McLaren X1: A Car Geek's Wet Dream

Out on the freshly-cut, eighteenth fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links course in Monterey, California, the famous Concours d'Elegance is exhibiting some of the rarest and most beautiful automobiles ever made. In the midst of historic metal sits the widest, meanest modified British supercar in the world. Say hello to the McLaren X1.

Here at Car Throttle we love a modified motor, and McLaren Special Operations have given us something simply breathtaking. MSO is the personalisation arm of McLaren, and one anonymous customer wanted to redefine ‘bespoke’. Three years in the making, the X1 has even undergone its own development programme to ensure it could actually be used on the road.

When you’re paying the astronomical figure this customer no doubt paid you can afford to be picky. And the design influences read like a pretentious art student’s wet dream. Cars that inspired the look include a 1939 Merc 540K and a 1971 Citroen SM, but here’s where it gets weird. Other inspirations include the Guggenheim museums in New York and Bilbao, an art deco clock, a grand piano... and an eggplant. Seriously. Oh, and don’t forget a black and white picture of Audrey Hepburn.

Taking that eclectic mood book, a number of external designers (some of which were outside the automotive world) competed for the project. McLaren’s Hong Yeo had his design chosen, with the final design taking a full 18 months to sign off. Yeo said “I like to think the wide body combined with pontoon style rear fenders will ensure the car glides when it’s moving just like a superhero’s cape.” Quite.

Everything on the X1 is bespoke, with only the glasshouse carrying over from the standard 12C. Longer and wider, every body panel is made from carbon (finished in a rich piano black - I’m guessing that’s where the grand piano comes in) to keep the kerb weight almost identical to the original car. One of the most striking features is the Citroen-inspired enclosed rear wheels. Design Director Frank Stephenson epitomises the level of nerdiness needed to work at McLaren as he notes the wheels are accessed thanks to “some of the most gorgeous hinges you’ve ever seen.” Just like Audrey Hepburn?

The interior looks pretty much the same as the standard car, except unique leather for the seats, door and roof trim, with switchgear made from machined nickel-coated, aluminium bezels. It just sounds expensive, doesn’t it?

Looking like a futuristic vision of the 1950’s car designer, the X1 is beautiful. And we can only hope it is hooned appropriately. Mr. Anon, do us proud.