Bespoke McLaren MSO 720S breaks cover in Dubai

McLaren unveiled a one-off Gold - on - Black 720S at the 2017 Dubai Motor Show which will be on display throughout the entire stretch of this week’s event. The rare showcase is from a special client of the British marque’s bespoke engineering division.

McLaren Special Operations or MSO’s latest project is the 720S coupe in satin black with gold elements that also features gold alloy wheels, a 24-carat gold engine heat shield and some gold stencils at the rear spoiler bearing Bruce McLaren’s famous quote in 1964.

In order to apply its special MSO touches, the bespoke program added some new upgrades which include new rear bumper, air intakes, front splitter and roof panels which have all been replaced with carbon fiber elements.

As for the interior, its elegant features now include gold door trims, some gold gear shift paddles and a gold center band along the steering wheel. The rest of components used on the air vents, sill plates and steering wheel are all made with carbon fiber just as those on the exterior. To further highlight its bespoke features, the heat shield has been coated in 24-carat gold with matching gold inserts for the black leather interior lining.

While MSO’s latest customization took a hundred and twenty hours to complete, some thirty hours have been devoted entirely in customizing the car’s rear wing. Bruce McLaren’s “life is measured in achievement, not in years alone” quote was inscribed on the car’s rear spoiler in Arabic. The full quote taken from the company founder’s self-written account “From the Cockpit” goes like this instead; “To do something well is so worthwhile that to die trying to do it better cannot be foolhardy. It would be a waste of life to do nothing with one’s ability, for I feel that life is measured in achievement, not in years alone.”

Apart from the special color, interior trim specifications and exterior upgrades, all standard features of the 720S have not been changed. In other words, the coupe bears the same 710bhp 4.0- liter turbocharged V8 engine with 212 miles per hour top speed and 2.8 second 0-60mph acceleration as the regular version.

The bespoke McLaren MSO 720S is currently being showcased at the ongoing 2017 Dubai Motor Show which will end this November 18, Saturday. Prior to this, the McLaren 720S owned by entrepreneur Michael Fux was one of MSO’s most recent projects.

Fux’s MSO 720S was revealed at the Concours’ d’ Elegance earlier this year and has caught a bunch of media attention for its eye popping paint color bearing the shades of pink and purple. Interestingly enough, the bespoke division has earned a hundred and forty-three percent in revenue last year showing that there's a growing number of McLaren owners that are really into that very exclusive MSO touch.

PRESS RELEASE

Dubai debut for unique satin black and gold MSO Bespoke McLaren 720S inspired by the words of Bruce McLaren

A unique McLaren 720S supercar designed by McLaren Operations (MSO) is the centrepiece of the McLaren display at the 2017 Dubai International Motor Show, which takes place November 14 – 18.

Created as an MSO Bespoke commission, the service from McLaren Special Operations that allows almost limitless enhancement and personalisation of McLaren cars, the 720S is in Zenith Black paint with a satin finish. Gold-coloured alloy wheels, a 24-carat gold engine heatshield and gold-coloured interior components complement the exterior colour.

A plaque inside the car identifies it as a ‘1 of 1’ MSO commission, a fact also communicated by the unique rear wing that bears part of a famous quote* by McLaren founder, Bruce McLaren: ‘Life is measured in achievement, not in years alone’, is painted across the upper surface of the wing in gold Arabic lettering, stylised to echo the Dubai city skyline.

The theme of ‘achievement’ was a key sentiment behind the commission, as Andreas Bareis, Managing Director Middle East, Africa & Latin America for McLaren Automotive, explained: “The quote from Bruce McLaren rings true not only of the history of McLaren, but also the achievements of the UAE and the Gulf states over the last four decades. The UAE and the region are very important to McLaren, not only in terms of our client base, but also because of the support from our shareholders. This car pays tribute to that.”

To personalise the car added more than 120 hours to the production process. The rear wing alone took 30 hours to complete, using stencils produced by the MSO design visualisation team to achieve the desired dramatic visual impact of the gold lettering.

With McLaren 720S Performance specification as the starting point – and in addition to the MSO Bespoke elements – the commission added carbon fibre exterior upgrade packs that together encompass the front splitter and air intakes, rear bumper and roof panel. The rear diffuser is also a carbon fibre option, while the door mirror arms, rear aero bridge and deck and engine covers are all from the MSO Defined range of carbon fibre components.

The interior of the car is equally special: black Alcantara® and black leather trim are complemented by MSO Defined carbon fibre sill panels, fascia vents and steering wheel, in addition to a regular carbon fibre interior upgrade pack. The MSO Bespoke team added satin gold-painted extended gearshift paddles, a satin gold-coloured centre band to the steering wheel and pinstriping in the same hue to the spokes. A gold-coloured applique on each door inner completes the visual treatment.

The new owner of the MSO Bespoke McLaren 720S on display at the 2017 Dubai International Motor Show will take delivery of the car from McLaren Dubai when the Show finishes. They will enjoy a McLaren supercar powered by a 4.0 V8 twin-turbocharged engine and capable of accelerating from 0 – 200km/h (0 – 124mph) in just 7.8 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 341km/h (212mph).