Back in July, the internet was awash with rumours that McLaren would soon build a spiritual successor to the iconic F1 road car. The British automaker, though, denied that this was the case.
Well, now McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has confirmed details of what it bills as “the world’s first hyper-GT”, promising that it will be “most exquisitely crafted and luxurious road-going McLaren” ever. Talk about a U-turn…
Development of the three-seat car, codenamed BP23, will be entrusted to MSO, with production limited to just 106 units (exactly the same as the number of McLaren F1s built). And, yes, every single one has already been “pre-sold”.
“BP23 will borrow the three-seat layout with the central driving position made famous by the iconic McLaren F1, and it will be housed in a streamlined, shrink-wrapped carbon-fibre body of great elegance,” confirmed McLaren Automotive’s chief executive officer, Mike Flewitt.
“A hybrid powertrain will make it one of the most powerful McLarens yet created, but the car will also deliver the highest levels of refinement, enabling significant journeys to be undertaken with up to three people aboard,” he added.
McLaren plans to deliver the first examples in early 2019. Future owners will work alongside MSO to create their own bespoke cars, being able to select colour, trim and other points of personalisation unique to them.