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McLaren's forthcoming hyper-GT, the Speedtail, promises to be a very special car in many respects, but even its badging promises to be at a level above its competitors.
That's because there are a range of optional finishes for the 106 Speedtails that will be built, with McLaren itself choosing to first exhibit the 18-carat white gold and carbon-fibre inlays.
McLaren says the materials used represent just one of the ways that the Speedtail 'combines art with extreme performance'. The badge in question features the McLaren brand badge and the 'Speedmark' logo, with both crafted in gold by a company in the UK's Birmingham Jewellery Quarter; by Vaughtons, a company which, since 1819, has made some of the most exclusive badges and trophies, such as Olympic gold medals and the FA Cup.
The set of three badges, incorporating two brand badges for the front and one name badge for the rear, will be available as part of the tailoring service provided by McLaren Special Operations (MSO) for the Speedtail. And this is of course not the first time that real gold has been used in a McLaren road car, as the F1 of 1993 used gold foil as a heat shield in the engine compartment.
The 18-carat items are laser-etched with a McLaren hallmark, which shows when and where they were created, and they feature carbon inserts which utilise McLaren's new, exclusive 'Thin-Ply Technology' processes. The front badge for the gold set weighs 100g on its own, although if weight is an issue for customers, a lacquered transfer which weighs next to nothing can be specified instead.
Anything else?
Rob Melville, McLaren's Design Director, said: "As beautiful pieces of exquisitely hand-crafted jewellery, the white-gold badges perfectly set off a car that in every way represents a new gold standard for McLaren luxury. They fit perfectly with the philosophy of the Speedtail, the most luxurious car in McLaren Automotive's portfolio, as well as paying homage to its forebear, the McLaren F1."
The Speedtail will be revealed in all its glory on October 26, and we'll be the first to bring you the news of its unveiling.