MSO Concept shows what McLaren can do

Published Apr 29, 2014

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By: IOL Motoring Staff

Woking, Surrey - Every supercar maker has its own in-house 'bespoke' division, where customers get to specify almost every detail of their cars.

In McLaren's case it's called McLaren Special Operations and this is its latest rolling showcase - a calling card, if you will, built to display the MSO designed and engineered upgrades available for the new McLaren 650S Coupé and 650S Spider. It sports an array of bespoke MSO features, including a newly designed carbon-fibre rear diffuser and MSO-branded carbon fibre side blades.

Subtle upgrades to the exterior and the cabin give the MSO 650S Coupé Concept - on show throughout China over the coming weeks - a stealth-fighter look.

DRAMATIC COLOUR CHANGE

It's finished in a metallic black paint developed at McLaren that uses a deep ruby red metallic flake, giving the car a dramatic colour change in direct sunlight, contrasted by extensive use of satin-finished carbon-fibre highlights - including the prominent front splitter and air intakes, MSO side blades and the special MSO rear diffuser.

The satin-finished MSO-branded side blades are a more aggressive, full length, interpretation of the door blades on the standard 650S Coupe and Spider - but they're not just for show.

They also smooth out the airflow along the edges of the bodywork, in conjunction with the GT3-inspired rear bumper, which has a carbon-fibre centre section.

THE LIGHT STUFF

There's more of the light stuff in the airbrake and special MSO rear diffuser, and the look is completed with a set of special satin black finished lightweight '650S' alloy rims, shod with Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.

The interior of this one-off 'brag book on wheels' has a pair of fixed-back carbon fibre racing seats, based on the lightweight design used in the McLaren P1 and finished in carbon black leather.

These seats position the occupants lower in the car and provide superb levels of upper and lower body support, while saving about 15kg in weight. Satin-finish carbon-fibre trim elements set off the gloss black finish of the switchgear and bezels.

Even the engine bay has satin black engine covers and a satin finish on the carbon-fibre components.

The MSO 650S Coupé Concept is a one-off design study, and whether its more extreme features will be made available on production cars depends on customer reaction.

The MSO side blades and rear diffuser, however, are available to order now from McLaren retailers at £5114 (R91 000) and £7245 (R129 000) respectively for a new 650S. These styling upgrades can also be fitted to the MP4-12C.

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