Supercar news blast today! In addition to a first look at the Ferrari FXX K, McLaren is adding to the drama with its latest MSO announcement.
This is largely a tech
nical and organizational change – broadening the reach and brand of MSO to better match McLaren client needs. MSO will become:
— MSO Defined (general upgrades catalog)
— MSO Bespoke (you dream it, they make it real)
— MSO Limited (MSO releases like the MSO 650S shown below)
— MSO Heritage (classics, custom restorations and maintenance)
— MSO Programmes (racing, events, P1 GTR track days, etc)
McLAREN SPECIAL OPERATIONS INTRODUCES DEFINED RANGE OF OPTIONS
- Five tiers identify the levels of bespoke work available to from MSO as the company embraces an unprecedented period of growth
- Differing levels of personalisation offer complete tailoring of any McLaren model through MSO Bespoke, MSO Heritage, MSO Limited and MSO Programmes
- New Defined range to include a line of series options available on all new McLaren models
McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has announced a range of available series options for the McLaren 650S, and Asia-only 625C, under the newly established ‘MSO Defined’ division. This forms the first of five tiers of personalisation and support offered by MSO, catering for the needs of all McLaren customers, and joins MSO Bespoke, specialising in one-off models; MSO Limited, producing limited-edition series production cars; MSO Heritage, focused on the maintenance and storage of historic cars; and MSO Programmes which includes the McLaren P1™ GTR.
“There is a strong desire for drivers to personalise their cars and I’m convinced that the introduction of MSO Defined line will prove popular amongst our customers,” explains Paul Mackenzie, Executive Director of McLaren Special Operations. “Every McLaren is unique but now, with more choice than ever before, we are enabling our customers to truly express themselves through their vehicles.”
MSO DEFINED
The MSO Defined category of personalisation includes an aerodynamic kit, designed to enhance the purposeful design of the groundbreaking McLaren 650S, to subtle carbon fibre interior upgrades. The exterior styling can be modified with an addition of a carbon fibre rear diffuser and extended side door blades that premiered on the limited-edition MSO 650S earlier in the year.
Weight-saving options in the form of a full carbon fibre rear deck and mirror arms are also available, while new interior options include extended carbon fibre shift paddles and a redesigned instrument cluster with Formula 1™ inspired shift lights mounted on the instrument cluster that have been created in response to a popular demand from track day enthusiasts.
MSO BESPOKE
MSO Bespoke provides an almost limitless level of customisation to McLaren owners, including unique paint, leather and stitching colours, stand-alone upholstery and body changes to create truly bespoke vehicles.
Since launching the 650S earlier this year, 20 percent of vehicles produced at the McLaren Production Centre have included a degree of MSO Bespoke content. This number rises to approximately 95 percent for the McLaren P1™, with each one of the 375 examples being unique to its owner in some way.
The division was also responsible for the McLaren X-1, a one-off car that had to be specially designed and engineered, including on-road testing and homologation.
MSO LIMITED
The limited-run and special edition examples of the 650S and 12C produced by MSO are designed, developed and produced under ‘MSO Limited’. Models produced include the McLaren 50 12C and 12C Spider, built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the McLaren brand in 2013 and, more recently, the MSO 650S, which debuted at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
MSO HERITAGE
McLaren Special Operations, as it is known today, was launched at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2011. However, a division was first set up as the McLaren Customer Care Programme in the 1990s to service, maintain and personalise the McLaren F1 for owners. This service continues at McLaren, and is now managed by the MSO Heritage team, offering an unrivalled level of knowledge and expertise on the McLaren F1, and also working with Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren models
MSO PROGRAMMES
Finally, the recently-launched MSO Programmes division encompasses the upcoming McLaren P1™ GTR Driver Programme. Each car will be built, maintained and prepared by MSO in advance of the exclusive track days held at the world’s most iconic Formula 1™ circuits.
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
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