The boffins at McLaren Special Operations have a special knack for taking special cars and making them that little bit more impressive. Tasked with tarting up the 570GT for next week's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, MSO has fitted the V8 coupe with a clever dimming roof to make life a bit cooler behind the wheel.
The 570GT Concept sees the existing supercar treated to a new exhaust, paint scheme and body parts, interior finish, and an interesting feature still in development called the Electro-Chromic roof.
The exhaust system is made of titanium rather than stainless steel, cutting weight by 30 percent and, McLaren says, "delivering a progressively richer and more characterful tone more immediately as the revs rise than the standard exhaust." The heat shields are finished in a golden titanium tint that glints out through the rear air ducts, harking back to the McLaren F1 in the process. They'll naturally change to a blue purple color as they heat and cool with normal engine use.
The 570GT Concept is finished in "Elite Pearl White" complimented by what is described as an MSO-inspired Piano Black package that draws extra attention to specific external parts. Gloss carbon fiber sills are incorporated to further accentuate an already dramatic exterior.
Inside you'll find a saddle tan interior and the same 12-speaker Bowers and Wilkins Hi-Fi surround system currently offered in the 570GT. Most of the interior components not covered in leather are finished in glossy carbon fiber.
So there's no lack of flair, but the most intriguing aspect of the car is the Electro-Chromic roof. This builds on that big expansive panoramic roof that's part of the unique design of the 570GT by adding an electro-chromic interlayer to the UV-protective layer already in place. A touch sensitive headliner allows the driver, or passenger, to adjust the level of tint in the roof by five different shades – from almost clear to a dark tint.
There's no changes under the skin, with the 570GT by MSO Concept powered by the same 3.8-liter, 562 bhp, twin-turbo V8 engine found in the standard model (if you can call a car like that standard).
"All remaining MSO items on the car are currently under study but we envisage them becoming part of MSO Defined range later on," McLaren told us. "Once available, the Piano Black finish could in theory be applied to other models from Sports, Super and Ultimate series families. The exhaust is also in development but once ready it's envisaged to be compatible with other Sports Series derivatives including the 570S and 540C."
The 570GT by MSO Concept will be revealed in all its glory on the concept lawn at Pebble Beach on Sunday, August 21. New Atlas will be there with cameras at ready to bring you more images.
Source: McLaren