Called the McLaren X-1 and based structurally on the company's groundbreaking carbon MonoCell but with a totally unique body, it has been created for an anonymous car enthusiast.It's not every day that a team gets to create something unique in a project that would take the supercar, even by McLaren standards, to a different level.
The X-1 is the most ambitious example yet of MSO's expertise. It has a whole new body made of advanced materials. Everything is bespoke, even down to the lights and wheels, necessitating new testing and homologation meaning the car took two and a half years to build, a process that began before the styling was signed off.
The X-1 had its own development programme because crucially, this wasn't to be a fragile concept car that would never see tarmac. It was to be a usable car, road legal and capable of travelling at supercar speeds. It also had to comfortably seat two adults so although the 12C was already as shrink-wrapped as it could be from a packaging perspective, the ingenious flexibility of the MonoCell allowed the creation of a completely different form while maintaining the engineering purity of a McLaren.
A full CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) aerodynamic testing schedule ensured high-speed stability, and the car also completed approximately 625 miles of testing including two intensive testing stints at the Idiada circuit in Spain with chief McLaren test driver, Chris Goodwin. After testing, the whole car was meticulously rebuilt, by hand to concours standard.
MSO Programme Director Paul Mackenzie explains: 'The X-1 showcases the skills of McLaren Special Operations. More and more luxury customers want bespoke or individual features. The X-1 demonstrates that we can provide the ultimate personalisation service. It also shows that MSO is not just a technology led company. X-1 demonstrates a commitment to perfection and to the highest levels of quality.'
All body panels of the X-1 are made from carbon, and are finished in a rich piano black, as specified by the owner. Body sides are lacquered visual carbon fibre. 'The black paint has no metallic or colour tints and is one of the most challenging colours to paint, but the finish is absolutely exquisite and befits the car perfectly' adds Stephenson.
Components were tooled exclusively for the car. They even include unique head- and taillights, inspired by the McLaren Speed Marque logo. The brightwork is machined from solid aluminium, and a nickel finish is then applied. The McLaren logo in the nose is specially machined from solid aluminium then nickel plated. Wheels are also unique to the X-1, and are diamond turned with a tinted lacquer to complement the exterior nickel-plated brightwork.
The brightwork itself is all machined from solid aluminium, and then nickel finished to give the same hue throughout. Even the McLaren Speed Marque badge in the nose is machined from solid aluminium, then nickel plated.
The same brightwork is used for the over-the-shoulder rails (as specified by the owner), at the base of the windscreen and the back of the glasshouse, and for the 'eyebrows' over the bespoke headlights. The McLaren Airbrake rear wing is also machined from solid aluminium and nickel plated, to complement the rest of the brightwork.
Perhaps the most unusual styling feature is the enclosed rear wheels, an upshot of the owner's desire to have a car reflecting 'timeless elegance'. The wheels are accessed by carbon panels using, as Stephenson explains, 'some of the most gorgeous hinges you've ever seen'. The styling, too, is in no way compromised by the opening rear wings.
He adds: 'The attention to detail is astonishing. Neat styling touches feature throughout the design, such as the rear number plate illuminators finished in carbon, a gorgeous machined aluminium cap is used for the header tank, and carbon finishers line the engine bay.'
The doors have also been developed specifically for the X-1, although they retain the dihedral action and twin hinges, and the roof is also new. Externally, only the glasshouse is carried over from the 12C.
The unique body of the X-1 means most dimensions have changed. The X-1 is 4658mm long - 109mm longer than a 12C. Width is 2097mm (with mirrors) - an increase of 188 mm. Despite the revised roofline, the height remains the same, at 1199mm. Kerb weight is almost identical (about 1400kg), as the lighter carbon body panels compensate for the greater length and width. Light weight, as with all McLaren projects, was a priority.
While the basic architecture of the interior did not change, personalisation includes bespoke Harissa Red McLaren Nappa leather used for the seats, door and roof trim, and switchgear with machined nickel-coated, aluminium bezels. The carbon interior trim has a titanium weave, to give a magical 3D-like effect. Special Andesite tufted carpet covers the floor.
Specifications:-
| General specifications |
| Country of origin | Great Britain |
| Numbers built | N/A |
| Produced in | 2012 |
| Engine |
| Configuration | M383T 90º V8 |
| Location | Mid, longitudinally mounted |
| Construction | aluminium block and head |
| Displacement | 3.799 liter / 231.8 cu in |
| Bore / Stroke | 93.0 mm (3.7 in) / 69.9 mm (2.8 in) |
| Compression | 8.7:1 |
| Valvetrain | 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC, Dual VVT |
| Fuel feed | Fuel Injection |
| Aspiration | Twin Turbo |
| Power | 592 bhp / 442 KW @ 7000 rpm |
| Torque | 600 Nm / 443 ft lbs @ 3000 rpm |
| BHP/Liter | 156 bhp / liter |
| Drivetrain |
| Chassis | carbon fibre MonoCell with aluminium front and rear subframes |
| Rear suspension | double wishbones with ProActive Chassis Control |
| Steering | double wishbones with ProActive Chassis Control |
| Brakes | ventilated discs, all-round, ABS |
| Gearbox | SSG 7 speed Semi-Automatic |
| Drive | Rear wheel drive |
| Performance figures |
| Top Speed | 330 km/h (205 mph) |
| 0-60 mph | 3.2 s |
Driving trials of the Porsche 918 Spyder are entering the next phase. A permanent fixture of the test programme for the 918 Spyder - and in the tuning process for all Porsche vehicles - is the 20.8 km long challenging Nürburgring-Nordschleife race circuit. After all, a lap time of less than seven minutes and 22 seconds is one of the development goals of the innovative super sports car with a plug-in hybrid drive.
