a lighter car with paint (Weight). make them lighter, not brighter!