McLaren surprised with X-1

A breathtaking concept McLaren says the introduction of Special Operations (MSO) in. The department that every customer wish fulfilled can let go with the X-1 without a business card issued. Whether it is beautiful does not matter, but particularly the X-1 no more!

In the highest customer segment is the absolute king. And so it rolls occasionally a unique one-off to the outside, for example Ferrari, Rolls-Royce and various Italian coachbuilders. McLaren also has a department that this client wishes come true can let go. Sometimes concerns that a special color, sometimes a special type of leather and sometimes, just sometimes ... a completely unique design.

McLaren lover
for an anonymous customer McLaren in recent years worked in secret to this X-1. Parallel to the development of the MP4-12C saw the X-1 was born. The customer, who is also a McLaren F1, Mercedes SLR McLaren MP4-12C possesses wanted a totally unique car. Three years ago, when the MP4-12C was not even revealed, this was already a multimillionaire into conversations with McLaren boss Ron Dennis for his dream come to pass.

Inspiration
In an interview with Paul MacKenzie MSO Program Director and Design Director Frank Stephenson, the wishes of the customer's inventory. Based on hours of conversation was the McLaren team a mood book containing photographs of cars, architecture, fashion, design and movies that touched on the idea that the customer had. 'Timeless and classic elegance' was central to this and according to his McLaren cars like the Facel Vega (1961), Chrysler d'Elegance Ghia (1953), Mercedes-Benz 540K (1939) and Citroen SM (1971) as inspiration. But that's not all. The Guggenheim Museum in New York, a Jaeger LeCoultre Art Deco clock, the Airstream trailer and a Mont Blanc pen were in the mood book included.

McLaren x-1

Scale
to achieve the best result the customer wanted a competition between designers from McLaren and external developers. Undoubtedly proud of McLaren won their own designer Hong Yeo and the pitch was led by Frank Stephenson design in detail. There followed a 30 percent scale model, a 1:1 scale model and then the final model to arrive at what is now able to show off. For 18 months we worked on the drafting and virtually every element of the body is custom made.

Driving
just as with the hand a few body panels make there was not. This X-1 is not a museum piece or fragile concept, but a moving car. McLaren had to go through an extensive testing program and get approval on each item. An unprecedented task. In terms of technique, however, appealed to the MP4-12C that his entire Mono Cell and 625 horsepower twin-turbo engine loaned.

Only the beginning ...
The McLaren X-1 will see its public debut at the famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and then to the headquarters in Working again to be fully checked and then the collection is undoubtedly an incredibly joyous car lover should be added. McLaren clearly demonstrates that this is just the beginning. With the X-1 has been shown what MSO is able and flexibility of the MP4-12C platform offers many more possibilities. To be continued so. Who knows what is behind the doors in Working all still waiting...