A lot of things are possible with the right amount of money. That is the plain truth, like it or not. And if you are one of those folks who just want something unique, like a one-of-a-kind McLaren SUV, then the brand's Special Operations division (MSO) is perfect for you.
Autocar recently interviewed McLaren's Chief Designer Robert Melville and he had this to say about their clientele, “Over the last few years, most people at McLaren have at some point been asked about SUVs, four-seaters, motorbikes. With MSO, we did a car a few years ago that was harking back to coachbuilding. If you come to MSO, we could design you an all-new body, a power increase or decrease. We can design you whatever you want, if you have the money for it.”
Digital Trends asked how much money it would cost to make a customized, one-off McLaren SUV. The simple answer was “millions and millions of pounds.” This is because McLaren does not currently have an SUV platform. Designing a custom carbon fiber tub for the hypothetical SUV is as expensive as you might think.
MSO is now comprised of five divisions: MSO Bespoke, Limited, Heritage, Programmes, and the newest, Defined. These five tiers of MSO service hopes to cover all the personal needs of their customers.
MSO Bespoke designs entire one-off vehicles. MSO Limited builds limited edition vehicles with more substantial upgrades compared to MSO Defined which adds distinctive touches to owner's cars without having to design anything from scratch. MSO Defined is something like the Mercedes-Benz AMG Sport and BMW M Sports line of upgraded vehicles. MSO Heritage handles older McLaren models and MSO Programmes is responsible for the upcoming P1 GTR track car.
MSO has already built several head turning vehicles like a special edition P1, a custom 650S, and a one-off 570S.
