What's all this about?
Black. Black. You lock me in the cellar and feed me pins!
Hang about, are you doing a gag from a TV show that's more than 20 years old?
Yes we are indeed. But referencing Johnny the Painter from The Fast Show is somewhat apt, because here's an incredibly fast car that's looking showy, thanks to lots and lots of black. It's the McLaren 570GT MSO Black Collection, just 100 are going to be built for the entire planet and each one will cost you a meaty £179,950, around £26,000 more than the standard 570GT.
OK, what do I get for my outlay?
MSO, which of course is McLaren Special Operations, gets hold of the 570GT and gives it plenty of its MSO Defined goodies, with a hefty bias towards the dark. Such as new paint called Carbon Black, and the replacement of the front and rear splitters, the side skirts and the air intakes - all formerly Dark Palladium - with the same components in, yes, black. The five twin-spoke lightweight forged alloys have a Gloss Black Diamond finish and are wrapped in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres, the whole ensemble sitting in front of black brake calipers gripping carbon-ceramic discs.
Menacing. And how about the cabin?
Inside, the two seats have memory function, electric operation and heating, and they are finished in Jet Black semi-aniline leather upholstery with unique MSO logos embroidered into the headrests. Carbon Black Alcantara swathes the centre tunnel, lower instrument panel, headlining, steering wheel and the speaker surrounds, while even the ignition key is rendered in Carbon Black. A bespoke Dedication Plate under the centre console, a black-tinted, privacy glass panoramic roof (the MSO Defined Electrochromic item developed specially for the 570GT is an option for £4,750) and the GT Upgrade Pack - comprising a Vehicle Lift, Rear-View Camera, Power Adjust Steering Column and the 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Audio System - complete the Black Collection's kit roster.
So is it just mean and moody styling for this Macca, then?
No, there are a few technical changes, such as the carbon brakes we've already touched upon. Further to this, MSO adds the Sport Pack to sharpen the 570GT's handling and customers will also enjoy the noises of the MSO Defined Titanium SuperSports exhaust with a Nano Black finisher. This item alone saves 5kg of weight and increases the McLaren's volume levels by 5dB.
Sounds nice. Any words from the team at McLaren?
Rob Melville, design director at McLaren Automotive, said: "McLaren Special Operations allows our customers to fully express themselves through their cars, and the new 570GT MSO Black Collection is no different. Black is a colour associated with elegance, power and authority, while it is also surrounded by a certain air of mystery. The end result remains true to the luxurious nature of the 570GT but we managed to further amplify its sleek, sporty character with a wealth of new MSO Defined options, which I am sure will delight discerning owners."
And is this available to order now?
Yes, register your interest and find out more about the McLaren 570GT MSO Black Collection at cars.mclaren.com.
Matt Robinson - 15 Mar 2018
