2023 Mclaren Artura Performance on 2040-cars

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McLaren Special Ops murders out unique 650S design concept

Whether you're driving it for the attention or for the performance capabilities, you're bound to get noticed behind the wheel of a supercar like a McLaren. But what if you live in a place like Beverly Hills, Monte Carlo, London, Abu Dhabi or Singapore – communities where supercars are as common as hipsters are in Brooklyn? You wouldn't want to be caught driving the same supercar as the next guy, so you'll want to make yours your own. That's where McLaren Special Operations comes in. McLaren's own in-house personalization division has, until now, only really demonstrated the range of its capabilities on the 12C. Now that the 650S is here, though, Woking's special ops division has wasted no time in showing it can do with McLaren's latest, rolling out this unique design concept. The MSO 650S Coupe Concept is decked out in a deep red-flaked, black paintjob with contrasting satin black details. The alloys, shod with Pirelli P Zero Corsa rubber, get a satin black finish, as do the added carbon-fiber components, including enlarged side blades, diffuser and adaptive rear wing. Inside the concept is fitted with the fixed-back carbon racing buckets and carbon black leather, with more satin carbon trim. The concept is currently on tour in China to drum up some sales, but though it is, strictly speaking, a one-off, many of the components are available to fit to a 650S coupe or Spider (or for that matter an existing 12C) from the MSO catalog. Scope out the details below and the images in the gallery above for a closer look. McLAREN SPECIAL OPERATIONS SHOWCASES MSO 650S COUPE CONCEPT IN CHINA - Unique design concept shown ahead of China tour - Bespoke upgrades developed by MSO offer optimised aerodynamic performance and more dramatic appearance - Range of new styling options available for the McLaren 650S Coupe and 650S Spider many of which can also be fitted to the previous 12C models McLaren Special Operations, the bespoke division of McLaren Automotive, has released images of the MSO 650S Coupe Concept – a showcase of the MSO designed and engineered upgrades available for the McLaren 650S Coupe and 650S Spider, the latest models to join to the McLaren Automotive range. The model is being shown throughout China over the coming weeks and includes an array of bespoke MSO features, including a newly designed carbon fibre rear diffuser and MSO-branded carbon fibre side blades.

ATM customers push the Jenson Button to meet their Secret Santander

We all know the drill: you need cash, you go to an ATM, you push some buttons and out come the bills, deducted from your checking account. But some customers at European bank Santander got a bit of a surprise when they were asked to use a new type of automatic teller and push the Jenson Button. Putting the Santa in Santander, the 2009 Formula One World Champion hid inside an ATM in England and dispersed gifts from the bank to a fortunate few of its customers. It's a good gag, one that puts the bank in good light and spreads a bit of holiday cheer. In case you're wondering what Santander has to do with Button and F1, note that the Spanish-owned banking group has, since 2008, sponsored the McLaren team for which Button drives. Not unlike Marlboro, it started sponsoring the Ferrari team in 2010 when Fernando Alonso signed with the Italian team, but though Santander initially planned on severing ties with the British team when it switched to the Scuderia, it's stuck with McLaren over the years. And with Alonso now returning to Woking, we wouldn't be surprised to see the bank step up to an even more prominent role with the team. News Source: Santander via YouTube, Racer Celebrities Marketing/Advertising McLaren Videos santander

McLaren ceases production of 12C to focus on 650S

If you raised an eyebrow in suspicion when McLaren insisted its new 650S would join its lineup in tandem with – and not as a replacement for – the MP4-12C, we're with you. The 650S is, after all, based closely on the 12C, distinguishing itself essentially with a revised shape, updated equipment and more power. And with the Spider version having debuted alongside the coupe in Geneva, there's really little room left for the 12C at all. Keeping both around at the same time would be like if arch-rival Ferrari offered both the old California and new California T (or the 360 Modena and the F430 that followed) at the same time. Yet McLaren has remained adamant that the 12C isn't going anywhere despite the arrival of the 650S. Or is it? Well, yes and no. Reports coming in from the UK indicate that, while McLaren will continue to offer the 12C to customers who order it, the company has actually ceased production of the older, less expensive version for the time being in order to gear up for producing the newer 650S. Keeping both models on the order sheet will likely cease once McLaren's upcoming entry-level model, dubbed P13, comes along. Essentially replacing the 12C with the 650S at that point will allow Woking to open up a bigger price difference between it and the new model, helping to differentiate between the two. In the meantime, the House that Bruce (or Ron) Built appears to be taking a similar approach to Pagani, which kept the Zonda on offer long after the Huayra came along.