McLaren has grown gloriously from a relatively unknown player in the supercar scene to some of the coolest cars in the world. in the past decade. Their first production car after restarting as an independent manufacturer in 2010 was the McLaren MP4-12C, which was frankly riddled with problems. Well it was their first car and we can give them a pass for that.
But even with all these hurdles, the 12C shone as a convincing offer in a world that tended towards “boring” driver’s cars. The 12C is considered to be McLaren’s least successful model, but they managed to turn it into a one-of-a-kind car even. The McLaren X-1 Concept was developed for a very happy customer who wanted to own a McLaren like no other. Interestingly, this was also the first car made under McLaren Special Operations (MSO).
The anonymous customer wanted to make it a tribute to some of his favorite classic cars, and the X1 managed to do it wonderfully. It was still an MP4-12C deep inside, but every component on the outside was bespoke. A lot of carbon fiber was used and painting this unique concept was difficult.
The 2012 McLaren X-1 Concept was a one-off for a customer who wanted timeless appeal.
Made for a very happy customer who wanted something timeless
Via: Caricos.com
The mysterious customer reached out to then MSO program director Paul MacKenzie and expressed an interest in a one-of-a-kind car. This guy already owned a McLaren F1, a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and had also bought a new McLaren MP4-12C during the conversation. The customer was a man with timeless taste and wanted to wrap a 12C in design elements that were collaged from some timeless classics.
Via: Caricos.com
The cars that helped develop the X-1 concept were the 1961 Facel Vega, the 1953 Chrysler D’Elegance Ghia, the 1959 Buick Electra, the 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K, and the 1971 Citroën SM. This guy was very specific about the design that he approved a particular design by Hong Yeo after a series of internal and external design competitions that lasted over 3 years.
A work of art made of carbon fiber and brushed aluminum in pure black
Via: Caricos.com
When we speak of “tailor-made”, we will limit ourselves in our wildest imagination to thinking of a cool paint job and unique wheels on the outside. Nowadays more importance has been attached to the interior for a “tailor-made” offer. With the 2012 McLaren X-1 Concept, however, it was exactly the opposite. The entire exterior of an MP4-12C dispenser has been stripped except for its monocell. And the car was designed from scratch.
Via: Caricos.com
Everything on the outside was made of carbon fiber. And the contrasting bits were custom-made from a solid piece of aluminum. This was then brushed with a plush nickel finish. Painting “pure black” was a tough process as the dense black made it quite difficult to hide imperfections. Even the headlights and taillights are custom made to mimic the McLaren Speed Marque logo on the front.
Via: Netcarshow.com
A very specific design feature were the skirts that covered the rear wheels. This was an ode to the iconic Citroen SM and with the level of detail and tech we’re pretty sure the customer was a die-hard Citroen fan and a quirky guy! McLaren had called the rear skirt hinges “some of the most beautiful hinges you have ever seen”. The only exterior inherited from the Donor 12C was the top-mounted exhausts. Everything else was custom-made according to the customer’s wishes, which means that the X-1 Concept was also slightly larger than the 12C.
The interior of the X-1 Concept was ‘red’ with a sporty Lux appeal
Via: Netcarshow.com
In contrast to the extremely bespoke exterior, the interior of the McLaren X-1 Concept has been gently redesigned. The layout was taken directly from the MP4-12C, but the customer had it wrapped all around in Harissa Red McLaren nappa leather. The dashboard was covered with red inserts and the center console was carved out of carbon fiber. McLaren also added a titanium mesh to the carbon to give it a cool 3D effect. Contrasting aluminum bezels were layered over the cab and the gearshift lever was a machined aluminum bit that was coated with nickel.
Deep down, the X-1 concept was still a McLaren MP4-12C
Via: Netcarshow.com
The customer was more than satisfied with the powertrain of the MP4-12C, and so the X-1 Concept received the same without modifications. The 3.8-liter turbo V8 made 592 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The power was sent to the rear wheels via an automated 7-speed manual transmission. Despite all the intense work on the exterior, McLaren managed to keep the curb weight to a maximum of 3,249 pounds like its donor. This allowed the timeless fusion of this McLaren to hit 0-60 MPH in the same 3.2 second mark as the 12C.
This concept clearly demonstrated McLaren’s bespoke expertise
Via: Netcarshow.com
The unique McLaren X-1 Concept is not for everyone. In all honesty, this is not a discussion point as it was built specifically with a customer’s dream in mind. And the fact that, despite all these years, it has not been offered for sale shows us how much the mysterious man loves his one-of-a-kind.
Via: Netcarshow.com
The X-1 proved to be an impressive demonstration of the skill and level that McLaren’s MSO department would go to to build a one-off. The craftsmanship and level of detail of the X-1 are commendable and clearly represent the perfect prologue to what McLaren could offer.
Sources: Autoblog.com, Topspeed.com, Motorauthority.com, Motor1.com
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About the author
Tijo Tenson
(305 articles published)
Tijo is an engineer, mechanic, gamer and avid content creator. He’s a fat eater who loves tinkering with cars every now and then when he’s not busy writing down his passion for them. He has always had a soft spot for JDM and likes to dive deep into everything to do with bikes and engines.
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