What's the news?
McLaren, as a road-car maker, may only seem like it has been around for a few years (1990s F1 notwithstanding) but trying to keep track of all of its models is tough work. So here's another complication in the form of the limited edition 650S Can-Am, which celebrates the firm's on-track dominance of said race series in the 1960s and '70s.
Exterior
Just to recap, the Canadian-American Challenge Cup - or Can-Am - was an 'anything goes' race series, which began in 1966, attracting some of the biggest driving names of the time and resulting in some extremely mad competition cars, like the Chaparral 2E and 2J models. However, motors from Kiwi racer Bruce McLaren's stable dominated and this 650S celebrates such machines, the Mars Red car in the pictures a reference to the M1B that McLaren himself and compatriot Chris Amon drove in the debut season. Further colours are Papaya Spark, 'a modern take' on the iconic Can-Am McLaren Orange hue, and Onyx Black, favoured by customer teams in the later seasons. You can even opt for racing liveries from the era, too.
McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has prepared the strictly limited run of 50 650S Can-Ams, which are all based on the Spider model. To hark back to the lightweight race cars, carbon fibre is used extensively in the Can-Am. It can be found in the MonoCell chassis, for the retractable hard-top (a first for any 650S Spider), and is used for the bonnet, Airbrake, front splitter, rear bumper centre, door blades and the '650S Can-Am' branded sill cover. The Can-Am gets a unique set of lightweight forged alloys in gloss black, with a diamond-cut rim. They're clothed in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres.
Carbon fibre again makes up the louvred front wings, which are designed to reduce pressure over the front wheels and thus increase downforce, while a tasty quad-exit, polished stainless steel exhaust pokes out of a carbon fibre rear grille.
Interior
Leather and Alcantara clothes the standard sports seats, while carbon fibre is liberally applied throughout. The chief signifier here is the Can-Am dedication plaque on the driver's door.
Mechanicals
The same 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8, developing 650hp and 678Nm, as found in the regular 650S powers the Can-Am from 0-100km/h in 3.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 329km/h. Carbon ceramic brakes with black painted callipers are fitted to haul the car quickly back down from such ludicrous velocity.
Anything else?
Global deliveries will begin in spring 2016 and the price quoted by McLaren is £255,850 (approximately €345,100, although it will cost more than that if you want to buy one here in Ireland). And the release is timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first ever Can-Am race, at Mont Tremblant, Canada.