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The McLaren MSO HS is a full-custom, 679-hp menace inspired by the P1 GTR

There's no end in sight for McLaren Special Operations and its attempts at making McLarens even more, well, special. While we found the McLaren 675LT to be an incredibly competent supercar when we drove it, someone at MSO decided the thing needed more power and aerodynamic goodies. We're okay with that. This project was previously leaked as the McLaren 688HS. Now McLaren has released details on the 679-horsepower MSO HS (for High Sport) and it's ridiculous. Based on the McLaren 650S, the MSO HS is limited to just 25 units, which have already been spoken for and will be entirely customized for their owners. Output from the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine is up to 679 horsepower (an increase of 13 over the 675LT), while torque stays the same at 516 pound-feet. To accompany the increase in power, this particular MSO HS features a hilarious amount of carbon fiber. The roof, hood, front bumper, and wing – which is inspired by the McLaren P1 GTR – are all made out of the lightweight material. Not that we doubted it, but the aero package is functional – McLaren claims the MSO HS makes 485 pounds of downforce at 150 mph. And yes, that's a giant scoop on the roof. McLaren didn't release any performance figures for the MSO HS, but the supercar will surely be just as fast, if not faster, around a track as the 675LT. To help the brave and daring owners that plan to take the car to the track, the MSO HS comes with McLaren Track Telemetry. The feature, which is also found on the 675LT, includes a host of sensors and three cameras to provide data to help the driver go even quicker. Since MSO will customize each of the supercars to an owner's specifications, pricing hasn't been released, and it's kind of irrelevant since you can't buy one anymore. Given its extremely limited run, more powerful engine, and customizable body, you can be sure the MSO HS's price will surely dwarf that of the 675LT at $350,000. Related Video: Featured Gallery McLaren MSO HS News Source: McLarenImage Credit: McLaren McLaren Coupe Lightweight Vehicles Special and Limited Editions Performance Supercars mclaren special operations

Gordon Murray, F1-driven production and .. the Pontiac Fiero

Gordon Murray's design and engineering chops are unquestionable. But does his carmaking approach owe something to the short-lived Pontiac Fiero, a scrappy little car program that emerged from GM against serious resistance? Murray had a Formula One career that ran from 1969 to 1991, with stints at Brabham ('69 to '86) and McLaren ('87-'91), that resulted in several shelves' worth of trophies for the cars he was instrumental in designing. He moved on to McLaren Cars, the consumer side of things, where, during his tenure from 1991 to 2004, he helped design the McLaren F1 and the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, two cars that took learnings from his two decades in Formula One. What do all of these cars have in common? Three things: They are light. They were built in limited numbers. And they were (and are) exceedingly expensive—when the McLaren F1 debuted in 1994, it stickered at $815,000. Murray went on to establish Gordon Murray Design in 2007. GMD has created some interesting concept vehicles, such as the diminutive T.25 city car (94.5 inches long, 51.1 inches wide and 55.1 inches high), and the OX, a lightweight truck for the developing world that packs like an IKEA shelf and is working toward realization through a worthy crowdfunding campaign established by the Global Vehicle Trust. Now he has created a vehicle manufacturing company, Gordon Murray Automotive, that will use manufacturing methods that he developed under the moniker "iStream." Unlike a unibody, there are the "iFrame," a cage-like construction made with metallic components, and the "iPanels," which are composite. The panels aren't simply a decorative skin; they actually provide structure to the vehicle. Presumably this has something of the F1 monocoque about it. Going back to the three elements, (1) this arrangement results in a vehicle that can be comparatively light; (2) Murray has indicated that his manufacturing company will be doing limited-run production; and (3) to launch Gordon Murray Automotive they are going to be building a flagship model, about which Murray said, "With our first new car, we will demonstrate a return to the design and engineering principles that have made the McLaren F1 such an icon." Which seems to imply that it will be on the pricey side. According to the company's verbiage, "iStream forges an entirely new production method that defies conventionality with its Formula One-derived construction and materials technologies." It also sounds a whole lot like ...

McLaren won't offer 540C in United States

McLaren launched its new entry-level Sports Series in New York with the 570S, and followed up in Shanghai with the more affordable 540C. However we can now confirm that the 540C won't be offered in the United States. In correspondence with Autoblog (and following rampant speculation circulating the Internet), McLaren spokesman Wayne Bruce confirmed: "Following a series of previews in which interest from American customers has been exclusively in the 570S, we will now concentrate on only this model for the launch of Sports Series in the US to satisfy demand." That means the 570S will remain (for the time being at least) the most affordable model – if a term has ever been more relative – McLaren will offer in the US, priced at $184,900. We can also expect additional versions of the Sports Series to follow, including a roadster and a third bodystyle as well. The cheaper 540C won't be kept out of North America altogether, though: it will be offered in Canada. North of the Border, the 540C is priced at $196,500 Canadian (equivalent to about $158k at current exchange rates), with the 570S going for $219,750 Canadian (~$177k). Related Video: