McLaren has unveiled a McLaren Special Operations (MSO) take on the GT, which it is called the McLaren Verdant Theme GT by MSO.
Fifty shades of green
As its name suggests, this car tries to make you think of ‘verdant landscapes and fresh horizons.’ To that end, its satin tri-tone paint blends seamlessly from light to dark, going (from nose to tail) Horsell Green, Arbor and then Steppe Green. Each of these colours has been specially created for the MSO GT, and to get the smooth progression from one shade to another takes 430 hours of work in what McLaren describes as its ‘most complex paint process yet undertaken by MSO.’ Complementing the three-hue bodywork are pinstripe accents in Napier Green, spotted on the panels and the front splitter. The MSO Bespoke callipers for the brakes are in the same shade, while Gloss Black is used for the wheels, the upper window surrounds and the exhaust finisher.
Moving inside, there’s the use of Charcoal Grey cashmere to discuss, this being the first time this type of wool has been used in a McLaren (or a supercar, the manufacturer claims), and there’s more ‘greenery’ in the form of Dark Green and Laurel Green leather with Jet Black accents. The micro-piping in the cabin is Laurel Green, while the cashmere can be found on the centre tunnel, the door inserts, the lower section of dashboard, the sun visors, the head restraints and the back upper section of the seats. MSO has wanted to use cashmere in an automotive application for 18 months, but limited availability of the material means it will remain a highly exclusive option at McLaren. Final details include a dedication plaque, embroidered logos and an accelerator pedal laser-etched with the MSO logo.
No mechanical changes
No changes have been made to this GT’s mechanicals, so it’s still a 620hp mid-engined grand tourer with Proactive Damping Control suspension. Ansar Ali, the managing director of MSO, said: “The McLaren Verdant Theme GT by MSO is the perfect showcase for us in the way it takes modern luxury to the next level by incorporating so much innovation. The Grand Tourer of McLaren’s range provides a sophisticated and elegant canvas for our artistry, but also I hope the spark that will inspire every McLaren owner as they seek ever more ways to personalise their car, whether it is GT, sports convertible, track supercar, or the ultimate uncompromised road car such as our new McLaren Elva.”